Dear Friends,

You would have heard by now the devastating reports of the catastrophe in Haiti. The quake hit the Caribbean island state shortly before 5pm local time (9.53pm GMT) on Tuesday. Buildings hit included United Nations headquarters and the presidential palace. Seismologists said the impact of the quake, measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. It is thought the quake was the worst to strike the country for 120 years. The chief of the UN mission to Haiti, Hedi Annabi, was among the dead which at the time of writing had exceeded 50,000 people. A number of prominent world countries have pledged aid and some countries have already responded with food and clothing.

ADRA Director Bert Smit reports that the situation in Haiti is very difficult. The ADRA office has been damaged, the Adventist University is damaged and the Adventist hospital, while damaged, is in (relative) working condition. ADRA International will have a first emergency team on location Friday, setting up four mobile clinics. The ADRA first response team is flying into the Dominican Republic with the supplies and will drive with 4x4 trucks into Haiti, providing the first wave of emergency response. In addition, 10,000 body bags and 4 million water purification tablets are enroute. Communication is difficult but it is expected that by tomorrow, Friday, we will have satellite coms in place. It is expected that we will have a better picture from on the ground on Monday.

ADRA-UK has made £25,000 available for the first line emergency response. We want to ensure that as a Church we are playing our part to help in the relief and misery of the survivors. I have therefore designated Sabbath 23 January as the date for our appeal. Please advise your respective congregations that collections will be made accordingly on that Sabbath. Cheques should be made payable to ADRA. ADRA also prefer donations online as this will also allow them to add Gift Aid.

Web donations: http://www.justgiving.com/adrahelps

Please remember the Hatian people in your prayers at this time.

God Bless

Pastor Sam Davis

"We Thank God For Guiding Us Through The Eight Years Of Our Primary Education. We Promise To Achieve Our Goals Academically, Mentally And Physically. We Hope And Pray That At The End Of Our Educational Journey We Will Be Solid Citizens Who Can Contribute To Society."

On Thursday 16^th July, not in Hyland House School but in the newly renovated Walthamstow Academy, students, teachers, family and friends came together to participate in the Graduation Ceremony of the Year 6 Class of Hyland House School. Each of the different year groups contributed to the celebration with singing, acting and recitals.

After the welcome by Headteacher, Mrs Abbequaye, the classes from Nursery to Year 6 entered, marching into the auditorium to Kirk Franklin's 'Imagine Me' and pausing for each class to perform their specially chosen item.  There were some excellent displays of the children's talent as we heard a group of saxophonists perform, saw a skit entitled 'Evolution Explained' and witnessed the choir singing 'Yes You Can' which was arranged by former pupil Kadeem Clarke.

The key speaker for the evening was Pastor Clive De Silva, also a former student, he reminded the children to keep their eye on the ball; to never lose focus. He then explained that Jesus became the man He was by trying to be like His Father, and we should all strive to do exactly the same.

Later in the programme, two graduating students, Lachelle Ebanks and James Walkinshaw, talked about the 'amazing journey that has been Hyland House'. They ended their speech by commenting on how their generation has witnessed the emerging of the 66th President of America, and how it that has instilled an attitude of aspiration in people; "as we travel throughout life's journey, can we do it - YES WE CAN!"

The evening ended by awarding each of the children, from Nursery upwards, with certificates for achievement, persistence, attitude and progress. A new award that had been established this year is the President's Award and this was presented to Lachelle Ebanks for upholding the ethics of the school.

The last thought of the ceremony was directed at the students, both graduating and remaining. Pastor De Silva wisely said, "success is not the end of a journey; it is not a result, it is a process.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All who follow his precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.

Psalms 111:10 (NIV)

View photos from the graduation here

Please note as of 25th July Tottenham Holcombe Road Seventh-Day Adventist Church will no longer be worshiping at John Loughborough School.

New Address as of 25th July:
Tottenham Holcombe Road Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Christ Apostolic Church (Outreach)
413 High Road
Tottenham
London
N17 6RD

Love in Action from Milton Keynes has been announced as one of 95 volunteering groups from across the UK winning this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, recognising the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.

The prestigious National Honour, which is equivalent to the MBE, sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, and the activities of those awarded have been judged of the highest standard.

Love in Action (MK) has received the Award for its work in relieving the hardship and distress among people who are homeless, living in poverty or suffering from social or economic adversity.

Winners of this year's Award were selected from 406 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group's work in their community.

Love in Action (MK) will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal. These will be presented by Her Majesty's representative in Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy office. Group representatives have also received an invitation to a Royal Garden Party event at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

Speaking of their success, Mike Johnson from Love in Action (MK) said: "We are thrilled to have received this prestigious honour for the work we do amongst those in the local community who are often invisible and forgotten. This award is due in large part to the vision of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church, in Fishermead, who formed Love in Action to bring hope to people in their hour of need. The dedication of the team of volunteers, led by Anne Loftman, is the cornerstone on which this project has been built and continues to thrive. We are also grateful for the support of Tom and Isabella Fraser and their fellow Councillors from Campbell Park Parish Council who has championed this project on every level."

The Award is overseen by the Office of the Third Sector, in the Cabinet Office. Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, said, "Volunteering binds communities together and builds a stronger and kinder society. Often these unsung heroes go about their work without much recognition, that's why I'm particularly pleased to see their efforts recognized and rewarded by the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service."

More than 700 groups around the UK have now won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, over the seven years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

For details of all this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service winners and information on how to nominate a group that really makes a difference, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk, where a nomination form can be downloaded.