Here's the broadcast:
Showing posts with label starfish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starfish. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 April 2014
David Cameron, Jesus and the Big Society
This morning I had the privilege (and pleasure) of talking to the extremely nice Michelle Dawes on BBC WM radio regarding David Cameron and his comments on Jesus and the 'Big Society'.
Here's the broadcast:
Here's the broadcast:
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Christians and Social Action: Tamworth
For indeed we, Church, are the 'Big Society' (always have been to be honest!).
Last Sunday night we in Tamworth got to celebrate tha treality as Rev Dr Steve Jonathan (Tamworth Elim) spoke of the work of the Tamworth Foodbank, outlining how since it began some two years ago how it has provided some seventeen tonnes of food and how this represented the feeding of fourteen people every since the work began. Steve went on to explain how those who came were not homeless but were generally families who have hit hard times, been made redundant, suffered from illness or were experiencing benefit delay: these represent a good cross-section of the UK’s hidden hungry. He continued by celebrating the work of the many volunteers and the coordinator: Lynn Le Worthy. The Rev Graham Criddle, minister of Tamworth Baptist Church, prayed for the work of Foodbank:
Next up was Jean Taylor who spoke about the work of the Starfish Project – a work that began in March 2006 to provides support for those who have been troubled by addiction and other issues. The work has expanded to three sites – St Editha’s in the centre of town, St Andrew’s in the Leyfields area and St Martin’s in Stonydelph and sees a number of people helped by a wide volunteer base representing all the churches. The Rev Ian Howarth prayed for this work:
Following on we heard from Rev Mike Harris (St Editha’s, Amington) who spoke about the TCHA (Tamworth Cornerstone Housing Association) which, since the early nineties has provided accommodation for thirty young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five years of age and has recently, with the support of Tamworth Borough Council, gained Housing Corporation financial support.
The work has recently expanded in the shape of the ‘New School’ which offers education to exam standards (GCSE) for those who don’t ‘do’ school. Essentially it is a small independent school (OFSTED approved), which takes in secondary age pupils who are struggling in mainstream education and are considered ‘non school attenders’. They come from many of the secondary schools and Academies in Tamworth and often flourish in this environment. It is a privilege to attend their Leavers Assembly along with parents (some) to witness the steps they’ve taken and the awards they’ve achieved.
This is a key work that re-engages young people with education and a future and gives them the opportunity to live in safe and supportive surroundings to re-establish themselves on the home front too – The work was prayed for by the Rev Hugh Baker, former Vicar of Fazeley:
The final work represented was that of Tamworth’s Christians Against Poverty and Sue Silcock who is the lead for this ministry delivered this.
Working out of Tamworth Baptist Church’s building in Belgrave Sue spoke of some thirteen years of ministry working with people in their homes to help families establish budgets and discharge their 'debts. Sue told of how one family with debts of £53,000 had been helped and how, six years on, they would be debt free by the summer. This is one of the seven hundred families helped over the thirteen years of this ministry. The Rev Adrian Argile prayed for the ministry:
Last Sunday night we in Tamworth got to celebrate tha treality as Rev Dr Steve Jonathan (Tamworth Elim) spoke of the work of the Tamworth Foodbank, outlining how since it began some two years ago how it has provided some seventeen tonnes of food and how this represented the feeding of fourteen people every since the work began. Steve went on to explain how those who came were not homeless but were generally families who have hit hard times, been made redundant, suffered from illness or were experiencing benefit delay: these represent a good cross-section of the UK’s hidden hungry. He continued by celebrating the work of the many volunteers and the coordinator: Lynn Le Worthy. The Rev Graham Criddle, minister of Tamworth Baptist Church, prayed for the work of Foodbank:
Next up was Jean Taylor who spoke about the work of the Starfish Project – a work that began in March 2006 to provides support for those who have been troubled by addiction and other issues. The work has expanded to three sites – St Editha’s in the centre of town, St Andrew’s in the Leyfields area and St Martin’s in Stonydelph and sees a number of people helped by a wide volunteer base representing all the churches. The Rev Ian Howarth prayed for this work:
The work has recently expanded in the shape of the ‘New School’ which offers education to exam standards (GCSE) for those who don’t ‘do’ school. Essentially it is a small independent school (OFSTED approved), which takes in secondary age pupils who are struggling in mainstream education and are considered ‘non school attenders’. They come from many of the secondary schools and Academies in Tamworth and often flourish in this environment. It is a privilege to attend their Leavers Assembly along with parents (some) to witness the steps they’ve taken and the awards they’ve achieved.
This is a key work that re-engages young people with education and a future and gives them the opportunity to live in safe and supportive surroundings to re-establish themselves on the home front too – The work was prayed for by the Rev Hugh Baker, former Vicar of Fazeley:
The final work represented was that of Tamworth’s Christians Against Poverty and Sue Silcock who is the lead for this ministry delivered this.
Working out of Tamworth Baptist Church’s building in Belgrave Sue spoke of some thirteen years of ministry working with people in their homes to help families establish budgets and discharge their 'debts. Sue told of how one family with debts of £53,000 had been helped and how, six years on, they would be debt free by the summer. This is one of the seven hundred families helped over the thirteen years of this ministry. The Rev Adrian Argile prayed for the ministry:
Having celebrated the work of the Christians in the town the congregation was led in a confession of faith and a reaffirming of the covenant to work together by Fr Noel N’tungu, one of the clergy from the team serving the Catholic churches of our town:
THANK YOU one and all for a great service and for a fantastically engaged bunch of Christians
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Hang On a Minute Lads, I've Got a God Idea
And it is with these (slightly modified) words from the Italian job ringing in my ears I realise that many, if not all, of the 'great ideas' I have come across over the past few weeks are actually anything but great. I've seen it in politics as Labour (you must remember them, the Party formerly known and spend, spend, spend) come up with a plan to save the world by cutting heating allowances for the top 5% of earners, and now vowing to continue with the family allowance restrictions. Whoo hoo - living out the legacy of the Bliar years and they swing from 'spend your way out' to 'save pennies - win the world!'.
The other two parties are not of course any better and if you want to see some good ideas just look at the deconstruction of state education that is the Academy system, and add to it the changes (actual, planned and imaginary) to the GCSEs (or should I say 'iLevels' - thought it was something from Gove, not Jobs) and the popularist tosh from Cameron and Clegg and their ConDem Coalition.
Everywhere I look I see kneejerk responses to real situations and hear half-baked ideas from people who, with the education and opportunities they'd been gifted, really ought to know better.
I think one of the groups that used to be funded and run by the NHS who found themselves disbanded as the centre they were in was closed due to funding loss; they now meet in a church building.
I watch people who cannot feed their children and for whom, because often of circumstances not of their own making, have insufficient support and even less money visiting the local Foodbank (which is of course run by local Christians).
I visit people who are suffering from mental health issues and talk to mental health practitioners who are condemned to the same pain and frustrations as each other. One finds themselves looking at ways to pass on or reject those before them to keep what is an already overloaded caseload further increased; the other lives in their flat and smokes, drinks and slowly vanishes from this world because of the hopelessness of their situation. And once again, if it were not for those who open their church doors and welcome and visit and contact and care and pray - where would we be?
I've heard all the 'Big Society' talk - the passing back to the Church what was once their province as if it were a gift (you can see the same in congregations - a microcosm of the world where those who 'could do better' are now being handed the running of congregations and told to be happy because it's 'collaborative') for which the Church should be grateful.
I am totally fed up with all the 'good' ideas both sides of my church walls - I've really had enough of the politicians who speak of growth, care, equity and yet take money (again) for various dodgy deals and turn a blind eye to those who have whilst proclaiming justice!
I am totally fed up with those who have no vision in the Church. Those petty, pathetic number crunchers who don't have, or foster, vision; what they want is goals, objectives and timescales they can hold people too not God inspired vision and courage. Where so many are visionary and bold (and thank God there are more of these than the spreadsheet Christians) the, often influential few, are looking to managed decline and light a candle before the shrine of sustainability, and this cannot be!
I've got a 'God' idea and it goes like this:
Be disciples and go into the world (the workplace, homes, the pubs and the clubs) and live out that reality and BE the difference. Let's stop making Church something we do for an hour or so every week and let's share the love.
Let us come alongside the broken, needy and helpless - clothing, feeding and housing the needy and bless other who are doing it. For it doesn't matter who they are or why they are doing it - if they are doing it, then we should bless them and support them and encourage them and stand with them. As Paul says in Philippians 1.15-18:
'It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.'
Today I'm thanking God for many works in our town and area, some (just a few) being:
The other two parties are not of course any better and if you want to see some good ideas just look at the deconstruction of state education that is the Academy system, and add to it the changes (actual, planned and imaginary) to the GCSEs (or should I say 'iLevels' - thought it was something from Gove, not Jobs) and the popularist tosh from Cameron and Clegg and their ConDem Coalition.
Everywhere I look I see kneejerk responses to real situations and hear half-baked ideas from people who, with the education and opportunities they'd been gifted, really ought to know better.
I think one of the groups that used to be funded and run by the NHS who found themselves disbanded as the centre they were in was closed due to funding loss; they now meet in a church building.
I watch people who cannot feed their children and for whom, because often of circumstances not of their own making, have insufficient support and even less money visiting the local Foodbank (which is of course run by local Christians).
I visit people who are suffering from mental health issues and talk to mental health practitioners who are condemned to the same pain and frustrations as each other. One finds themselves looking at ways to pass on or reject those before them to keep what is an already overloaded caseload further increased; the other lives in their flat and smokes, drinks and slowly vanishes from this world because of the hopelessness of their situation. And once again, if it were not for those who open their church doors and welcome and visit and contact and care and pray - where would we be?
I've heard all the 'Big Society' talk - the passing back to the Church what was once their province as if it were a gift (you can see the same in congregations - a microcosm of the world where those who 'could do better' are now being handed the running of congregations and told to be happy because it's 'collaborative') for which the Church should be grateful.
I am totally fed up with all the 'good' ideas both sides of my church walls - I've really had enough of the politicians who speak of growth, care, equity and yet take money (again) for various dodgy deals and turn a blind eye to those who have whilst proclaiming justice!
I am totally fed up with those who have no vision in the Church. Those petty, pathetic number crunchers who don't have, or foster, vision; what they want is goals, objectives and timescales they can hold people too not God inspired vision and courage. Where so many are visionary and bold (and thank God there are more of these than the spreadsheet Christians) the, often influential few, are looking to managed decline and light a candle before the shrine of sustainability, and this cannot be!
I've got a 'God' idea and it goes like this:
Be disciples and go into the world (the workplace, homes, the pubs and the clubs) and live out that reality and BE the difference. Let's stop making Church something we do for an hour or so every week and let's share the love.
Let us come alongside the broken, needy and helpless - clothing, feeding and housing the needy and bless other who are doing it. For it doesn't matter who they are or why they are doing it - if they are doing it, then we should bless them and support them and encourage them and stand with them. As Paul says in Philippians 1.15-18:
'It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.'
Today I'm thanking God for many works in our town and area, some (just a few) being:
Starfish - Soul Café - FoodBank - Signs for Worship - Encounter - Friday Friends
Leyfield's Community link - Tamworth Covenanting Churches - Community of St Chad
Who do you have to be thankful for today?
Who needs your prayer, money, presence to bless others today?
Stuff the 'Good' ideas in the bin
Let's return to 'God' ideas and be the blessing we have always been - just more so!
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