This is held at different venues including Carrs Lane.
Sunday 19 February – St Alban’s Church, Conybere Street, Highgate, Birmingham B12 0YH
Sunday 19 March – St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter, St Paul’s Square, Birmingham B3 1QZ
For more information, email phpaw2@btinternet.com or call 0121 478 3841
ALL ARE WELCOME
More dates will be added when we have them.
Have you ever pondered the sort of difference buying from Traidcraft made to the people who grow for a process and made the products which we were able to buy from Traidcraft until now? Some church members might remember that, on my return from a Traidcraft “Meet the People tour” I was eager to tell you about what I’d seen and heard. Fair trade was certainly making a difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities. Joan Davies
We must pray for the producers who were supported by Traidcraft and for those in Gateshead who’ve lost their jobs recently.
What else can we do?
In our shopping we must make it clear that we want to buy products with the fair trade mark. If they’re not available, we can ask the shop to stock them or take our business – our purchasing power – elsewhere.
Please come and buy some cards on Sunday 5th February in church (11.30am after worship) including reduced price Easter cards and a few other things left in stock. Many of the cards are from Swajan in Bangladesh, giving the female artisans a better quality of life. Local Traidcraft fair trader, Joan Davies, has spare stock. If you want to buy anything in particular, do ask if she has it. If she has she will bring it to church for collection on a Sunday morning. Telephone Joan Davies on 0121 475 8715. All money for the goods will support Transform Trade.
We are still collecting stamps, jewellery & watches, foreign currency & coins, old mobile phones & cameras. We especially need more heavy items such as left over coins from your travels abroad. Please put donations in a clear plastic bag as this is easier to check. We hope to send a full box of items that meet the higher weight limit before Easter!
Gift cards support a variety of producers and communities. Gifts are categorised into themes and occasions to help you find something suitable.
Visit the online shop for gifts that make a difference.
Get involved in organising and supporting local events for Fairtrade Fortnight. Raise awareness where you can!
A celebration of ethical business and a fundraising force to change the world through the power of trade – the Ethical Raffle is back.
And it is actually ethical three times over:
The closing date for entries will be 11.59pm 21 April 2023. The draw is conducted on 28 April 2023.
We hear with sadness of the decision to close Traidcraft after attempts to recover from the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and pre-Christmas strikes could not save the business. The Church at Carrs Lane has for many years had an excellent working relationship with Traidcraft, sharing information and educating people about fair trade. The Church had to make a decision to close its own Fair Trade Shop in 2020.
We thank the employees of Traidcraft in Gateshead, volunteers throughout the country and producers around the world for their commitment to make our shopping ethical and worthwhile. We continue to support ethical consumerism in our daily lives and will support Transform Trade as it continues its mission. The following statement was issued on Friday 20 January by Charlotte Timson, CEO of Transform Trade (formerly Traidcraft Exchange):
By now you may have heard the news: Traidcraft, the fair trade pioneer and our close partner for many years, is going into administration.
Those are painful words to write, but I wanted to pass on the news personally and share some reflections at this difficult time.
Many of you will have supported Traidcraft for years and do not need me to tell you that today marks a huge loss. After an exceptionally difficult few years, one of the founders of the trade justice movement is closing its doors.
Since 1979 Traidcraft has reimagined the relationships between producers and consumers, putting justice at the heart oftrade. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fair trade movement as we know it would not exist without Traidcraft.
But what now?
When we changed our name to Transform Trade, Richard Adams, the founder of Traidcraft said…
“Transform Trade have picked up the baton with their new strategy and name… the work is not done yet.”
We didn’t realise at the time just how relevant those words would be, only a few months down the line. Together, we must pick up the baton.
The good work that Traidcraft has done over the years will not disappear. Instead it must be built upon.
Our mission it to transform trade so that everybody benefits. As we continue this work, our focus right now is on two things.
1. Supporting producers
Over the years, Traidcraft did incredible work with smaller producer groups – helping them find a route to market where no one else could. We’re working on plans to expand our work supporting small groups of artisans and farmers, like those Traidcraft was originally set up to help, in order to fill the gap they leave behind.
2. The system
Trading ethically within a system that is unjust is always going to be difficult – especially during a cost of living crisis. From the start, the odds were stacked against Traidcraft. Our campaigning and advocacy work aims to level the playing field by demanding change to the entire trading system. We’ve shown in the past that it can be done, but we must press on with renewed energy.
I firmly believe that there is hope for the trade justice movement.
The good work that Traidcraft pioneered cannot and will not be undone. We are committed to transforming trade – and I am so grateful that you stand with us.
Thank you for everything you do,
Charlotte
Charlotte Timson
Transform Trade CEO
The East Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church is seeking to appoint a Mission Development Officer (Ref MDO)This is a full-time post for 37.5 hours/week (including evening and weekends) on a permanent contract.
Salary: £40,000 per annum for a lay person or a minister from outside the URC. A URC minister will receive the current ministerial stipend, a manse and related benefits in accordance with the Plan for Partnership.
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.
The purpose of this role is to help equip churches in their missional discipleship and growth and to facilitate the sharing of good news, practice and opportunities across the Synod and beyond, holding the whole-of-life discipleship ethos of Walking the Way at the heart of their work.
The successful candidate will work to promote, encourage and undertake the promotion of mission to the whole people of God to facilitate the development of the life of the church at all levels by helping churches to identify and understand their particular priorities in mission and, to develop and release people to engage in that mission.
The Officer appointed will be a member of a collaborative Synod team and therefore good team working skills are essential.
For an application pack (no CVs) please contact:
Mrs Chris Willis
East Midlands Synod Office
1 Edwards Lane, Sherwood
Nottingham, NG5 3AA
Tel: 0115 960 9241
Email: admin@urc5.org.uk
URC:Spirituality are pleased to be publicising its upcoming online week of events: “Praying With Those Who Wait”. This week of free sessions will look at the, perhaps, more unheard areas of Christ’s Advent. This will take place in 3 sessions each day, from Tuesday 22nd-Saturday 26th November 2022. Each session is independent so feel free to attend one, some or all of them on Zoom.
A week of online sessions exploring characters and scenarios on the edge of Christ’s advent. Hosted by URC:Spirituality. The sessions are independent so feel free to come to one, some or all of them!
Each morning, beginning on Tuesday 22nd November, there will be a short morning prayer time to start the day. This is a perfect way to begin your day in a contemplative way, giving whatever you may be up to that day over to God.
At lunchtime, 12:30pm each day, we have a series of sessions run by various people from the URC:Spriituality core group and beyond. Exploring largely unseen characters, or picking up on largely unexplored themes.
In the evenings, 7:30pm each day, we welcome guest speakers from across the breadth of spirituality as we continue to explore these characters and themes. These will be largely discussion-based and will finish with a short time of prayer to close the day.
Whilst run by URC:Spirituality, the themes being explored span the whole Christian tradition. Friends from across the Christian tradition, both in the UK and abroad, are most welcome to join this free event.
Read more and book on Eventbrite
The sessions will be held on Zoom, hosted by Media for Ministry. Media for Ministry has had a longstanding friendship with URC:Spirituality. Since first supporting “Streams in the Wilderness” back in May 2021, their expertise and sensitivity makes them a perfect fit with URC:Spirituality. Some of the M4M team have led sessions at past events.
With every blessing,
Dan
(He/Him)
Director, Media for Ministry
The Church at Carrs Lane welcomed Rev Sue Shortman to the ministerial team at her first service, led jointly with the other ministers, on Sunday 4 September 2022.
Sue is a Methodist minister in the Birmingham Methodist Circuit. She worked in city churches in London before she moved to Birmingham, where she previously had pastoral charge of three churches. She continues to ‘look after’ three churches, and this now includes The Church at Carrs Lane.
The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest call for action on climate change and nature, showing decision-makers that people from all walks of life are stepping up to take action – and that we need them to step up too.
Last year over 5000 events took place, with more than 200,000 people showing up for the planet in their community and online. As members of The Climate Coalition, we’re encouraging as many Christians and churches as possible to take part. This can show that we serve a God of Creation and to add our efforts to those of others for the greatest combined impact. Could you or your church host a community event as part of the Great Big Green Week? A litter pick perhaps, some wildlife gardening, or a climate coffee morning – whatever your idea is – get involved today.
(The popular name of the Street Ecclesial Community)
As you may be aware Traidcraft’s Great Taste Award Winning Tea is packaged locally at Ringtons, a family run business for over a century. The tea bags contain a very small amount of plastic to seal them.
A Business Digest has been created of the General Assembly that took place from 8-11 July 2022 at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick.
The digest available here, as both word and PDF:
The Record of Assembly will be going on the website shortly for further information.