Newsletter 113 February 2020
|
Dear Friends
In the past month, a number of things have happened for the UK. The UK left the EU on Friday 31st January. There was a change of leadership for the UN COP26 Climate Summit taking place in Glasgow in November. There was another cabinet reshuffle, including a new Chancellor.
In the midst of this, as Churches we have been continuing to seek ways in which we can speak God’s love into society. We wrote to our European partners in January to encourage continued partnership. And we have been preparing for Living Lent, a chance to review our own commitments to the climate.
|
Finally, we have been preparing for our national conference on 7 March, exploring how caring about the climate also means caring about the economy.
This month’s newsletter includes ways you can get involved, and find ways of bringing about change for peace and justice. We hope to see plenty of you in Derby on the 7 March.
Every Blessing
Hannah
|
 |
 |
There’s only a week to go until Lent begins, and we’re
really excited to be digging back into Living Lent this year. Over the next two
months, we will be coming together as a community to explore how committing to
individual changes for the climate offers us the chance to go deeper in our
understanding of how we can respond to the climate crisis in faith, for people
and for the planet.
|
What can you expect?
Six Challenges – Choose
one of six challenges to change your habits for the climate. By intentionally
making changes during Lent, we will make space to consider in more depth how
our lifestyles have an impact on creation.
|
Daily reflections – Across
a range of themes and with friends from across our four denominations, we will explore
how responding to the climate crisis is part of our discipleship.
|
Celebration Sundays –
The world we are seeking to care for is full of wonder and beauty. How
often do we take time to stop and recognise God’s wonderful creation? This
Lent, we will encourage you to celebrate on Sundays by taking time for an activity
which will help you acknowledge and appreciate the beauty of people and the
planet.
|
Community – Come together
as part of our online communities, to share in the highs and lows of changing
your habits for the climate. You can join in as part of our Facebook Community,
on twitter using #LivingLent or through our web form.
|
Could you take part
in Living Lent as a small group?
It’s really important that, as we face the challenges of the
climate crisis, we come together as a community. That’s why we’re inviting you
to take part in Living Lent as a small group. Could you meet together weekly
during Lent to pray and support one another? Take a look at our resources to
support you.
|
|
|
|
 |
Our national conference, Renewal and Rebellion: Faith,
Economy and Climate, is now less than three weeks away! We’re really excited to
gather together with over 300 of you to explore what it will take to respond to
the climate crisis, as people of faith.
If you didn’t manage to get tickets, you can add your name onto the waitlist here. If you have booked a ticket that you no longer need to use, let us know by emailing enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk. We will be
livestreaming the main sessions of the conference over on our facebook page. Head
over to our facebook page to keep an eye out for details in the next few weeks.
At the conference, we’re going to be asking ‘What If?’. What
if things don’t have to be the way they are? What if we could imagine a better
future? To get us started, we
headed to church to ask some friends about their ‘What If’ visions for society.
|
|
|
|
JPIT Internship
Applications are still open for our year-long paid
internship, based full-time with the JPIT Team. Are you excited about how your
skills, gifts and experience could play a part in encouraging the church to
seek justice and peace? This could be the year for you! Join us in September
2020 for a year of learning, development and getting stuck in!
Applications close on 22nd March, so there’s
still plenty of time to get your application in or share with friends.
|
COP26 Project
Co-ordinators
Could you lead the Methodist Church in combating the
climate crisis and caring for God’s world?
The Methodist Church are seeking two young Methodists aged
18-29 to form part of a new international climate justice team. The team will
spend the next year creating and developing the vision, branding and strategy
for a high-impact campaign that encourages Methodist people and churches around
the world to engage more deeply with climate justice.
If this could be you or someone you know, find
out more information below.
|
Should the Church be
woke?
“Too often the church ends up having substantial conversations about
important social issues years after the rest of society has moved on.”
Cameron explores the role of identity politics in today’s
culture, and how the Church should be responding.
|
|
 |
 |
|
What are women worth?
“Acknowledging and valuing the unpaid work that women do is an issue of
justice and equality.”
How does our economy fail to recognise and value the work of
women? Josie explores in her latest blog.
|
‘Bishops on the Benches’
with the Bishop of London
This month’s Faith in Politics explores the
role of Bishops in the House of Lords. The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally
talks of her experience in the House and how her previous role as the Chief
Nursing Officer shapes her ministry and politics. Cameron and Rosella muse on
the role of Bishops in the House of Lords today considering how this convention
sits within wider debates of reforming the House of Lords.
|
|
|
|
How could you be talking about Public Issues this month?
- Lent begins on 26 February. Are you making a commitment to the climate this Lent? If so, talk about it with your friends and neighbours, and share why you think it’s important to take personal action for the climate. You can find different resources to talk about Living Lent here.
- With the Chancellor resigning only a few weeks before the next planned budget, there’s lots of talk about how we spend our money. Our friends at ECCR have just launched their new resource, ‘Money Makes Change’, to help small groups talk about how money can be a force for good. Could you strike up some conversations about money? Find the resource here.
- It’s International Women’s day on Sunday 8th March. How could you talk about the need for Gender equality in your church and community this month? Why not read Josie’s blog to explore how the economy works (or doesn’t!) for women, and start up some conversations about change in your community.
|
|
|
>
