Quarterly Gazette - 2nd edition - Setpember 2007
The Revd Paul
Trathen
Bradwell Episcopal Area Advisor for FAITH IN ACTION
The Rectory 01268 766766
Church Road 07871 584997
Rawreth
Essex Check out my blog at
SS11 8SH http://paultrathen.blogspot.com
FAITH IN ACTION GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 2007
Welcome to the second edition of the Bradwell Episcopal Area Faith in Action Gazette. This Gazette will continue to be published quarterly, and is intended to act as a ready-reminder and digest of events, news, publications and other resources to equip Christians in south and east Essex to better engage with our shared Gospel tasks of tending to a broken and unjust world, transforming society and culture, and treasuring God's gifted creation. I trust you may find it of value.
Please be in touch with me, directly, if you feel I may be able to assist you in any of your enquiries or projects.
Go well,
Paul
Shame on you! you who make unjust laws and publish burdensome decrees, depriving the poor of justice, robbing the weakest of my people of their rights, despoiling the widow and plundering the orphan. What will you do when called to account, when ruin from afar confronts you? To whom will you flee for help?"
Isaiah 10:1-3
"Our every principle and foundation is in the love of God and our neighbour alone; all our other activities are instruments and buildings placed on this foundation. Therefore thou shouldst not, for pleasure in the instrument or the building, desert the principal foundation in the honour of God and the love of our neighbour."
St Catherine of Siena
It is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need.
2 Corinthians 8:13,14
"It is not for lack of miracles that the church is stagnant; it is because we have forsaken the angelic life of Pentecost, and fallen back on private property. If we lived as they did, with all things common, we should soon convert the whole world without any need of miracles at all."
"For 'mine' and 'thine' -- those chilly words which introduce innumerable wars into the world -- should be eliminated from that holy Church . . .The poor would not envy the rich because there would be no rich. Neither would the poor be despised by the rich, for there would be no poor. All things would be in common."
St John Chrysostom
EVENTS
OCTOBER 2007
International Day for
Eradication of Poverty
17 October United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
020 7766 3444
info@una.org.uk
www.un.org
Now is the time
Christian Aid Weekend for supporters,
19-21 October at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. For full details, phone 020 7523 2248, email active@christian-aid.org or see:
http://www.christianaidconnect.org/pooled/articles/BF_EVENTART/view.asp?Q=BF_EVENTART_287997
Are You Ready For One World Week?
One World Week (21 -28 October) is coming up fast but there's still time to plan that special event to celebrate "ALL TOGETHER NOW", the theme for 2007. Of course, you can have your event anytime -it doesn't have to be in that week - one group had an inspirational and fun OWW event in July, but many take strength from knowing others are celebrating OWW at the same time.
The current website has ideas [from past years and events already posted for this year] and resources and links to appropriate resources on other websites to inspire and help you plan your event. There are suggestions about how to involve people of many cultures and faiths; resources relating to climate change include: a Christian worship anthology for a OWW service; a drama, and a quiz/simple survey to get people thinking about their carbon footprint. There are also tips about how to publicise your event locally. Links to other organisations include some of those looking at the impact of climate change on some of the world's most vulnerable people and what can be done. And there's more to come on the new website including photographs for exhibitions. Please go to http://www.oneworldweek.org.uk/ for ideas and resources and do tell OWW what you're planning so your event can be posted on their website.
Interfaith Week of
Prayer for World Peace
21-28 October 01322 336709
Norman.taylor16@btinternet.com
United Nations Day
24 October United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
020 7766 3444
info@una.org.uk
www.un.org
Landmine Action Week (not set yet)
29 October - 2 November Landmine
Action 020 7820 0222
NOVEMBER 2007
Climate Changed - let's cut the carbon ! Breakfast
Seminar : 2nd
November
Christian Aid invites you to breakfast to hear Europe's
leading futurist, Dr Patrick Dixon, talk about climate change, it's effects on
the world's poor and what we can do about it now. A £3 charge will be made to cover cost of
breakfast. Date and Time: Friday 2
November, 8am - 9am; Venue: The Court Room, St Andrew
Holborn, 5 St Andrew Street, London, EC4A
3AB
To book: email name, your church, and telephone number
to: e: london@christian-aid.org or call:
t: 020 7654 5332.
Remembrance Day
11 November Peace Pledge Union white poppies
020 7424 9444
Let Freedom Reign - set all free
thanksgiving gathering
set all free is holding a thanksgiving day on Tuesday 13 November 2007 at St John's Church, Waterloo, London. Called ‘Let Freedom Reign' this is an opportunity for those who have been on the bicentenary journey over the last couple of years to give thanks for the work done so far, bring some symbolic offerings of contributions made, and reflect on the work still to be done. For further information about the day please contact Richard Reddie or Kate Yates on 020 7529 8141, or e-mail info@setallfree.net
Prisons Sunday (Prisons Week begins)
18 November Churches Criminal
Justice Forum 020 7901 4878
www.prisonsweek.org
DECEMBER 2007
Prisoners for Peace Day
1 December War Resisters'
International
020 7278 4040
info@wri-irg.org
www.wri-irg.org/from-off.htm
World Aids Day
1 December 020 7814 6767
info@nat.org.uk
www.nat.org.uk/
World Migration Day
3 December National Catholic Refugee
Forum
07789 014819
info@refugee-forum.org.uk
www.ncrf.fsnet.co.uk
UN Human Rights Day
10 December United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
020 7766 3444
info@una.org.uk
www.un.org
2008 and ongoing...
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts
27th January to 3rd February 2008
Opening Doors, Opening Hearts is about opening hearts to hear the stories people have to tell about being homeless, badly housed, and poor. It offers opportunities for dialogue, springing from the conviction that together we can open doors to a better housed, better paid and more just society.
In 2008 Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday are only one week apart. Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is your chance to make a difference. The Opening Doors, Opening Hearts resource pack contains all the materials that are needed for Homelessness Sunday, for Poverty Action Sunday, and to organise events during the Action Week. The target is for at least 100 events to take place in communities all over the UK in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week. The resource pack materials will assist you to pray, reflect and act on homelessness and poverty; to encourage your church to get involved; to uncover the reality of hidden poverty or homelessness in your community; to celebrate what is already going on locally; to work with others.
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is organised by Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Church Urban Fund and others. For more information, contact http://www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk/ or telephone 020 7723 7273 (Housing Justice) or 0161 236 9321 (Church Action on Poverty)
Churches Together in England plans to hold a series of consultations (dates tba) around England to harvest and share the experience of those on the ground. This is in conjunction with the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice.
At the recent meeting of the Enabling Group (of CTE), it was also said that we as Christians should seek to understand better the effect of migration on the originating nations when skilled and professional people move to UK, and also the decline in the size of Christian minorities in some countries from which migrants come.
NOTICE BOARD AND NEWS
This is a time of great openness and possibility for the partnership-working of those in the churches and elsewhere in the voluntary and community sector to work creatively with others in the provision and delivery of social services.
there have been a substantial number of recent announcements and developments in social policy, from government and other agencies, which may impact on our work as Christians seeking to tend, transform and treasure our communities.
there have also been a number of new funding sources and strategies of potential application to the works we may wish to do from our parish or network bases.
i commend following links from the weekly newsletter produced by the organisation FaithACtion
i also commend resources published by the organisation FaithWorks
I also post, below, items from our own area to which I am happy to supply the air of publicity
THURROCK COMMUNITY MOTHERS & BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Tracy Gisby writes:
"We are in the process of planning a recruitment drive in Thurrock for peer support volunteers to support families with young children. The volunteers have to have been parents themselves and have a non-judgmental and empathic approach. We are a diverse community programme and have a dynamic and supportive team, of which a high percentage have a strong Christian community background. We are looking to cascade recruitment leaflets; we would also like to make a link with an appropriate person within the Thurrock area to come and meet us, so they can find out more about Community Mothers (we are seeking to recruit Dads as well)."
To find out more, please contact Tracy on 01375 858512 or communitymothers@btconnect.com or via Thurrock Community Mothers and Breastfeeding Support Programme, 23-25 Calcutta Road, Tilbury, Essex. RM18 7QT.
W4B - Wireless for the bedridden
Tim Leech writes:
"Founded in the 1930's we are a national charity which provides televisions and radios for people who live on benefits and find it difficult to provide a set for themselves.
In particular we aim to help older people, people who are vulnerable or socially isolated and those who are disadvantaged by illness or disability.
Over 144,000 older people in the UK never leave their homes, 21% live in poverty and more than 1 in10 are chronically lonely. We recognise that a way of reducing this isolation and loneliness is to provide a means of contact with the world. A practical step that make all to difference to the people we help. Our President is His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Through our contracts with national suppliers we are able to provide a range of televisions and radios on long term loan at no cost to the individual. All sets are covered either by a maintenance contract or a three year warranty. Where necessary a TV licence may be provided.
In exceptional circumstances where the potential recipient is solely responsible for the provision of an effective aerial the Society may be able to help."
Should you wish to be involved with W4B, either as a donor/helper, or to make an application for someone you know to benefit from their provision, please visit www.w4b.org.uk or contact Wireless for the Bedridden, 159a High Street, Hornchurch, Essex. RM11 3YB. Tele. 01708 621101; email: info@w4b.org.uk
BRADWELL AREA EVENTS AND TRAINING
Please contact Paul Trathen directly to book on to these training events. All are free of charge and available to all in the Bradwell Area. Further details available upon application or enquiry.
CHRISTIANS IN THE WORKPLACE
two day-seminars
Saturday 10 November 2007 - 10am-4pm
saturday 17 november 2007 - 10am-4pm
- both to be held at rawreth parish church
engaging with faith communities
four evening-course sessions
wednesday 7 november 2007 - 8-9.30pm
wednesday 14 november 2007 - 8-9.30pm
wednesday 28 november 2007 - 8-9.30pm
wednesday 5 december 2007 - 8-9.30pm
- all to be held at rawreth parish church
engaging with faith communities
one-day seminar
saturday 24 november 2007 - 10am-4pm
- to be held at rawreth parish church
‘faithful cities'
- the bradwell roadshow
- coming to a community location near you!
- details to follow soon!
RESOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS
How many lightbulbs does it take to change a Christian?
Written by Claire Foster, national policy adviser on environmental issues for the Church of England, and David Shreeve, co-founder of The Conservation Foundation and environmental adviser to the Church of England, the booklet is a mine for fresh ideas and contains details of websites and other recommended sources of further information for churches or individuals wishing to explore the issues.
Priced £4.99 and available from Christian bookshops including Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020 7799 4064, email bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available).
shrinking the footprint
The C of E's growing resource to enable you and your church to conduct an energy & carbon audit. Visit www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org
the environment in your pocket 2006
This useful publication - an A6-sized digest of facts and figures about the UK environment - is available free of charge from:
Defra Publications,
Admail 6000,
London. SW1A 2XX.
Please quote product code 12176
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/eiyp
Eco-congregation
- The Churches' Environmental Programme
Eco-congregation provides a framework to get churches involved with environmental issues.
Newsletters are available on the website as a Publisher file, Word document or .pdf
At www.ecocongregation.org/englandwales or e: ecocongregation@arocha.org t:024 7669 2491
CHASTE
An initiative of Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe
For further information contact ; Chaste, PO BOX 983, Cambridge, CB23 4WY
Tel: 0845 9335, www.chaste.org.uk, email: notforsale@chaste.org.uk
Learning Disability Today
Subscribe online at www.pavpub.com/ldtflyer
PARISH PUMP NEWS
www.conservationfoundation.co.uk
Register to receive the half-yearly print edition by contacting:
The Conservation Foundation,
1 Kensington Gore
London. SW7 2AR.
T: 020 7591 3111
Racial Justice Today
Churches Commission for Racial Justice
For more information contact: www.ctbi.org.uk/ccrj ; Tel: 020 7654 7241
Housing Justice News
For latest news visit: www.housingjustice.org.uk; Tel: 020 7723 7273
FLAME: Family Life and Education Newsletter
For more information visit, Email: kitmacl@metronet.co.uk www.flamefamily.co.uk
home & family
The quarterly magazine of the Mothers' Union, featuring helpful articles on parenting, news about the work of the MU worldwide, etc. For subscriptions contact: H&F subscriptions, 24 Tufton Street, London. SW1P 3RB
Freshstart
The magazine of Prison Advice & Care Trust.
For more information visit: Email: info@prisonadvice.org.uk, www.prisonadvice.org.uk
Tel: 020 7490 3139
Church Action on Poverty News
For more information contact Janet Ashton Tel: 0161 236 9321,mail: info@church-poverty.org.uk
website: www.church-poverty.org.uk
Lift the Lid on Bad Loans
Jubilee debt campaign
Over decades, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, rich governments and big banks lent millions to appallingly corrupt and oppressive dictators, such as Suharto in Indonesia, Marcos in the Phillipines and Mobutu in Zaire. The lenders gave money knowing that it would be stolen, wasted, or used to fund oppression-because it suited their commercial interests, or helped them win support in the Cold War
The Jubilee Debt Campaign calls on the rich world to "lift the lid" on the debt crisis.
For more information on how to join the campaign please contact: Email: info@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk or call: 020 7324 4722
Common Ground
The magazine of the Council of Christians and Jews
To obtain a copy contact: cjrelations@ccj.org.uk Internet: www.ccj.org.uk Tel: 020 7820 0090
churches' child protection advisory service
Did you know that, in a recent survey and report by UNICEF, the UK emerged as the rich nation with the poorest record of care for its children?
The CCPAS produces a quarterly magazine ‘Caring' to provide resources, guidance and inspiration for all working with children in our churches.
Chaos, Neglect and Abuse: Caring for Vulnerable Children, Report
The duties of local authorities to provide children with suitable accommodation and support services. The report explains the legal framework and national standards that should be applied when a child leaves penal custody. It contains case histories, practical advice, and summaries of the law and local authority circulars.
To obtain a copy of the report contact info@howardleague.org Tel: 020 7249 7373
Housing Justice Digest
For more information contact: www.housingjustice.org.uk/housingjusticedigest
Tel: 020 7723 7273
Social Inclusion and Older People
A call for action - Fighting for disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas.
Combat Poverty, Reduce Isolation, Challenge Neglect, Defeat Ageism, Prevent Future Deprivation
For more information contact: info@helptheaged.org.uk www.helptheaged.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 1114
Foundation Stones: Helping people with Learning Disabilities.
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
"YES": The Church Missionary Society Magazine
Email: info@cms-uk.org Tel: 0845 620 1799
interserve
The cross-denominational mission agency Interserve produces a quarterly magazine, ‘Go'.
ALPHA News
Tel: 0845 644 7544
‘ON THE WATER'S EDGE'
Bible studies, stories and worship resources to encourage churches to explore the issue of climate change through water. Produced by the United Reformed Church. £3.00 (cheques payable to ‘United Reformed Church Trust') from Commitment for Life, United Reformed Church, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT; email: alison.blick@urc.org.uk
‘Breaking the Chains'
Resource pack from the National Christian Alliance on Prostitution to help churches reflect on the wider issues of sexual exploitation, engage with the situation and take action. For a copy, ring NCAP on 0845 0044231 or email ncap@ncapuk.org .
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