News

If you’re thinking of taking advantage of the sunny weather with a walk in the Buckinghamshire countryside, don’t let thieves spoil it for you.

Although vehicle crime in the Vale is one of the lowest rates across the entire Thames Valley, AVDC and Thames Valley Police are asking residents to spare a thought for car security when visiting beauty spots in the coming months.

The misconception is that by parking in the middle of nowhere, possessions will be safer but the truth is that a quieter setting provides the perfect opportunity for a thief. Don’t give thieves an easy opportunity. Follow the steps below to protect your car and valuables….

- Securely look all doors and shut windows and sunroofs, even if you’re leaving your car for just a few minutes

Don’t leave anything on display in your car, even a coat can be tempting
Take all valuables with you – do not leave them in the glove box, in the boot or under the seat, this is the first place a thief will look

For a car air freshener or a ‘no valuables have been left in this car’ sign please call into Customer Services at Aylesbury Vale District Council, 66 High Street, Aylesbury or visit the AVDC desk at the Buckingham Centre, Verney Close, Buckingham. Information is also available at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/communitysafety
If you are unable to travel due to a disability, please contact the Council on

01296 585615 and we can arrange to post the item.

Council and Police working together to reduce crime and disorder.

I'm very pleased to announce that the Jubilee Green Management Committee has managed to successfully secure a WREN grant of £50,000 towards replacing the play area on Jubilee Green. This is a great achievement and is the result of 18 months hard work by the Jubilee Green Management Committee, all done on a voluntary basis.

Having secured funding, this now means we are in a position to proceed with the plans for the play area, which we anticipate being completed this year.

Further details of the proposed plan for the play area can be found here.

Rob Godfrey, Chair JGMC

About WREN

WREN is a not-for-profit business that helps benefit the lives of people who live close to landfill sites by awarding grants for environmental, heritage and community projects.

Our directors, staff and the people on our regionally based advisory panels are fully committed to enhancing the social environment, natural conservation and heritage aspects of the world in which we live and create a beneficial and lasting legacy for future generations.

To find out more about what WREN does and most importantly how WREN funding might benefit you and your community, please spend a few moments exploring our website at www.wren.org.uk.

About a year ago, you may remember Magdeline Makola, a nurse in Scotland, was locked in the boot of her own car for 10 days without food or water and deprived of her basic needs. Her captor had threatened to kill her if she didn’t give him the PIN number to her bank account. Magdeline miraculously survived this harrowing ordeal and was rescued by the police but suffered ongoing anger and hatred towards her abductor until one day she read ‘The Word 4U 2Day’.

She said: ‘... I had an ongoing anger and hatred towards him. I have to say I was miserable, but I kept on reading The Word 4U 2Day which has dramatically changed my life. I started realising how blessed I am. When I started reading ‘Let it go’ I felt the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, and felt that what he had done to me was the work of the devil and he’d failed. A lot of people cannot understand how I can forgive somebody who has treated me badly. But the more you forgive, the more you receive the showers of blessing, and the healing process is amazing.’

‘The Word for Today’ (‘The Word 4U 2Day’ is the version for teenagers) is a booklet of short thoughts for the day, published quarterly and copies are available free to pick up in All Saints, Wing and SS Peter and Paul, Wingrave (or get in touch with me), or you can view them online at www.ucb.co.uk They are published by UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) which, from 1st December last year, began broadcasting God’s Word nationally on digital radio. Magdeline discovered that God and His Word are the most powerful thing in this world.
So can you.

Shalom

Revd Derek Witchell
01296 682320

The continuing story of Jack and Jill…

Jack was about to marry Jill and his father took him to one side, 'When I married your mother, the first thing I did when we got home was take off my trousers,' he said. 'I gave them to your mother and told her to put them on. When she did, they were enormous on her and she said to me that she couldn't possibly wear them, as they were too large. I told her, 'of course they're too big. I wear the trousers in this family and I always will.' Ever since that day, we have never had a single problem. 'Jack took his father's advice and as soon as he got Jill alone after the wedding, he did the same thing; took off his trousers, gave them to Jill and told her to put them on. Jill said that the trousers were too big and she couldn't possibly wear them. 'Exactly,' replied Jack. 'I wear the trousers in this relationship and I always will. I don't want you to forget that.' Jill paused and removed her knickers and gave them to Jack. 'Try these on,' she said, so he tried them on but they were too small. 'I can't possibly get into your knickers,' said Jack. 'Exactly,' replied Jill. 'And if you don't change your attitude, you never will.'

Jokes are great vehicles for showing up our underlying attitudes. Most of us have a natural tendency to be just like Jack and Jill – selfish and controlling. It’s the part of our humanity that messes up relationships and the world we live in. I don’t think Jack and Jill’s marriage would have gone the distance.

Jesus made it clear that this is not God’s way. His way is of unselfish, unwarranted, unstoppable, unending love for others. Jesus said: ‘Love God and love your neighbour as yourself.’ He calls us to be unselfish, just like him, if we want a better world, a better atmosphere at work and home, a better relationship with those we love. He calls us to stand up for the rights of others but not our own. He told us to love our enemies, to love the unlovable, to ‘go the extra mile’, to take care of the stranger. It’s hard to sacrifice ourselves like this but oh so worth it!

A world without any selfishness would be heaven, wouldn’t it?

Shalom

Revd Derek Witchell
01296 682320