Looking Up

While our cafe sessions this term will be exploring what it means to be an ordinary radical, our Autumn pub gatherings will look at how we can develop and improve the network itself.

Part of the founding vision for Justice Matters was a determination to see the local church back at the forefront of the call for social justice. Anyone who shares our passion for social justice has been welcome to join us in this endeavour - we are eager to uphold our vision to be "unashamedly Christian, accessible to all".

Wednesday 3rd October, 8pm
This first of three pub sessions will therefore explore how we look 'Up' and include elements of prayer and worship in our gatherings without alienating non-believers and those of other faiths. In future sessions we'll explore how we get better at looking 'In' to care for each other, and 'Out' to engage new members.

We'll be meeting at the Bohemia in North Finchley at 8pm but bring a warm coat as we'll be heading out on a practical exercise before coming back for a warm drink and discussion.

See you there!

Getting off to a great start

Wow, a great start to the new term. Thanks for coming along everyone and special thanks to Dave and Wendy for sharing! Full report on the way...

Shared from Justice Matters Facebook Page

Justice Matters is back!

The wait is over - Justice Matters resumes this Wednesday evening at Coffee Republic from 7:30pm, when we'll kick off our new theme for the Autumn: The Rough Guide to being an Ordinary Radical.

In this first session, we'll hear from Wendy Adams, a member of Justice Matters, who has experience of engaging with clubbers in Tenerife, drug addicts in Hong Kong, and sex workers in the East End of London. Come along to hear some of her stories and find out what drives her to be an ordinary radical.

In addition, there will be a chance to pick up some practical tips on how to make a greater difference in your own day-to-day life through our new regular slot for this term: Tips for Ordinary Radicals. If you have any ideas that you think would be useful to share with others, drop me a note.

As ever, there's no cost to come along, but please do buy a coffee and a nibble to contribute towards the venue hire, as we are funding the full running costs of the network ourselves.

That's all for now - see you Wednesday!

Correspondence

Earlier in the year I sent a letter to my local MP, Theresa Villiers, to encourage her to take a bold stand in supporting climate change legislation and to encourage the UK Government to play a positive role in the Rio+20 Conference on sustainability. Previous emails had gone without response, so I was pleased when I received a letter in reply. You can read what she said here.

If anyone else has received letters of response from writing to an MP or anyone else, do let us know - we'd be happy to share the correspondence so others can see, be encouraged and informed.

The Rough Guide

I'm pretty chuffed with the design work I've done for the new term, so I'm going to share it with you here.

Enjoy!

Welcome back, ordinary radicals

What does it mean to be an ordinary radical? What lessons have we learnt in our own lives that we can share to help others be more effective in making a positive difference in the world? And what makes an ordinary person like you or I decide to do something truly extraordinary like leaving comfortable suburbia to get our hands dirty tackling injustice head on?

This term at Justice Matters we will be looking at all of these questions and more through a series of sessions designed to inspire, encourage and equip us to become (or become more effective as) ordinary radicals.

Our cafesessions (19th September, 17th October and 21st November) will combine practical tips to help us to be more radical in our everyday lives, with talks from guest speakers who have taken more extraordinary steps to change the world for the better. As usual, these will take place at Coffee Republic on North Finchley High Road. Come along from 7:30pm for coffee and a catch-up with others.

At our pub gatherings (3rd October, 7th November and 5th December) we will be seeking your ideas for how to develop and improve the network, using each session to consider how we advance in one of three directions: Up, Out and In. Locations for these will be published ahead of the gathering, usually in a local pub or cafe.

The final gathering of term will be the Christmas party on 19th December at Coffee Republic.

We hope you can join us for these sessions and remember to keep an eye on the website and/or Facebook for the full Justice Matters experience.

A summer like no other

If you are anything like me, then you will have been deeply inspired by this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games. Despite not being especially into sports, I found myself engrossed and emotionally involved with the efforts (and considerable achievements) of the athletes.

While the heroes of Team GB were undoubtedly hugely talented, I was struck by how ordinary many of them where - not in any pejorative sense, but rather that they seemed like normal people who you might see on the street or the supermarket; ordinary people who had taken a decision to dedicate their lives to achieve something extraordinary and had set the world ablaze as a result. This sense was redoubled by the Paralympians, who demonstrated that there are no barriers too great for those determined to make their mark on the world.

This term at Justice Matters we will be looking at ways that we can be more dedicated and deliberate in our efforts to “learn to do right, seek justice [and] defend the oppressed.” (Isaiah 1:17). Like those athletes, we are ordinary people with a radical ambition. We may never stand in a stadium before 90,000 roaring supporters (at least not that we can see), but we can each live our lives with that same purpose and passion such that we cross the finish line having changed the world for the better. Join us this term as we learn how to do that together...

Ann-Marie speaking to Fawcett Society

Ann-Marie speaking about her work with 28 Too Many at the Fawcett Society – a justice group in London - on 24^th Sept .  All are welcome to come along and listen.

'The meeting starts at 7pm on 24^th September in the Mary Stott room on the first floor at the Fawcett Offices: 1-3 Berry Street, EC1V 0AA. Press the NAWO button for access. The office is on the corner with Clerkenwell Road. 

The nearest underground is Barbican or Farringdon. There is a map on their website.'