Thursday, September 30, 2010

World Development Newsletter September 2010

From: Sue Young, World Development Adviser, Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich

WHAT’S YOUR PROMISE?

This year Micah Challenge wants to change the world through millions of tiny promises.

What one thing could you do that would help those in poverty around the world? Have you been to the “What’s your promise?” website (www.whatsyourpromise.org.uk) and made your promise?

Your promise will be delivered to your local MP with all the other promises from your area. In turn the MP will be asked to make their own commitment to action.

“What’s your promise?” isn’t just a campaign for individuals: it is also for churches to do together, as a way of strengthening their common commitment to fight poverty. You can gather promises in your church (see web site for a downloadable form). And on Sunday 10th October 2010 (10.10.10), your church can join millions of Christians in dozens of countries to pray that God will use our promises to create a more just world. The prayer that will be used across the world is attached to this newsletter. It echoes the prayer of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-10) who when he heard how people were suffering prayed day and night and then worked to end suffering. On the web site you can download a resource pack which will give your church all it needs for a 15 minute slot during the Sunday service (this includes ideas for children & youth involvement).

“What’s your promise?” is part of the Micah 2010 campaign of Micah Challenge. This world wide movement is committed to taking up the challenge laid down by the Old Testament prophet to speak out against the injustice of global poverty. “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) See www.micahchallenge.org

If we, as Christians, commit to a lifestyle that remembers those in poverty – and act on our commitment – God can use us to do great things. It starts with a promise. What will yours be?

BIG BREW

Publicity for the Big Brew in 2011 will be available very shortly. The dates are 28 February – 13 March 2011. If you have not already done so, please let me know if your church might be interested in hosting a fairtrade event and I shall make sure you get the material. This is an opportunity to reach out to others by inviting them into your church or home for tea or coffee.

You will be pleased to hear that as a result of reminding churches that it is 5 years since we became a fairtrade Diocese, at least a further 5 churches have registered as fairtrade churches and a number of others have committed to additional activity to promote trade justice. So I am hopeful that we shall get more doing the Big Brew next year.

SHORT NEWS ITEMS

One World Week takes place from 17 – 24 October with the theme Peacing Together One World. There is a worship anthology to download from www.oneworldweek.org

December 4 is the Global Day of Action on Climate Change. This coincides with the next round of UN talks on climate change at Cancun, Mexico. Check out www.globalclimatecampaign.org

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