Sunday 19 December 2010
This blog...
Whilst I shall be moving into new work responsibilities at the end of January 2011, it is my hope that this blog will continue to serve as a repository for ideas and resources relating to community outreach and campaigning in our churches of south Essex. I may write to it occasionally; equally, it may be possible to pass it along to other bloggers to continue, in a similar vein...any takers out there?!?...
the journey home: Ceasing blogging...
the journey home: Ceasing blogging...: "I have always been a very occasional - and rather amateurish - blogger. So what follows is not of any earth-shattering consequence, but w..."
Wednesday 15 September 2010
eco-discipleship & spirituality weekend - a few places still left - HURRY!
DIOCESE OF CHELMSFORD
‘LET US BE HUMAN’
eco-discipleship & spirituality weekend
FRIDAY 24 – SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2010
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A SPIRIT-PROVOKING WEEKEND AT THE WONDERFUL RINGSFIELD HALL RE-CONNECTING OUR LIVES WITHIN GOD’S GOOD CREATION.
THE WEEKEND WILL FEATURE:.
SEMINARS AND TALKS;
GAMES AND ROLEPLAYS;
PRAYER AND SINGING;
BEAUTIFUL WALKS;
CRAFT & CHILLOUT SPACE;
ANIMALS;
LABYRINTHS;
AN EVENING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE!;
AND PLENTY MORE!...
ALL ALONGSIDE GOOD FOOD AND EXCELLENT COMPANY IN A FABULOUS COUNTRY HOUSE ON THE SUFFOLK/NORFOLK BORDERS.
WILL IT FEATURE YOU?
YOU ARE INVITED TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN, CALLED TO BE GOOD NEWS IN YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT!
*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TRANSPORT, FOOD AND OTHER COSTS WILL BE MET. YOU ARE REQUESTED, HOWEVER, TO BRING WITH YOU YOUR OWN BEDDING (IE. QUILT COVER, BOTTOM SHEET, PILLOWCASE) AND TOWELS.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEKEND
FRIDAY
Late afternoon Depart home – details below†
9.00pm (approx.) Arrival – tea/coffee, introductions, prayers, chill† & bed
SATURDAY
8.00am Breakfast
9.00am ‘Crisis? What crisis?’ – starting to explore…
11.00am Coffee break
11.30am ‘Being in a disciple in God’s whole world’ – going deeper…
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Prayer walk, labyrinth, meeting the animals, ‘magic spots’
3.30pm Tea break
4.00pm ‘Living it out at Ringsfield Hall’
6.00pm Supper
7.00pm Free time†, including time around the camp fire!
SUNDAY
8.00am Breakfast
9.00am ‘Practicing the Communion of all Creation’ – how shall we live?...
11.00am Coffee break
11.30am Holy Communion, with craft and contributions…
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Depart for home
† Chill/Free time – there is plenty to absorb you at Ringsfield Hall – games room, 14 acres of grounds, reading rooms, strawbale house, craft barn, chill-out loft…and plenty more!
† Transport will be via minibus or car. Details of pick-up points will be sent to you.
Tuesday 3 August 2010
Eco-Spirituality and Discipleship Weekend
Eco-Spirituality and Discipleship Weekend
25/26 September 2010
Ringsfield Hall, Norfolk
As part of a series of environment-focussed projects in the Diocese of Chelmsford, we are looking to recruit THIRTY young adults and teenagers to come and learn more about what our Christian faith has to say about God's good creation and how to live what we believe about His love for the whole world.
Those who will grow into adulthood in this generation are facing the prospect of a natural environment reeling from shocks and devastation which have been visited on it by the last couple of generations. How can we learn to draw on our faith to live more wisely and lovingly and to see God's redeeming work extending even to the ends of the earth?
This weekend will feature seminars and talks, games and roleplays, prayer and singing; it will feature the beauty of walks in the countryside around Ringsfield Hall, good food and excellent company. Will it feature YOU? You are invited to grow as a Christian, called to be good news in your own environment!
All costs for this experience will be covered, so it is entirely FREE from your perspective. This is to include:
• coach travel to and from Ringsfield Hall from a number of pick-up points in east London and Essex;
• accommodation in comfy, shared rooms;
• full board, beautiful food for all our time away;
• ...and some other goodies!
Ages 13 - 25.
If you are interested in going - or even in just finding out more, at this stage - please contact Paul Trathen, Bishop Laurie's Advisor for Faith in Action, who is coordinating and helping to lead this weekend event. You can reach him on 01268 766766 or paul.trathen@btopenworld.com
What are you waiting for?!?! Sign up before all the places are gone!!!
Fr Paul Trathen
Faith in Action Adviser
Bradwell Area Team
25/26 September 2010
Ringsfield Hall, Norfolk
As part of a series of environment-focussed projects in the Diocese of Chelmsford, we are looking to recruit THIRTY young adults and teenagers to come and learn more about what our Christian faith has to say about God's good creation and how to live what we believe about His love for the whole world.
Those who will grow into adulthood in this generation are facing the prospect of a natural environment reeling from shocks and devastation which have been visited on it by the last couple of generations. How can we learn to draw on our faith to live more wisely and lovingly and to see God's redeeming work extending even to the ends of the earth?
This weekend will feature seminars and talks, games and roleplays, prayer and singing; it will feature the beauty of walks in the countryside around Ringsfield Hall, good food and excellent company. Will it feature YOU? You are invited to grow as a Christian, called to be good news in your own environment!
All costs for this experience will be covered, so it is entirely FREE from your perspective. This is to include:
• coach travel to and from Ringsfield Hall from a number of pick-up points in east London and Essex;
• accommodation in comfy, shared rooms;
• full board, beautiful food for all our time away;
• ...and some other goodies!
Ages 13 - 25.
If you are interested in going - or even in just finding out more, at this stage - please contact Paul Trathen, Bishop Laurie's Advisor for Faith in Action, who is coordinating and helping to lead this weekend event. You can reach him on 01268 766766 or paul.trathen@btopenworld.com
What are you waiting for?!?! Sign up before all the places are gone!!!
Fr Paul Trathen
Faith in Action Adviser
Bradwell Area Team
Friday 30 April 2010
GENERAL ELECTION RESOURCES LINKS REFLECT, PRAY, ACT, VOTE
The General Election takes place on May 6th.
Many church and other faith-based organisations have produced useful, challenging and informative General Election focussed web-based liturgical and campaigning resources. These include:
Church of England resources, briefing and prayers: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/generalelection
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland GE policy guides and details of hustings meetings: http://www.ctbi.org.uk/427
The Christian Institute have produced an Election Briefing Paper giving information about the policies of the political parties and key background information on legislation and public policy: http://www.christian.org.uk
The free churches have produced a comprehensive guide to the key issues facing voters from a faith perspective and further advice regarding hustings meetings. Read it at: www.churcheselection.org.uk
Christians in Politics: http://www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk
Ekklesia produce daily briefings at: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk
Theos discuss faith and politics at: www.theosthinktank.co.uk
The Jubilee Centre in Cambridge have produced Votewise 2010- a guide to the election and detailed small group materials: http://www.jubilee-centre.org
CARE produce news based briefings at: www.care.org.uk
The Roman Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have published “Choosing the Common Good” which can be accessed via: http://www.rcdow.org.uk
Read the Westminster “declaration of Christian conscience” at: http://www.westminster2010.org.uk
Faithworks have interviewed party leaders and promote their declaration supporting the role of faith communities in welfare and wider public service provision at: http://www.faithworks.info
Several Christian organisations are calling on voters and candidates to support the people fleeing persecution and oppression by promoting the Sanctuary Pledge: http://sanctuarypledge.org.uk
Church Action on Poverty are promoting an accountability pledge for candidates: www.church-poverty.org.uk/2010election
Housing Justice briefings can be accessed at: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk
The Criminal Justice Alliance has produced a briefing comparing party policies on criminal justice issues: http://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/electionmanifestosbriefing.pdf
The Churches Criminal Justice Forum have produced a range of election briefings which can be found at: www.ccjf.org.uk
Many organisations are calling for a “Robin Hood tax” on banks to pay for welfare services. More information at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk
The Churches Criminal Justice Forum have produced a range of election briefings which can be found at: www.ccjf.org.uk
CORD asks us to “vote global”: http://www.cord.org.uk/the-latest/latest-news/cord-latest/16-in-general-news/343-vote-global-in-the-uk-general-election.html
The Salvation Army has produced its own manifesto which can be found at: www.salvationarmy.org.uk
Church House Bookshop has a selection of political and election reading for sale at: www.chbookshop.co.uk
For those concerned about extremist politics, resources can be found at: http://www.hopenothate.org.uk
Further local news and information can be found at: http://www.networknorwich.co.uk
We will continue to publish information including details of Church hosted hustings event in Norfolk at www.norwich.anglican.org
Please note that there is of course no obvious “Christian way to vote” and people of religious faith are actively involved in all parties. Each has a Christian group or forum which can be contacted via official party websites
This list is by no means exhaustive. For further information or recommendations on other useful resources, please contact Rev Simon Wilson, Diocese of Norwich Social and Community Concerns Co-ordinator via: simon.wilson@norwich.anglican.org
Many church and other faith-based organisations have produced useful, challenging and informative General Election focussed web-based liturgical and campaigning resources. These include:
Church of England resources, briefing and prayers: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/generalelection
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland GE policy guides and details of hustings meetings: http://www.ctbi.org.uk/427
The Christian Institute have produced an Election Briefing Paper giving information about the policies of the political parties and key background information on legislation and public policy: http://www.christian.org.uk
The free churches have produced a comprehensive guide to the key issues facing voters from a faith perspective and further advice regarding hustings meetings. Read it at: www.churcheselection.org.uk
Christians in Politics: http://www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk
Ekklesia produce daily briefings at: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk
Theos discuss faith and politics at: www.theosthinktank.co.uk
The Jubilee Centre in Cambridge have produced Votewise 2010- a guide to the election and detailed small group materials: http://www.jubilee-centre.org
CARE produce news based briefings at: www.care.org.uk
The Roman Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have published “Choosing the Common Good” which can be accessed via: http://www.rcdow.org.uk
Read the Westminster “declaration of Christian conscience” at: http://www.westminster2010.org.uk
Faithworks have interviewed party leaders and promote their declaration supporting the role of faith communities in welfare and wider public service provision at: http://www.faithworks.info
Several Christian organisations are calling on voters and candidates to support the people fleeing persecution and oppression by promoting the Sanctuary Pledge: http://sanctuarypledge.org.uk
Church Action on Poverty are promoting an accountability pledge for candidates: www.church-poverty.org.uk/2010election
Housing Justice briefings can be accessed at: http://www.housingjustice.org.uk
The Criminal Justice Alliance has produced a briefing comparing party policies on criminal justice issues: http://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/electionmanifestosbriefing.pdf
The Churches Criminal Justice Forum have produced a range of election briefings which can be found at: www.ccjf.org.uk
Many organisations are calling for a “Robin Hood tax” on banks to pay for welfare services. More information at: http://robinhoodtax.org.uk
The Churches Criminal Justice Forum have produced a range of election briefings which can be found at: www.ccjf.org.uk
CORD asks us to “vote global”: http://www.cord.org.uk/the-latest/latest-news/cord-latest/16-in-general-news/343-vote-global-in-the-uk-general-election.html
The Salvation Army has produced its own manifesto which can be found at: www.salvationarmy.org.uk
Church House Bookshop has a selection of political and election reading for sale at: www.chbookshop.co.uk
For those concerned about extremist politics, resources can be found at: http://www.hopenothate.org.uk
Further local news and information can be found at: http://www.networknorwich.co.uk
We will continue to publish information including details of Church hosted hustings event in Norfolk at www.norwich.anglican.org
Please note that there is of course no obvious “Christian way to vote” and people of religious faith are actively involved in all parties. Each has a Christian group or forum which can be contacted via official party websites
This list is by no means exhaustive. For further information or recommendations on other useful resources, please contact Rev Simon Wilson, Diocese of Norwich Social and Community Concerns Co-ordinator via: simon.wilson@norwich.anglican.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)