It has been seven weeks in post as the new Head of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. I have had the privilege of starting to get to know the Diocese. Just yesterday going to St. Lukes, Whyteleafe and hearing the great ways they are engaging their community and working with their local Hub to visiting St. Matthew’s Church a bilingual community church serving the acute needs of those around them. This has been the picture of all the places I have visited in these early weeks of people and parishes that seek to demonstrate the love of Jesus and be His hands and feet in the community. I look forward to seeing more of the beautiful fabric that makes the patchwork of our Diocese and am grateful for the wonderful Mission and JPIC Teams who seek to provide support and empowerment to those across Diocese.
As we go into November let us remember that the 20th November is World Children’s Day. Let us keep all of our children in prayer and support them to thrive. Secondly, please pray as COP 28 (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) takes place from 30th November- 12th December 2023. Pray for world leaders as they meet around climate change.
Every Blessing
Natalie Walters
Head of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation
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Operation Forgiveness and Serious Youth Violence
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There are several resources available as churches continue to respond to serious youth violence.
Resources and information
On the JPIC area for Serious Youth Violence you can access links and videos https://southwark.anglican.org/mission-ministry/faith-in-action/justice-peace-and-integrity-of-creation/serious-youth-violence/ we hope these resources can be of help. The Diocese of London have also created some useful prayer resources: https://www.compassionatecommunitieslondon.org.uk/themes-of-work/serious-youth-violence/pieta.
Operation Forgiveness
Jason O’Shea and his family lead Operation Forgiveness under London City Mission and Jason works with the Diocese as a Serious Youth Violence Officer. Operation Forgiveness is an initiative that looks at Knife Crime but also the area of forgiveness. The workshop is extremely powerful and has been delivered in several schools. To reach more children, Operation Forgiveness need more volunteers and hold regular Vision Nights to give individuals a chance to experience the programme and respond. The next event will be held on Monday 6 November, 7pm – 9:30pm at London City Mission Office, Nasmith House, 175 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2AH. Admission is free but registration is required, please do so at www.operationforgiveness.org.uk/event/ as well as to find out more.
Operation Forgiveness
Monday 6th November, 7.00- 9.00pm, free
Please join Jason O'Shea and find out how you and your church can get involved.
The Synergy Network
The Synergy Network works to bring churches together to stand in the face of youth violence. They also have signposts to resources and networks working in this area. Do sign up for more information and support their work in supporting churches to be transformational in this area. To find out more and sign up to the mailing list please go to https://wearesynergy.org.uk/. There is currently a petition encouraging the Government to see Youth Violence as a public health issue and to provide more support and resources. You can access this petition via the Synergy website.
We ask that continual prayer is undertaken around serious youth violence as we seek the day when this will no longer be an issue for our communities.
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CYP and Churches in Social Action - Lunchbox library and Together Southwark
Together Southwark has run the Lunchbox Library programme with churches since 2016. It aims to alleviate holiday hunger, prevent children’s reading skills from dipping over the school holidays, particularly the long summer holidays and ultimately give children from low income families a positive experience of school holidays. Lunchbox Library hubs offer a combination of hot lunches, fun activities and reading for pleasure. The children have stories read to them by volunteers in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere and are encouraged to take a storybook to read at home. The programme now works with young people as well, up to approximately 13 years old but sometimes older and so includes age appropriate games. Free social outings are also encouraged to help children discover other places beyond their local environment. Some hubs have even secured free tickets to take children to visit places or watch a play.
The above reduces the pressure on families living on overstretched budgets, and even more needed during this Cost of Living Crisis. Together Southwark works with churches to facilitate access to grants to ensure that the provision is completely free of charge to all, because it is widely documented that a slight change in parents’ income or circumstances may mean the children no longer meet the threshold to qualify for Free School Meals. Indeed, the figures are staggering in the Government’s Annual Households Below Average Income report released in the first quarter of 2023.
71 percent, of children in poverty live in a household where at least one adult works (All poverty figures are after housing costs).
What can your church do? To find out more we warmly invite you to our upcoming event, CYP and Churches in Social Action - Lunchbox library and Together Southwark, organised by the CYP Team. It will be on Thursday 26 October, at 11am. You will be able to join in from anywhere as it will be on Zoom. We look forward to working with you to support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our parishes. For more information contact togethersouthwark@southwark.anglican.org or the CYP Team.
Free Good Conversations Training from our Partner, Linking Lives
Do you run a Place of Welcome, Coffee Morning or encourage volunteers to have a chat with people who access the support offered by your church? Linking Lives is currently offering their Good Conversations training for volunteers for free, for a limited time.
- The training is online
- Suitable for volunteers in Places of Welcome, food banks, etc
- Only takes two hours and can help in other areas and
- Covers relevant topics including active listening skills, maintaining boundaries, managing expectations and risk, and asking the right questions.
Booking is available on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, book on Eventbrite.
Croydon Refugee Day Centre
The Refugee Day Centre https://croydonrefugeedaycentre.co.uk/ is doing some great work. Can you support the Refugee Day Centre? On Monday’s the centre receives donations between 10am – 12pm, it is located at The Croydon Refugee Day Centre,West Croydon Baptist Church, Whitehorse Road Croydon, CR0 2JH
Volunteers are always needed so check the website for details and for those who have a heart for further work with Refugees and the centre they are currently looking for an Operational Controller for the Centre.
https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/croydon-refugee-day-centre/operational-and-volunteer-coordinator/932447?tsId=36
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SAGE SAGE (Southwark and AGEing)
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SAGE is a Southwark Diocesan working group which has been invited by Bishop Christopher to help churches 'address Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional and Ethical Issues raised by an ageing population'.
Encouraging wellbeing in later life
Tuesday 7 November, 7.30-9.00pm, Zoom, free
How can we promote wellbeing in later life, for others and for ourselves? The Revd Canon Dr Sue Clarke will introduce the topic, drawing on her experience as a hospital doctor and a parish priest. From her experience of health and wellbeing being promoted or ignored in older age, she will share ideas of ways in which individuals, churches and pastoral carers can encourage this among an older generation.
To book your place, email learning@southwark.anglican.org
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A new-look Church of England Environment Bulletin is out - it's packed full of the latest news from around the country, celebrating churches and schools making a difference in their communities through eco projects. It will highlight free events and webinars, news and stories around caring for god’s creation. A must have for anyone wanting to be more sustainable as a church community! Sign up here for the monthly newsletter: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change/sign-our-environment-newsletter
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How are you engaging with children and youth?
We want to support you in your mission and ministry with children and youth.
Join the monthly Tuesday CYP Zoom Drop ins 1:30-2:30pm
7th November 2023 - Hope for struggling children with Transforming Lives for Good
9th January 2024- Sports with Christian values with KICK.
In Spring 2024, we are launching Christmas Unwrapped. This is a resource to invite schools into church to learn more about Jesus and the Christmas story. For a sneak preview Tuesday 5th December, for a sneak preview, join Jude Barber at Christ Church Purley 859-887 Brighton Rd, Purley CR8 2BN from 1pm to 3pm.
Register interest for a Christmas Unwrapped demonstration here
Growing Faith Strategic Leadership Course - cohort 3 January - December 2024, this is the leadership development course you have been waiting for! Don't delay speak to your line manager now and sign up today!
Godly Play Training Day
Sat 3rd February 2024, 10am-1.30pm, Free, Diocese of Southwark, Trinity House,
Register for Godly Play Training Day here
Join Ronni Lamont, a Godly Play Facilitator, to find out more about the Godly Play movement that encourages the spiritual nurture of children and adults in our churches. It involves storytelling and theological reflection for all ages
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