Just in case you missed it or have just come across the website, our Harvest service is this weekend, Sunday 9 October. We’re asking all the children to create a response to ‘tools’ for us to use in the service – so it might be a poem about a spade, or a song about  an axe, or a drawing of plumbing equipment. It’s time to use our imaginations!

The reason for the tools is because we’re supporting Tools With a Mission again as part of our celebration. The article that the Evening News printed (along with a lovely smiley photograph of Alan) is below. I’m hoping it will be  in the Wymondham paper when it prints today.

Sat 8 Oct: Tool collection, 10-4, Queen Street

Sun 9 Oct: Harvest service, Queen Street

Wymondham Church Calls for Old Tools Donations

Last year residents from across south Norfolk gave more than a tonne of spanners, hammers, saws, shovels and sewing machines to Wymondham Baptist Church, which were donated to the charity Tools with a Mission as part of its harvest festival celebrations.

The items were then refurbished and sent to developing countries where they helped people gain a regular income and become more self-sufficient.

The church is appealing for tools such as carpentry, building, electrical, plumbing, gardening and motor mechanics equipment, as well as electric power tools, sewing machines, laptops, flat screen computers, chainsaws, adult mountain bikes and manual typewriters.

This year, the charity is also looking for educational textbooks and stationary which can be used by children in schools.

Tracy Kenny, who leads youth work at Wymondham Baptist Church, said: “We’re doing it again because it’s just the best way to help.

“The collection is a hand-up for truly poor people in Africa and it also benefits south Norfolk.

“We’re heard that south Norfolk needs to improve our recycling rates and clearing unwanted items out of your garage and getting them refurbished for re-use is a great step to help another community.”

Anyone wishing to donate tools can bring them to Wymondham Baptist Church, in Queen Street, on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. The church’s harvest festival will take place on October 9.

I had a chat yesterday after Little Acorns with a lady who works with Home Start, a charity that helps families that need just an extra pair of hands or a bit of extra support. She’d come along with a family to Acorns, and she stopped back by after to introduce herself to me and tell me there are other families that want to get to us, but may just need a bit of company or a bit more looking after.

I said at one point: ‘I sound like I know what I’m talking about, don’t I?’

Because we’re ready for it. For the mum who just needs someone aware of her medical condition: we have a St John’s ambulance trainer, a retired nurse, and three trained first-aiders on our team.

For the mum who just needs someone to walk with her: Melanie’s already offered.

For those who don’t like crowds: I was able to refer to City Church’s group, and also to Hoppers. We also talked about Dad’s Hoppers, and the Methodist church’s Thursday group (which I confess I know nothing about). Because for the most part the toddler group leaders meet together, we have great relationships, and we can do this freely, knowing that we understand where each other’s coming from. Our conversation was a real story of the baby and toddler groups being a ministry more than a playgroup. And then she said it:

‘People today may think they don’t want to be a part of a church, but that’s where the community is. That’s where they’ll find the sense of extra family. Church is where they will find that love.’

Hi again all, I’m figuring out how to add comments on this thing… They’re not switched off because we’re not interested!