ST PETERS CHURCH Disturbing though the picture opposite may be, the gun is real, its ammunition is real, and this child in Northern Uganda is one of an estimated 20,000 children abducted by the rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA), to fight a civil war that has already spanned two decades. It's believed 80 per cent of LRA fighters are now children, kidnapped from their villages to fight and kill without question, perhaps even their own families. Many are never seen again.
Another estimated 12,000 children have been unwittingly 'sold' into virtual slavery within the Ivory Coast's cocoa plantations, where they are worked literally to death harvesting the cocoa which is used to make nearly half the world's chocolate. These children receive little or no pay, minimal food, and are imprisoned under appalling conditions to satisfy the western world's sweet tooth.
Meanwhile, the Philippines represents a major staging post for trafficking men, women and children of all ages, both within the country and internationally, for sexual exploitation and forced labour. The plight of all these people is being highlighted by Stop the Traffik (www.stopthetraffik.org), a worldwide coalition of over 300 organisations and charities working to expose people-trafficking around the globe, provide support and safe refuge, and push governments into action. Millions of people every year are trafficked both within their own countries and across borders. The United Nations estimates thathuman trafficking now represents the third largest source of income for organised crime, exceeded only by drugs and arms. Stop the Traffik underpins our Benefice-wide campaign this year, which is also supported by the local primary schools. Our focus will be on the three countries mentioned above, but Stop the Traffik is working to halt people-trafficking practices of horrific magnitude worldwide. Please look at the displays which Rita Wheatley has kindly designed and arranged at the back of St. Peter's. There are also folders of information, which Keith Fowler has put together, and the Stop the Traffik website is very comprehensive. The website also provides a list of both branded and supermarket's own ethically produced chocolate.
Fundraising is, of course, important for ongoing anti-trafficking support programmes. However, a concerted voice against any form of people trafficking will help force relevant governments to tackle the issue at grass roots level.
Getting involved is simple. On the 'information table' at the back of St. Peter's there are Stop the Traffik 'Declaration Cards' to sign and send off. The cards represent a global petition against people-trafficking, and will be delivered to the United Nations after 'Freedom Day', 25th March 2007, also the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Keith Fowler and I also have a supply of Stop the Traffik keyrings, at£1 each, and buying fair trade goods is something else we can all do. Supermarkets stock a broad range of fair trade foods and beverages, and there is a fair trade stall at St. Peter's church every first and third Sunday of the month, coinciding with the 10 am service, and run by our local representative, Di Bowen.
'Freedom' will be a central theme throughout the Lent course this year (dates below), and Freedom day itself is also Passion Sunday, to be marked by a Walk of Witness between the churches in our Benefice (details below). And rounding up this subject, many thanks to Marylynn Rouse, director of the John Newton Project, for coming to St. Peter's to talk about the life of this eighteenth century slave trader-turned-Minister and abolitionist, who was so influential in the fight to stop the slave trade 200 years ago. Special dates for the diary:
February 6th, Trinity Church, Cheltenham. 7.30 pm. A Presentation by Marion White, who with family and friends has completed a tour of India specifically to look at the problem of Trafficking of women. Transport and tickets can be organised through Anthea Fowler.
Lent Course: Continuing the theme of slavery and freedom: At Hook Norton Primary School Study Centre, 7.45 pm, on the 28th February, and then on the 7th, 21st and 28th March.
Sunday 18th March, Mothering Sunday: 10 am Morning Worship at Hook Norton.
Sunday 25th March: Passion Sunday (and also Freedom Day). Benefice Walk of Witness; 8am Holy Communion (BCP) and breakfast at St. Giles', Wigginton. 10.30 am Morning Worship and lunch at St. Mary's, Swerford. 3 pm 'Welcome to Worship' and Tea at St. Peter's, Hook Norton. 6.30 pm Evening Prayer and refreshments at St. Andrew's, Great Rollright.
Easter Services:(… please choose your chocolate Easter eggs carefully this year ….)
Sunday 1st April, Palm Sunday: 10 am Palm Sunday Service, St. Peter's.
Thursday 5th April, Maundy Thursday: 7 pm Passover Supper, St. Peter's.
Friday 6th April, Good Friday: 7.30 am Morning Prayers at St. Peter's. 10 am Morning Worship at Hook Norton Baptist Church. 2 pm 'An Hour at the Cross' in all four Benefice churches.
Saturday 7th April (Easter Eve): 11.30 pm at St. Peter's. Holy Communion. A special evening of music for Passion-tide, and lighting of the Paschal Candle.
Sunday 8th April (Easter Day): 10 am Holy Communion, at St. Peter's.
Regular diary dates:
Jesus and Me (JAM) club: Hook Norton Primary School study centre, every Wednesday, 3.15-4.15 pm during term time, for keystage 1 and keystage 2 children (not nursery).
Wheelers and Squealers: Our regular get-togethers for the village tots, tinies and their parents/carers. 11.00 am at St. Peter's, every second Thursday of the month (see posters for confirmation).
Sing to the Lord: at Hook Norton Primary School study centre, every second Thursday of the month, 8-9 pm. A chance to learn new contemporary worship songs.
Benefice Prayer meetings: Every third Wednesday of the month. Please see noticeboard in church porch for dates and venues for the New Year.
Font Café: 9.30-11.30 am, every Tuesday and Saturday morning at St. Peter's. Fresh coffee, tea and biscuits, served free of charge. It's an opportunity to meet with friends, relax and enjoy a chat. Children and well-behaved dogs welcome!
Youth Groups. Please check for forthcoming dates with Chris and Laura Cooke.
And finally, the popularity of Joyce Wilkowski'sguided walks around some of Oxford's architectural treasures means that additional tours are now planned. If you would like to go along, please call Anthea Fowler.
BAPTIST CHURCH
It is now 200 years since christian men, led by William Wilberforce, finally succeeded, against strong opposition, in bringing about the Abolition of Slavery in Britain and the colonies. Unfortunately, slavery is still practised, unofficially, in certain parts of the world. Even in this country, girls are being 'imported' from Eastern Europe to work as virtual slaves in the sex industry. It is also suspected that children, mainly from Africa, are being imported to work as domestic slaves. To raise awareness of these practices, and to try to bring pressure on governments and the U.N. to do something about them, over 300 organisations worldwide have come together to form the STOP THE TRAFFIK campaign. In the UK a multi-media presentation is being given in various places around the country. The nearest venue to us is Cheltenham, at Trinity Church on Tues 6th Feb at 7.30pm, tickets £5, from the church or the website 'www.stopthetraffik.org' , which will also give you a lot more information about the campaign. March 25th, which marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery bill, has been named 'Freedom Day' by the Campaign, with special events worldwide. The two Hooky churches will be commemorating the occasion together, but details are not yet available.
But enslavement does not have be physical in order to impose limits on our freedom and well-being. Psychologically, emotionally and spiritually we can be bound; by beliefs, attitudes and practices preventing us from finding our true fulfilment in Christ. So, it is not surprising that our Lent meetings this year are on the theme of 'Freedom in Christ'.
These will be held at the School Study Centre on Wednesdays 28th Feb, and 7th, 21st, 28th March, and will be led by visiting speakers.
Meanwhile, our pastor, John Taylor, is doing a mini-series on 'Prayer' on Sundays during February, followed by a further series entitled 'Life Shapes'. JAM CLUB services will be held at St. Peter's on Feb 18th and at the Baptist Church on March 18th.
The 'JUST DESSERTS' programme of social events continues on Feb 17th, which will be a 'DESSERT ISLAND DISCS' evening, during which various people from the village will be asked to choose an item of music and explain why they like it. That starts at 8pm and is followed, as usual, by delicious desserts in the Church hall. Come and enjoy! Parking/setting down area. We now have planning permission for this and are waiting to hear if we have funding from Oxfordshire County Council. Holiday Club dates. August 13th to 17th 2007.
PRECEPT
The Parish Council has during the current year spent nearly £80,000 rebuilding the cemetery wall in Tite Lane and carrying out urgent tree work (mainly on safety grounds) as highlighted by our Tree Survey. This is, in addition, to the usual costs incurred in managing the village. We have an excellent record of managing our financial resources and indeed have actually reduced the Parish council tax twice during the past four years, as we believed that we had sufficient reserves.
Unfortunately, as no grants were available to complete this urgent work, we have reluctantly had to borrow £20.000. To ensure that we can meet the repayments on this loan and re-commence building our financial reserves the Parish Council, after much debate, is requesting an increase to £45,000 in the Parish Council Tax for the year 2007/08. This represents an increase of approximately £9.50 per year for a Band 'E' property.
CEMETERY WALL
I am sure that those who have seen the new cemetery retaining wall cannot be anything other than impressed by the work that has been done. The end-product is a very pleasing example of both modern civil-engineering technology and traditional crafts and skills. However, I would like to express my thanks to the builders, who undertook the work in such a respectful and considerate way. Aware of the significance of the site, they made every effort to cause as little disturbance as possible to either the graves, or people visiting the cemetery. They worked around funerals, which I am sure was much to their inconvenience, and they always prepared and tidied the site for services. Particular thanks should go to Nick Casson who, in his concern for the job to be done respectfully, consulted with me regularly. I hope those who worked on the site are aware that their labours are much appreciated.
Rev'd John Acreman. Rector of Hook Norton
CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL
Cherwell District Council has produced a Conservation Area Appraisal for Hook Norton which aims to highlight all the factors that contribute to the character of the village.
A public exhibition is to be held on Friday 9th February at Hook Norton Memorial Hall, from 3.30pm - 6.30pm to be followed by a public meeting at 7pm- 9pm.
Members of the public will be invited to comment on the appraisal and forms will be available at the meeting. Officers from Cherwell District Council will be available to answer questions about the Conservation Area and the appraisal.
HOSEPIPE BAN LIFTED ..... AT LAST!
On the 18th Jan, Thames Water lifted the hosepipe and sprinkler ban that has in force since April, following four months of above-average rainfall (September 2006 to December 2006), which have eased immediate concerns about water resources following the record drought that began in November 2004.
But the company is asking customers to stick with the water-saving tips that helped avoid the need for more severe restrictions in the region last summer. “We regretted having to impose the ban, but given the severity of the drought, a cautious approach was needed to keep taps flowing without harming the environment by taking extra water from rivers.
“Our customers responded very positively to our appeals to use water wisely. Demand fell by as much as ten per cent, even at the peak of the heatwave in July. We remain extremely grateful for their help. “
Disturbing though the picture opposite may be, the gun is real, its ammunition is real, and this child in Northern Uganda is one of an estimated 20,000 children abducted by the rebel Lords Resistance Army (LRA), to fight a civil war that has already spanned two decades. It's believed 80 per cent of LRA fighters are now children, kidnapped from their villages to fight and kill without question, perhaps even their own families. Many are never seen again. 
The plight of all these people is being highlighted by Stop the Traffik (www.stopthetraffik.org), a worldwide coalition of over 300 organisations and charities working to expose people-trafficking around the globe, provide support and safe refuge, and push governments into action. 
Please look at the displays which Rita Wheatley has kindly designed and arranged at the back of St. Peter's. There are also folders of information, which Keith Fowler has put together, and the Stop the Traffik website is very comprehensive. The website also provides a list of both branded and supermarket's own ethically produced chocolate.
We have an excellent record of managing our financial resources and indeed have actually reduced the Parish council tax twice during the past four years, as we believed that we had sufficient reserves.