Sorry! Just catching up AGAIN ...
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid:
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Friday 22nd Feb
It is expected that Africa's last remaining tropical glacier, on Kenya's Mount Kilimanjaro, will vanish by 2015.
Next time you boil a kettle, only fill it with the amount of water you'll need.
Saturday 23rd Feb
852 million people in the world do not have enough to eat.
Count 25p for every time you ate out this week.
Sunday 24th Feb
A Christian Aid partner in Mozambique gathers decommissioned weapons and gives them to local artists, who turn them into sculptures.
Pray that God may rebuild countries like Mozambique torn apart by civil war.
Monday 25th Feb (which is the beginning of Fair Trade fortnight)
There are now 1500 Fairtrade-certified products on sale in the UK.
Count 50p if you haven't bought a fairly traded product this week.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Just catching up ...
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid:
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Tuesday 19th Feb
182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of diseases caused by climate change by 2100.
Count 10p for every car journey you have taken this week.
Wednesday 20th Feb
In 2003 the IMF forced Ghana to tear up a law protecting its struggling rice growers from subsidised imports. Now the US provides 40% of Ghana's rice.
Count 20p for every hour you spent earning a living today.
Thursday 21st Feb
Just 3p could pay for medication to combat sickness and fever for a person living with HIV in Honduras.
Count 3p for every bottle or box of medication in your home.
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid:
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Tuesday 19th Feb
182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of diseases caused by climate change by 2100.
Count 10p for every car journey you have taken this week.
Wednesday 20th Feb
In 2003 the IMF forced Ghana to tear up a law protecting its struggling rice growers from subsidised imports. Now the US provides 40% of Ghana's rice.
Count 20p for every hour you spent earning a living today.
Thursday 21st Feb
Just 3p could pay for medication to combat sickness and fever for a person living with HIV in Honduras.
Count 3p for every bottle or box of medication in your home.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
I am really really sorry - I have forgotten to post these for a week. It doesn't matter - you can just catch up!
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid:
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Thursday 14th Feb
In some Indian villages, dalits - the lowest in India's caste system - are forbidden from using the same tea glasses as other customers in their local cafe.
Count the price of the last cup of tea or coffee you bought.
Friday 15th Feb
52p could pay for a notebook, pen, pencil, sharpener and chalk, allowing a woman or child to attend literacy classes in Afghanistan.
Count 52p for each personal email or note you write today.
Saturday 16th Feb
After losing both her parents, Talent moved in with her aunt. Money is tight, so free school lunches from Zimbabwean partner Christian Care keep her hunger at bay in the afternoons - but she still has only a cup of tea for breakfast.
Count 50p for each type of food and drink you had for breakfast today.
Sunday 17th Feb
"For some countries, the impacts of climate change are lifestyle threatening. In others they are life threatening." Khaled Zia Begum, former PM of Bangladesh.
Prayerfully identify one way you might consume less to lighten your tread on the earth.
Monday 18th Feb
Annual global military spending exceeds US$1 trillion - around 100 times the cost of putting every child in the world through primary school.
Count 10p for every educational course you've attended just for fun.
I think this might be enough for one day. I'll do Tuesday's and today's tomorrow. Keep counting!
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid:
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Thursday 14th Feb
In some Indian villages, dalits - the lowest in India's caste system - are forbidden from using the same tea glasses as other customers in their local cafe.
Count the price of the last cup of tea or coffee you bought.
Friday 15th Feb
52p could pay for a notebook, pen, pencil, sharpener and chalk, allowing a woman or child to attend literacy classes in Afghanistan.
Count 52p for each personal email or note you write today.
Saturday 16th Feb
After losing both her parents, Talent moved in with her aunt. Money is tight, so free school lunches from Zimbabwean partner Christian Care keep her hunger at bay in the afternoons - but she still has only a cup of tea for breakfast.
Count 50p for each type of food and drink you had for breakfast today.
Sunday 17th Feb
"For some countries, the impacts of climate change are lifestyle threatening. In others they are life threatening." Khaled Zia Begum, former PM of Bangladesh.
Prayerfully identify one way you might consume less to lighten your tread on the earth.
Monday 18th Feb
Annual global military spending exceeds US$1 trillion - around 100 times the cost of putting every child in the world through primary school.
Count 10p for every educational course you've attended just for fun.
I think this might be enough for one day. I'll do Tuesday's and today's tomorrow. Keep counting!
Sunday, 17 February 2008
24/7
hey Everyone
Soooo its the first night of 24/7 prayer and so far so good though i must say the chaplincy is so much differnt at night.....colder and quieter .......... and too be honest a bit lonley ah woe is me!!!!
but i did actualy try out the stations in the prayer room and they are really good very prayerful
which i supose is the point really......
so i can't really think of any thing more to say so i will bid you farewell
God bless
xxxxxxxx
Soooo its the first night of 24/7 prayer and so far so good though i must say the chaplincy is so much differnt at night.....colder and quieter .......... and too be honest a bit lonley ah woe is me!!!!
but i did actualy try out the stations in the prayer room and they are really good very prayerful
which i supose is the point really......
so i can't really think of any thing more to say so i will bid you farewell
God bless
xxxxxxxx
Friday, 15 February 2008
Grey morning
I walked out of the front door this morning rather disappointed that it was grey morning. Instead of the blue skies of recent days the sky was covered in cloud. Then I looked again and in among the greys there were shades of blue and cream in layers with hints of pink and orange like a multi coloured layer cake. God, you do great skies!
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
The Scary Sayings of Jesus
Bumping into a friend in the supermarket I asked him what his church was doing for Lent and he said that they were studying "the scary sayings of Jesus": he was writing something on Jesus' words to the rich young man "Go, sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven." Hmm, yes, that is rather scary.
As I was walking back home I thought of so many of the words of Jesus which are so challenging that they are scary, in particular the words from the Lord's Prayer " forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" - I like to think that God will forgive me but I know that I'm not too good at forgiving other people.
What do you think was the most scary thing Jesus said? Any suggestions?
Rev Ev
As I was walking back home I thought of so many of the words of Jesus which are so challenging that they are scary, in particular the words from the Lord's Prayer " forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" - I like to think that God will forgive me but I know that I'm not too good at forgiving other people.
What do you think was the most scary thing Jesus said? Any suggestions?
Rev Ev
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Tuesday 12th Feb
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
According to the World Bank, at the current rate of CO2 emissions, sea levels could rise by up to 1m by 2100, submerging up to 16% of Bangladesh. Count 20p for every computer in your home. Count 20p more for each one left on unused for more than half an hour this week.
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
According to the World Bank, at the current rate of CO2 emissions, sea levels could rise by up to 1m by 2100, submerging up to 16% of Bangladesh. Count 20p for every computer in your home. Count 20p more for each one left on unused for more than half an hour this week.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Monday 11th Feb
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
In the Gaza strip, 1.5 million people are locked into an area no bigger than the Isle of Wight. Count 50p if you have access to a garden.
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
In the Gaza strip, 1.5 million people are locked into an area no bigger than the Isle of Wight. Count 50p if you have access to a garden.
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Sunday 10th Feb
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Moises is 12. He lives opposite a US owned smelting plant in La Oraya, Peru, and like 70% of the population of the town, he has lead poisoning. Pray that poor people may be heard as, like Moises, they stand against unethical business.
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Moises is 12. He lives opposite a US owned smelting plant in La Oraya, Peru, and like 70% of the population of the town, he has lead poisoning. Pray that poor people may be heard as, like Moises, they stand against unethical business.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Sat 9th Feb
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Two million people are living in camps in Darfur after the recent conflict drove them from their homes. Give 50p for each floor of your home.
Roger
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Two million people are living in camps in Darfur after the recent conflict drove them from their homes. Give 50p for each floor of your home.
Roger
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Friday 8th Feb(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
Tea pickers in Sri Lanka earn around £1 per day. Count £1 if you bought an item costing more than that today.
Roger
Tea pickers in Sri Lanka earn around £1 per day. Count £1 if you bought an item costing more than that today.
Roger
Friday, 8 February 2008
Muffins, Coffee, Gin, Online Poker and Sex!!!
Recently read this in a newspaper:
"Yes, it’s Lent, when people with an iron will or a well-developed sense of self-delusion waltz into the office and announce with insane certainty that for the next forty days and nights they will be giving up muffins, coffee, gin, online poker or sex, or anything else that makes life worth living. And they will be entering into this marathon of self-denial at exactly the time of year when they need those things the most".
Are these really the things that makes life worth living?
I wonder what you may be giving up for lent and is it something that really makes life worth living?
"I've had many things in my hand and I've lost them all but the things that I've placed in God's hands I still possess" - Martin Luther
"Yes, it’s Lent, when people with an iron will or a well-developed sense of self-delusion waltz into the office and announce with insane certainty that for the next forty days and nights they will be giving up muffins, coffee, gin, online poker or sex, or anything else that makes life worth living. And they will be entering into this marathon of self-denial at exactly the time of year when they need those things the most".
Are these really the things that makes life worth living?
I wonder what you may be giving up for lent and is it something that really makes life worth living?
"I've had many things in my hand and I've lost them all but the things that I've placed in God's hands I still possess" - Martin Luther
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Count your blessings - Lent 2008 - material from Christian Aid: Thursday 7th Feb
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
More than a billion children will not go to school this year. Count 20p for every year you have spent in full time education.
Roger
(The way this works is that you you keep a running total each day, according to what it says. At the end I will give you the address to send a donation in to Christian Aid if you are willing and can still afford to!)
More than a billion children will not go to school this year. Count 20p for every year you have spent in full time education.
Roger
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Lent
Lent has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I grew up in a church tradition which seemed to mark Lent and to remember it, but then didn't really know quite what to do with it. We did seem to have Lent Bible Study groups (some years) and people did talk about giving something up for Lent (although it did all seem rather casual and soemtimes half hearted). So what's it all about?
Lent has traditionally been a time of self denial. Lent was held at that time of the year when self denial wasn't too difficult because the stocks of food from the previous year's harvest were running low after the winter. Today the stocks of food only get low in the supermarkets when the petrol tankers stop running or after the locusts have doen their annual swarm just ebfore the Christmas holiday.
Now anyone who has seen me in recent years knows that my waist line would benefit from a little bit of self denial, but self denial is meant not just to be a negative thing but a positive thing: by not spending money on sweets or alcohol you free up money that might be given to the poor or other good causes; by getting up earlier in the morning you might be able to spend more time in prayer; by not watching a certain TV programme you might be able to spend the time reading the Bible or helping someone else out.
However I think Lent is also about preparing for Easter, getting our mind, heart and soul in a state in which we can understand best what happened on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
I'm going to try and follow a book of daily readings over Lent to help me do that.
Throughout Lent from now on we'll be pausing for ten minutes of reflection and prayer at 12.15 and 3.15 in the Chaplaincy downstairs room - please do join us if you can. The exception will be from February 18th to 22nd when we shall be taking part in a 24:7 prayer vigil. For more information about this and everything else we do in chaplaincy get in touch.
Lent has traditionally been a time of self denial. Lent was held at that time of the year when self denial wasn't too difficult because the stocks of food from the previous year's harvest were running low after the winter. Today the stocks of food only get low in the supermarkets when the petrol tankers stop running or after the locusts have doen their annual swarm just ebfore the Christmas holiday.
Now anyone who has seen me in recent years knows that my waist line would benefit from a little bit of self denial, but self denial is meant not just to be a negative thing but a positive thing: by not spending money on sweets or alcohol you free up money that might be given to the poor or other good causes; by getting up earlier in the morning you might be able to spend more time in prayer; by not watching a certain TV programme you might be able to spend the time reading the Bible or helping someone else out.
However I think Lent is also about preparing for Easter, getting our mind, heart and soul in a state in which we can understand best what happened on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
I'm going to try and follow a book of daily readings over Lent to help me do that.
Throughout Lent from now on we'll be pausing for ten minutes of reflection and prayer at 12.15 and 3.15 in the Chaplaincy downstairs room - please do join us if you can. The exception will be from February 18th to 22nd when we shall be taking part in a 24:7 prayer vigil. For more information about this and everything else we do in chaplaincy get in touch.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Lent arrives early this year
Lent is almost here! I think we had sixty to seventy people in the chaplaincy at lunchtime today eating free pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and free chocolate from the taste for Life Fair Trade stall.
Before anyone starts saying that Lent seems to get earlier every year - it actually has this year. Because of the wierd way that the date for Easter is calculated Easter is as early as it can be this year (that's why this term ends on March 14th) hence Lent starts on February 6th.
Tomorrow there will be a service for Asdh Wednesday in the Chaplaincy Lounge from 1.30.
After that every weekday to mark Lent there will be a short time of prayer in the chaplaincy downstairs room at 12.15 and 3.15 tll the end of term with the exception of 17th-24th February when we shall be using the room for a 24/7 prayer vigil. Please do come and join us.
Before anyone starts saying that Lent seems to get earlier every year - it actually has this year. Because of the wierd way that the date for Easter is calculated Easter is as early as it can be this year (that's why this term ends on March 14th) hence Lent starts on February 6th.
Tomorrow there will be a service for Asdh Wednesday in the Chaplaincy Lounge from 1.30.
After that every weekday to mark Lent there will be a short time of prayer in the chaplaincy downstairs room at 12.15 and 3.15 tll the end of term with the exception of 17th-24th February when we shall be using the room for a 24/7 prayer vigil. Please do come and join us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)