There is Enough For All! Start getting ready for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week Jan-Feb 2010

From: "liamp" <liamp@church-poverty.org.uk>
Date: 08/19/2009 11:24AM
Subject: There is Enough For All! Start getting ready for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week

Dear friend

 

We wanted to let you know about our plans for Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2010. We hope you'll join us again in tackling poverty and homelessness between 30 January and 7 February.

 

"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold."

Acts 4:35

 

Times are hard, as the recession has hit individuals, families and communities throughout Britain. But in the gloom, we have found inspiration. Our message is that there is Enough For All if, instead of retreating into our shells, we greet our neighbours, give what we can, share our ideas, hopes, goods and skills. Action Week in 2010 will demonstrate what can happen when people share what we have.

·         Fed up of the trek to the dump with perfectly useful but unwanted goods? Put them on Freecycle!

·         Demoralised by empty church buildings? See about using them for affordable homes!

·         Suspicious of dodgy banking practices? Find out about your local credit union!

 

The gap between rich and poor has grown. This year's resource materials, free to download, will give up-to-date evidence of inequality and injustice in today's Britain. They will also include plenty of positive examples of groups which are making the most of what they have, living more simply, reaching out to others, changing their communities.

We encourage church groups, schools and projects to be adventurous. Use the materials in worship, put on special events. Let us know what you are planning, and use our resources to be part of something bigger. Some ideas in the pack:

·         Hold a bring-and-swap shop to share goods and ideas.

·         Assess your own community for the assets it can offer.

·         Host a bring-and-share meal to link people in your area.

·         Hold a 'justice fair' and invite other local organisations to share their ideas for a fairer, more sustainable society.

 

The full set of resources will be available to download soon. In the meantime, you can download the Enough For All manifesto at http://www.actionweek.org.uk/html/resources.php. Why not take a look now, and start thinking about how you could explore this theme in your community?

 

Thanks and best wishes

 

Liam Purcell

 

--

Liam Purcell
Communications and Supporter Relations Manager

Church Action on Poverty, Central Buildings, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ
0161 236 9321  www.church-poverty.org.uk

Charity number 1079986   Company number 3780243

How just is your church?

Practise justice with the free Just Church programme at www.justchurch.org.uk

Jesus In the City/ Congress March 2010

Are you a Christian living or serving in an urban area? 

 

If so come and be part of the 6th UK Urban Mission Congress Jesus in the City in Belfast from 12th-14th March 2010.

 

Jesus in the City gathers together urban Christians from across the UK to share worship, bible study, experiences, passions and challenges. The congress will have seven streams focusing on di fferent areas of urban Christianity:

• Growing Christians in tough communities
• Church in the city centre
• Christians as agents for justice and reconciliation
• Identity and urban church
• Ethnicity and urban church
• Mission across cultures
• Healing in our cities

In these streams you will get an opportunity to meet others working in similar situations to share experiences, encouragements and lessons learned.

 

Jesus in the City welcomes anyone with a heart to live, work and proclaim the good news of freedom and justice in urban areas and we would encourage you to be a part of it.

 

For more details on the Congress and booking go to www.jitc.org.uk