St. Jude

French connection
For nearly 50 years the ecumenical monastery at Taizé has welcomed pilgrims seeking God in silence, song, and simplicity. In a photo story Heidi Schlumpf shares some of the spiritual vintage in the heart of wine country.

View a slideshow of images from Taize! Just click on the double arrows on the right of the controller button to start. You must have a free Adobe Flash Player installed in your computer. Musical accompaniment comes from Ubi Caritas, courtesy of the Taizé community.

Siteseeing
       with Santa Claus
agreatergift.org
I supplement the elves’ work with fair trade toys from artisans around the world. This site, a project of SERRV International, one of the first alternative trade organizations, offers puzzles, puppets, tea sets, bibs, backpacks, and even a creepy wooden snake. They also sell candy, food, and other items.

gxonlinestore.org
In addition to items for adults, Global Exchange has a kids’ section, which features fair trade dolls, jump ropes, soft toys, books, and more. Global Exchange is an international human rights organization.

lankakade.co.uk
This British company sells mostly wooden toys from fair trade artisans in Sri Lanka. They offer puzzles, furniture, mobiles, board games, and dolls, as well as decorative accessories for kids’ rooms. They deliver internationally.