Today’s version is sung by Natalie Cole, daughter of the famous Nat King Cole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j5-SWXKhbM

Today’s charity is Christian Aid http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists ”the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.” They work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality and are part of a wider movement for social justice, providing urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes. They work on relief, development and advocacy, believing that the Christian faith motivates us to practical love and care for our neighbours. The charity works in South America, Africa and Asia, raising awareness of HIV and AIDs and supporting human rights amongst other things.

The services on New Year’s Day will be slightly different. We are holding a Communion Service in the morning (starting at 10.30 a.m.) Everyone is invited to bring something to contribute to this service – a Bible reading, a poem, a song, a testimony… something to share how God has spoken to you and blessed you throughout this past year. That way we can fulfil Ephesians 5:19-20: “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In the afternoon, we will be holding our usual New Year’s Day party, starting at 5 p.m. Bring along some food and we will have a great time of fun, fellowship and games!

Looking forward to seeing you there…

A more traditional version from Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55P80Xfxk0U

Today’s charity is Wycliffe Bible Translators http://wycliffe.org.uk/

Like the Bible Society, this charity is involved in Bible translation. Worldwide there are over 300 million people who do not have access to the story of God’s love for his people – the story of the Bible – in the language that they understand the best, their ‘heart’ language. Wycliffe Bible Translators believe that the Bible is the best way for people to come to know and understand who God is. Their vision is that by working with churches, organisations and individuals from around the world, all people will have access to God’s word in a language that they truly understand. The aim is that by 2025, a Bible translation programme will be begun in all the remaining languages that need one.

The charity is named after John Wycliffe (c1328-1384) who was a theologian, translator and teacher known as the ‘Morning Star of the Reformation’. He believed that the Bible should be available in one’s native language and completed his translation directly from the Vulgate (Latin version of the Bible) into English in the year 1382, now known as Wycliffe’s Bible. As with so many Bible translators (eg William Tyndale), he was later declared a heretic. We do well to remember what it cost some translators to give us the Bible (Tyndale was burnt at the stake) and should support the ongoing work of Bible translation if we value God’s Word at all. In some countries, translators work under tremendous pressure and opposition, but as Paul reminds Timothy “God’s Word is not chained” (2 Tim 2:9).

Another funny version of the song, this time from John Denver and the Muppets! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBMzGq1vhs

Today’s charity is Oasis. http://www.oasisuk.org/

This charity, founded by Steve Chalke, is about life-changing work with young people, families and communities around the world, including the UK. In this country, Oasis develops Hubs to help build, restore and transform communities. These can be involved in homeless projects, out-of-hours youth projects, helping the disadvantaged and feeding the needy. The nearest Hub to us is Grimsby, but these projects really aim to bring positive help to communities that have been suffering deprivation and need help and regeneration. The charity is also involved in education and community health projects and is connected to Faithworks, a movement of thousands of individuals, churches and organisations motivated by their Christian faith to serve the needs of their local communities and positively influence society as a whole. Faithworks exists to resource, inspire and speak up for these vital initiatives.

Today’s song is a parody of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ from Allan Sherman: http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?p=1112858

Today’s charity is OMS (One Mission Society) http://www.onemissionsociety.org.uk/
OMS is a global mission working in over fifty countries on six continents. Its aims are to establish responsible, reproducing, Christ-centred churches among the nations, which it endeavours to do through evangelism, church planting, training leaders and partnership with national church fellowships. I am particularly involved with this charity because a very good friend of mine, Steve Davies, is serving as a missionary with the charity. He and his wife, Katuska, and three sons have just finished a four-year term of ministry in Katuska’s native Ecuador, working in the Bible college there. They are currently on Home Assignment in the UK and will be visiting us in Goldthorpe on 11th March to talk about their plans to travel out to Mozambique later this year to be involved in church planting there; Steve spoke at our church a few years ago before they went out to Ecuador for the first time.

It’s always good to have personal links with missionaries and to be involved with missionary work; I find this much easier to do if you can keep in regular contact with people and hear about what they are doing. You can read about Steve and Katuska’s work in Ecuador on their blog
http://threedegreessouth.blogspot.com/ and can follow their current plans on their new blog
http://maputobay.blogspot.com/

A more traditional version of the song from Ernie Ford can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpinzLXXp14

Today’s charity is Samaritan’s Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.uk.com/)
Samaritan’s Purse operates one of the most accessible projects I’ve ever known. Each year it runs ‘Operation Christmas Child’ to support thousands of children. Last year alone it had the joy of sending nearly 1.12 million shoeboxes full of toys and gifts to children living in parts of Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The beauty of this project is that each family can contribute something and it also teaches us how to give at Christmas time. The charity Samaritan’s Purse is involved in much more, however. It runs water and sanitation programmes in Ethiopia, Liberia, Niger, Mozambique and Uganda, providing clean water, sanitation and health and hygiene education to millions of people, thus reducing disease and death in these areas.