7 attendees: MM= Mary O’Mahony, IS = Ian Stewart (chair), OC = Owen Clutton, AM = Angela Martin, NB = Nick Babb, JA = June Adams, RW = Roger Wright (secretary)
Agreed actions shown in bold red type.
The meeting started with Praised Be, a prayer inspired by Laudato Si'.
1. Apologies for absence
Miguel Laino and Peter Lowe.
Miguel later emailed RW to say he wouldn’t be able to attend future meetings but try to support the group when needed.
2. CAFOD
The recent Family Fast Day collection had totalled £1,789 including gift aid recovery. This was £147 more than last year. NB wasn’t aware of CAFOD’s national total. He was in the process of booking the hall for CAFOD to run a briefing session for Lent Fast Day on 26 January.
3. Manna Centre
NB reported there had been and overwhelming response to the appeal for sleeping bags, towels, warm clothes, etc. Members thanked Nick for organising the whole thing, including manipulating the wheelie bins, notices, display and being available for the Manna Centre van driver on 22 October. NB proposed that the collections for next year should be on 30-31 March and 12-13 October.
4. Foodbank
OC, MM, RW and Ellen had given assistance in packing, loading and delivering the St James’ School Harvest collection. Donations were brought by pupils for the school Mass on 17 October. Teacher Michelle Wilson had emailed RW to thank the J&P Group for its assistance.
RW outlined the wonderful idea described by parishioner Sandra Said at Masses on the previous weekend. She asked parents of suitably aged children to ask householders for donations to the Foodbank instead of sweets and other treats when out for the traditional Halloween celebrations. MM noted that the donations would have to be removed from the sanctuary before a memorial Mass to be held at 3pm on Sunday 04 November.
It was agreed that such initiatives from parishioners was an indicator of goodwill ready to be brought to actions which the Group should try to harness.
The Foodbank delivery rota was agreed as follows:
November MM
December RW
January IS
February MM
5. Bidding prayers
MM had discussed with Suzanne in the Parish Office about the feasibility of the Group submitting prayers. Generally prayers are taken directly from a book and there should be no objection to specially composed ones being accepted. IS had prepared two examples and would submit these for weekends 03-04 and 10-11 November.
All members were encouraged to compose prayers and circulate them to the Group for rapid approval/objection/amendment. RW suggested that if no response was received by the originator within 24 hours they should submit their prayer. Those wishing to compose were MM, OC, NB, RW, JA and IS (in that order). However, the system should be kept as informal as possible, recognising the need to respond to specific events.
[Since the meeting RW has set up a distribution list. All prayers for comment should be emailed to jandp.prayers@stjamespettswood.org . He will send out a reminder each Monday for the bidding prayers two weekends ahead.]
6. Human Trafficking and Awareness campaign
IS had postponed his meeting with Fr Mark Odion because of illness. He was in the process of rescheduling this fact finding session. (Bishop Pat Lynch and Fr Mark Odion represent the Archdiocese of Southwark at the Santa Marta Group of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales.)
7. Prisoners of conscience
IS introduced the Prisoners of Conscience Greetings campaign. Lists of prisoners are obtained from Amnesty International because that organisation (otherwise not in any way supported by J&P because of its policy on abortion) has by far the most comprehensive database of such persons. In outline, the idea is to ask parishioners to sign a card for a particular prisoner after Mass. A short description of why and where the person is imprisoned would allow parishioners to select one. A postage contribution of £1 would be requested for each card (see below for actual costs).
The process adopted by IS’s previous parish (Macclesfield) would be followed and their list used. This would make the event much easier for the Group to organise.
Actions required:
· Aim to hold the event on weekend 17-18 November.
· Notice in Briefly that weekend and the one before.
· Ask Fr David for approval to give a short talk on the day.
· Table and three people needed after each Mass (possibly have one at the South entrance)
· MM advised that various activities might be underway at back of church nearer Christmas (e.g. raffle ticket selling).
· IS to receive kit from contact and advise RW.
· RW to organise printing of cards and address labels.
[The IS contact, Keith Taylor, subsequently emailed useful guidance, with action dates, and noted that the disparate nature of imprisonment meant it was better to describe the initiative as GREETING CARDS to VICTIMS OF INJUSTICE, using the sloga SEND A MESSAGE OF HOPE.
Postage costs
These are the International Standard rates (Economy can take 8 weeks to certain countries):
Europe £1.25 (up to 20g) includes Russia and former Soviet Republics
World Zone 1 £1.25 (up to 20g) the Americas, Africa, Middle East, Far East and South East Asia
World Zone 2 £1.25 (up to 10g) Australasia, Pacific Islands, and Singapore
Europe 3-5 days, rest of world 5-7 days.
Full details for nerds here:
www.royalmail.com/personal/international-delivery/international-standard
If 50 cards were sent with a £1 contribution, the shortfall would be £12.50.]
8. Global Healing
It was agreed to postpone the next meeting, so members could participate in an event at St Joseph’s on 28 November when the Global Healing video will be shown at a meeting which would include a simple meal and time for discussion. OC, JA, AM and IS will travel together in RW’s car, leaving St James’ at 7pm prompt. (MM away at this time.)
The Group will consider holding a similar event at St James' after Easter 2019 with an emphasis on the impact of global warming and environment in Philippines. It would give fund raising potential for St Catherine’s.
RW had attended “Green Christianity for a Fragile Planet” with Ellen and Mary Ingledew. He briefly outlined the mood of the meeting and handed round copies of a short report. This is included as an appendix to these minutes.
9. Any other business
OC said he would be asking the Parish Office to allocate a second collection date for St Catherine’s late May/early June next year.
MM asked if J&P should be represented at the Christmas Fayre. NB would be having the Ugandan crafts display and RW suggested it could be a good way of advertising the Group and also the Prisoners of Conscience initiative.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.25pm.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 05 December when the discussions will centre on our own Global Healing event, and the arrangements for signing Victims of Injustice cards.
Report by RW on Green Christianity for a Fragile Planet
This event took place at Orpington Baptist church on the evening of Friday 12 October. Ellen, Mary Ingledew and I attended. I was told by one of the organisers later that 166 people were there. 11 stalls welcomed visitors, including FoE, Orpington First (plastic-free), Tearfund, HI Peace & Justice Group. Russell Brockett of HI was one of the lead organisers. It was an impressive piece of organisation, helped by the quality of speakers, and the location. Quite a lot of young people were represented in the audience and half the speakers were young females too.
The panellists were: Jo Johnson MP, Billie Anderson (Tearfund), Helen Stephens (A Rocha), Jo Musker-Sherwood (Hope for the Future). Each of them gave a two minute introduction as to why they were there: (a) Theological argument, (b) what can politicians do, (c) practical steps by Christians, (d) campaigning by churches.
There were various messages such as Reduce-Reuse- Recycle, and some fairly robust questioning of JJ by the chairman (the Baptist Minister Martyn Travers). For example he asked does the environment have a chance after Brexit, and why was the government about to remove FiT payments. Usual politician answers followed. But to give him his due, Jo does seem to have Christian sympathies.
How can our churches help? Pray for a start, e.g. bidding prayers.
Why should Christians care? Because we need to fix the broken relationship between us and God’s creation.
How can our diet help? Billie said become a vegan – tongue in cheek. At least give up meat once a week and think about being a flexitarian. Don’t waste food.
The Church is the biggest civil society and we can make a difference.
Jo M-S noted how successful the fossil fuel divestment movement had been, and she encouraged everyone to move to the Triodos Bank. JJ suggested asking pension funds where they were investing before committing to one.
Questions from the floor:
Tim Fisher “resident of Orpington and Europe” asked who we were to ask the rest of the world for restraint when even policies like removing diesel cars won’t happen till 2040.
Sue Harris was the most passionate in complaining about fracking. Local communities are being overridden and peaceful protestors even locked up. JJ was of course happy with the situation (but agreed people shouldn’t be locked up), because the exploration is being led by the science. In other words, if the science says it’s safe then OK. Completely ignoring the fact that it’s a waste of money and will produce more fossil fuel pollution and warming. JJ left at 8.10pm and was replaced by Councillor William Huntington-Thresher who spoke briefly.
Naomi said her school recycling can’t be collected by Bromley Council. This is true for all schools because Bromley can’t afford it. They will collect if the school pays at cost price.
FoE rep complained about poor air quality with illegally high levels in parts of Bromley, school routes particularly. WH-T claimed the council works with schools to improve awareness.
Wrapping up the chairman asked panellists to suggest one thing we can do to protect our planet.
Jo: talk about the issue and excite people but don’t alienate them.
T-H: lead by example
Billie: change your diet, it will prompt your fellow diners
Helen: embed care for the earth in our churches
Overall, I was inspired by the young panellists and just hope we can find more like them.