See What A Morning ~ Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

If you would like to know more about this wonderful song then look at my other blog Hallelujah Joy

Homeless in Westminster

A few days ago after reading about the Westminster Council outlawing feeding the homeless and making it an offence to sleep rough in Westminster, I wrote  "I was Hungry and you fed me",

Today more of the press are taking up the cause and this is what The Guardian's Stephen Bullivant has to say: (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/mar/04/homeless-victoria-london-westminster-bylaw)

If the "big society" means anything, then Victoria on a Monday night might seem a strong contender. At around 10pm, a minibus rolls up loaded with crates of sandwiches and still-warm hard-boiled eggs, urns of tea and homemade soup, bags of fruit, and sacks of donated clothes and bedding. Also inside are three of Mother Teresa's nuns, the Missionaries of Charity, and a handful of others – university students, young professionals, retirees – drawn from across Greater London. After a short prayer, food, clothes and (perhaps most importantly) conversations are distributed to dozens of the borough's rough sleepers and most vulnerable.

This service is just one of many such volunteer-led initiatives, faith-based or not, doing what little it can to alleviate the depth of poverty and loneliness in one of the richest cities on earth. Just as Mother Teresa herself did in the slums of Kolkata, the Lambeth-based Missionaries of Charity saw a need, and responded to it. They receive few, if any, government and council grants or subsidies. Those helping them – including, I am proud to say, several of my own undergraduates – make no expenses claims. The Victoria system is, moreover, very efficient: those who need it, know when and where to come. And on other nights of the week, the same caritas (a word which, let us not forget, means "love") is provided by different groups.

Surely, this is the "new culture of voluntarism, philanthropy, and social action" that the prime minister claims is his "great passion"? Yet it may also be, if members of the Tory-controlled Westminster council have their way, about to be outlawed.

The proposed by-law would forbid a person either "to lie down or sleep in or on any public place", or "to distribute any free refreshment", within the confines of a large charitable no-go area west of Victoria station. Offenders could face fines up to £500. Lest that all seems a bit draconian, a handful of exemptions to the "distributing free refreshment" rule are mercifully proposed: these include sporting events (in case the London Marathon needs to be diverted slightly?), and businesses offering free samples of their wares (though only next to their own premises).

Westminster reportedly has the highest concentration of rough sleepers in the country. Banning them is certainly one way to make the problem go away: at least as far as the next borough. But I doubt if there are many spare hostel and sheltered housing beds in neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea. And as Victoria's dispossessed are displaced once again, what is there to stop a domino effect of councils effectively outlawing homelessness?

The justification for banning charity, meanwhile, will be familiar to all those who help, however infrequently and inadequately, the homeless. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, and even welcoming the (asylum-seeking) stranger, apparently merely encourages them. (That's the bit that Jesus forgot to mention.) Giving money to the poor keeps them in poverty. Just as it is the benefits system that creates unemployment, and not unemployment that necessitates benefit, so too – by the same callous logic – it is charity that produces homelessness, not homelessness that gives rise to charity. Yet delicious though their soup is, and pleasant company though they undoubtedly are, it is not the Missionaries of Charity who are keeping people on the streets.

According to Cameron, "We do need a social recovery to mend the broken society". Reading Westminster's proposed bylaw – a symptom of a broken society is ever there was one – I'm convinced he is right. But if that is indeed "what the big society is all about" then his fellow Tories have, as my mother would say, a funny way of showing it.

ACEO ~ See What A Morning

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark

Inspired by the song "See What A Morning", by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, this Easter ACEO depicts the dawning on the sun on Easter Morning with the empty cross symboising hope for mankind.

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork
quality card base.
Available for purchase from HERE

And the winner is ..........

The winner has been drawn at random and is ......... Womble aka Kokokelli.

Thank you to everyone who entered.  I'll be having lots more giveaways soon, so keep your eyes open.

I Surrender All

If you want to read more about this beautiful song, please look here where I have written about it on another of my blogs Hallelujah Joy

Necklace & Earrings ~ Waterlily

 This necklace has been inspired by water lily ponds, the blues and greens of the water with all it's relections and the stunning crisp white lilys floating on the surface.

This stunning necklace is created with beatiful lucite glass floral beads in frosted white , these floral beads are interspaced with a selection of coloured glass, gems and assorted pearl beads in a myriad of colours. The beads are all individually wired and connected to the each other
This necklace is perfect for spring or summer.

It measures 20" (51cm) at the shortest, but can be extended to 22" (56cm) with the use of the full extender chain.

I can adjust the length, should it be required.
The necklace closes with a lobster clasp and extender chain.

The earrings are created with a selection of the same beads. They are currently on hook tops, but can be changed to post tops or clips.
The necklace & Earrings will be supplied in a gift bag

Available to purchase HERE

The Sheep and the Goats ~ Keith Green

Yesterday I posted about The Westminster Council banning Charities from feeding the homeless.  You can read the details HERE.  I received a comment from Debbie and she directed me to this track which I have decided to share today.  It's a version of Matt 25 which I quoted on that first post. It's a fantastic rendition
by the late Keith Green who's music still has a real ministry all these years on from his death.

ACEO ~ Snowdrop

Snowdrop in the snow

Original artwork in acrylic and ink by Karen Clark

A beatiful snowdrop in the snow

Signed dated and titled on the rear of the card. presented in a celephane sleeve.

Size 2.5 x 3.5 inches collectable artwork
quality card base.
Available to purchase HERE

For I Was Hungry And You Fed Me

 I was shocked to read this report yesterday regarding the banning of charities in the London Borough of Westminster, running soup kitchens for the poor and homeless.  The council also want to  make it an offence to sleep rough and they are proposing to cut £5 million from the budget to fund hostels.
Westminster council, one of the richest in the land, wants to bring in a bylaw making it an offence to “give out food for free”, punishable by fines. The twisted move blows apart David Cameron’s Big Society boast that an army of ­volunteers will flock to help those worse off.

Reverend Alison Tomlin of the Methodist church in ­Westminster said: “The proposals are nothing short of disgusting. This bylaw punishes people solely for their misfortune and belongs in a ­Victorian statute book, not the 21st century.”

But Westminster’s Daniel Astaire risked provoking further fury by declaring free food “keeps people on the street longer”. He added: “Soup runs have no place in the 21st century. It is undignified that people are being fed on the streets. They actually encourage people to sleep rough with all the dangers that entails."

When did these so called policy makers look at the Bible.  It speaks clearly of the duty of those with, to give and care for those without.  Ideally there would be no homelessness, no metal illness, violence and abuse and poverty  that have led to the huge number of homeless on the streets, but while there are homeless, there needs to be support and love shown to them.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

  “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.  For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’  Matthew 25 v 31~45.

Don't forget the Giveaway....

Don't forget to enter my give away to win a bespoke necklace and earring set made to your own specifications.
Details HERE closes on Friday

Hallelujah Joy

I have several blogs, I really enjoy writing them, but sometimes it becomes a chore and the joy goes out of it and so I take a break. 
Last night I had a conversation which reawakened a desire to post on my Christian Worship blog Hallelujah Joy.  I would love it if you took a look over there and spent a few minutes lost in the wonder of the music and lyrics.

Craft Juice Tuesday ~ In the garden

An acrylic artwork by Clootielugs, painted in acrylics painted on card.  I love the vibrant colours and the natural  positioning of  the plants.

Every garden needs birds, I have chosen this stunning plate designed by Catherine Reece.  I love the simplicity of the birds and the great use of colours.

This decoupage box has been created by MJanePurcell.  It would make a cheerful gift holder.  I do like the pencil coloured drawings.

And what garden would be complete with out  a gnome or two.  This cheeky pair can be knitted (ok I accept they are not entirely suitable for your garden) from the pattern by Fresh stitches

Fire Heart Pendant

 
This stunning glass heart is beautifuly made. It contains goldstone and metal leaf. The effect is a sparkling fire like heart.
The pendant is suspened with a lovely silver coloured bail from a string of textural peacock shimmer beads. These set the heart of beautifully.
It measures 18" (46cm) with the heart and bail drop an additional 2" (5cm)
I can adjust the length, should it be required.
The necklace closes with a barrel clasp.
The necklace will be supplied in a gift bag.
Available to purchase HERE

Indescribable

If you would like to read about this beautiful song, you can read THIS POST on my other blog Hallelujah Joy

Pink Shell Necklace

 
This necklace is 44" (102cm ) long . It can be worn in a single loop or it can be doubled up. The beads are an eclectic mix of wooden, glass, faux pearls, shell pieces, shell discs, and acrylic beads. All the beads are individually wired.
The beads are interspaced with gilt chain lengths.
The necklace does not have a clasp.
The Earrings are simple cube glass beads Currently they are hook tops, but can be changed for a post and butterfly or a clip on.
This set will be supplied in a gift bag.

It is available to purchase HERE