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Sunday 15th. January 2012 EPIPHANY 2

The Last Word

It’s back to normal! School started last week, the students are drifting back, memories of Christmas and New Year are now just memories. Perhaps it is time to remember that while the special events may stick in the memory, as they tend to in our photo collections, it is the “normal” which has more influence over who and what we are.

Think about your normal routine, and ask if it is doing the right things for you as a person and a Christian. This would be a good time to join a housegroup. A new experience? Perhaps, but there will be a welcome, and good company on a journey to interesting places. On the other hand you may already belong to a group, and see the season of AGMs as a time to take a deep breath and volunteer to take on a new role or office. Hard work? Maybe not, but certainly a reason to meet new people, be useful, and widen your experience and circle of friends.

Our work with children and young people is in great need of helpers. Not your thing, you say? But what is needed is not skilled people who can teach and lead as much as people who can offer a little time to be a pair of helping hands: to make tea and coffee, or to be in charge of the scissors. The rewards are enormous, and the encouragement of being part of a really worthwhile activity is priceless. Have a word with Sian, and she’ll find you a place to fit in.

There are all sorts of other things you could look at. Prayer, Bible Reading Notes, coming to a midweek service, keeping in touch with family and friends, sharing a new hobby, reading a book from the Church library . . Getting started is the problem. Why is it that busy people get so much more done – could it be about starting. Go on!

Andrew Knight

Sunday 22nd. January 2012 EPIPHANY 3

The Last Word

At last we are registered as a Charity on E-Bay! It has taken a while – the first attempt failed, and since then we have changed the Parish Bank Account because of the charges levied by our old provider. But now E-Bay users can dedicate part or all of the proceeds of the sales of their items to “Sketty Parochial Church Council” – which means Holy Trinity can use it, as well as St Paul’s.

Of course, this may not mean a lot to some people, but the

online auction site E-Bay is very popular. It provides, even to

those who live in remote places, or have little time to browse

the shops, an enormous range of goods. It also means that if

you need specialist items, or have them to sell, there is a very

large market and a better chance of finding the person to trade

with.

So what is the point of registering? Not only does it mean that it is easy to give some of the proceeds of a sale, it is also possible to make a donation through this route. I hope it means that people who have things to get rid of – not necessarily precious, but “clearing out” – may be able to raise money for the Parish. I wonder if there is any E-Bay user who might like to help with this? Receiving items, photographing and describing them for sale, and seeing the process through to reporting to the donor.

E-Bay has raised £31,500,000 for Charity over some 5

years. We’d be mad to miss out on that, so have a go!

Andrew Knight