We Are The Plan

Last Saturday’s Just Generation event inspired and challenged me. Andy Freeman shared some thoughts, along with a few interesting workshops in the afternoon, and a delicious lunch provided by the Elephant Juice Soup Company – if you get a chance you MUST try their haggis & sweet potato soup, I promise you that you will not regret it!

Some thoughts and reflections…

God’s big idea is us. We are the plan.

God never moves backwards, he works with what we’ve made.

Church as foretaste of heaven – could you walk in a say ‘this is what heaven’s like’?

Laugh first an then work out the theology.

Benedictine Rule – treat everyone who comes into our home like Jesus.

Maybe our task is to communicate to the poor, the peacemakers, etc that they are blessed?

Just Generation

For the last few years, a bunch of development agencies have been running an event called Just Generation. And every year, I somehow miss it… out of the country, or working, or something else…. not this year!

Don’t think you can’t change the world!

Just Generation brings together a generation hungry to see a more just world. Come along for workshops, worship and interactive activities exploring God’s heart for justice and how we can live justly in the 21st century.

The theme for this year’s gathering is Community and we’re very excited that our main speaker will be Andy Freeman. Andy was part of the team that pioneered 24-7 Prayer’s first Boiler Room community &… co-authored Punk Monk. He is now a trainee Pioneer Ordinand with the Church of England and is working with others in the south to support Pioneers and Fresh Expressions in the region. Andy is also involved in Just 247 with the 24-7 Prayer movement and currently working on prayer and writing projects around Child Health issues.

Book now, and I’ll see you there!

Kenyan Flowers, Taxes, & An End To Poverty

My friends over at Christian Aid are getting ready to screen the third of their fantastic short films, made in partnership with the Guardian, exploring key issues faced by the world’s poorest communities…

Kenyan flowers

Greater transparency in the international financial system would transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Each year around US$160 billion is diverted away from developing economies through secretive practices and tax avoidance. In addition to this, the structure of the international trade system favours wealthy states and companies at the expense of less economically developed countries.

Since the 1990s, the bulk of flowers and vegetables grown in Kenya are specifically grown for export and Britain has imported significant quantities of both. What is the impact on Kenya of this new industry, and does big business moving into a struggling economy actually help?

At the start of Fair Trade Fortnight, join us for a screening of a documentary film followed by an expert panel discussion and Q&A exploring the issues of trade and tax.

Introducing Poverty Over
Poverty Over is Christian Aid’s powerful manifesto which investigates why the developing world is still poor, and defines what needs to change to help bring an end to poverty.

Tues 28 Feb // 7pm
CCA Glasgow

Book tickets

Abandon The Knife

A while back Christian Aid hosted the first of their film screenings, made in conjunction with The Guardian, on pressing global justice issues. This month sees the screening of film number 2…

Abandon The Knife

‘I will never be cut’: Nancy and Gertrude are Kenyan girls about to face a brutal passage to womanhood.

Directed by Sara Nason, this documentary tells the story of two young members of the Pokot community in Kenya, who stood up to family and community to resist the traditional practice of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM). The film looks at how their actions influenced other young women and their families, changing minds and attitudes about FGM.

Join us for a screening of the documentary film followed by an expert panel discussion and Q&A exploring the issue.

Introducing Poverty Over
Poverty Over is Christian Aid’s powerful manifesto which investigates why the developing world is still poor, and defines what needs to change to help bring an end to poverty. In partnership, Christian Aid and the Guardian have created a series of investigative documentaries exploring key issues faced by the world’s poorest communities.

Tues 29 November, 7pm, CCA Glasgow.
Free Tickets from the CCA Box Office 0141 352 4900.

Food & Agriculture

Next week my friends at Christian Aid are screening a new Guardian Film at the CCA. It’ll be a very interesting evening, I promise you that. I’ll be there, and so should you…

There is enough food being produced globally to feed everyone on the planet, but more than 1 billion people go hungry. Christian Aid argues that, properly managed, agriculture has the potential to put an end to global hunger.

But in order to farm their way out of poverty, people in developing countries must be given proper support from their governments and the international community.

With international business often competing with local communities for resources, how do we ensure a sustainable future for everyone?

The Guardian’s environment editor John Vidal reports from Ethiopia’s remote Gambella region, where foreign investors are pouring in to exploit land the government has cleared of people

Join us for a screening of the documentary film followed by an expert panel discussion and Q&A exploring the issue.

Free Tickets from the CCA Box Office 0141 352 4900

http://www.cca-glasgow.com/home

SOLAS

I spent last weekend at SOLAS festival with Christian Aid… what a delight! Between interesting speakers (including Christian Aid’s Kathy Galloway and my old flatmate Alex Smeed!), great music (Jo Mango, Iain Archer), and a little performance poetry, the weekend was certainly one to remember.

I was there helping Christian Aid run their venue, Southern Cross, where we manned a cafe, held a few panel discussions, and encouraged people to get involved in campaigning… we really do believe poverty can be over!

Have a perusal of the photographs below, send Christian Aid some love, and purchase some advance tickets for next years festival…

SOLAS

Southern Cross Venue

Kathy Galloway

Iain Archer

Glass Painting

Glass Painting

More photographs from SOLAS on flickr here.