Hello Wellesbourne

It's good to be a part of this community. A recent change in my job means I've moved house to live in Leamington and work part of my time in Wellesbourne. My job? I'm the new Minister at the Methodist Church on Bridge Street. I also look after two other churches: Dale Street, Leamington, and Cubbington.

I haven't moved far, however: I've spent the last four years as the Minister of Kenilworth Methodist Church, and before that I was a Methodist Local Preacher in this area, having first moved from Worcester, with my wife Ann and two small children, to live in Warwick in 1982.

Kenilworth was my first Church: I came into the Ministry there in 2003, as a Probationer Minister initially, and was ordained as a Priest in 2005. Before 2003 I worked for almost 30 years as an accountant, mainly in the public sector. In my last 'proper' job I was a District Auditor with the Audit Commission.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know more of you, and to helping the Christians of the village to work more closely together in the community, to show and share the love of Christ. Please do speak if you see me out and about in the village. Every blessing,

Rev Andy Laird  

BUY ONE GET ONE ???

It's another little word that's in danger of being devalued just as 'love' has been. It appears everywhere these days, free service, free fitting, free delivery and, daftest of all, free credit. Ask Barclays about this, they'll probably send for the men in white coats.

Does anyone really think that in this world you ever get something for nothing? Well obviously some do otherwise it would have died off years ago. Did you know that the best, most inventive, creative minds and more money is supposed to be spent on TV advertising than on the programmes? Mind you, looking at the programmes, that doesn't surprise me.

All this was prompted by a report that £3.5 billion was conned out of the British public by Nigerian con-men who offer huge sums for the use of your bank account to transfer even vaster sums of money out of the country. That's nearly £60 for every man, woman and child in Britain. It seems incredible but it's all about greed, getting something for nothing. And people still fall for it.

God didn't give us the 10th commandment just to complete a set. He gave it as a warning against the corrosive power of greed, envy and covetousness. On this commandment rests the peaceful harmony of our community life together. Breach it with a corrupting whiff of greed and envy and it's gone for ever.

Yet the whole of the advertising industry is aimed at making people discontented, dissatisfied and envious by suggesting that if they plaster themselves with glamour muck or wash their hair with extra-special poo rather than shampoo they will somehow become more desirable, attractive, popular and loveable, because you're worth it! Or if you take advantage of this free credit you can have a new car. You may be able to pull the birds, or whatever the current vernacular is, but I doubt it. I'd put this in the same class as those irritating emails suggesting that I might like a penis enlargement.

Most people howl with laughter at such nonsense but there must be enough people around to make it worthwhile, otherwise advertisers wouldn't spend millions trying to seduce us into spending more than we need to. These chaps arc experts in parting us painlessly and efficiently from our money and there's a sucker born every minute. Nobody in the business world gets anything for free: somewhere, someone is paying and probably through the nose and it's quite likely to he you.

But you're worth a damn sight more than that. You are unique; you are an individual, not just a number on a clock-in card or a tax return. No one else has your skill, your personality, your character, your talents or anything else. You are just as important to our community as anyone. You are needed, you are wanted, you are loved, and when you finally realise this you won't need any fatuous adverts or special products. You'll be free, truly free in the real sense of the word. And God bless you all.

Mac