Charity concert

If you like a spot of classical music and raising money for good local causes, then why not pop along to Henrietta Barnett School tomorrow evening and enjoy both! Tickets are available on the door.

Thanks to Ian for sharing this - let us know if you go along or if you have anything else you'd like to promote...

Building community

A few photos from our recent pub gathering. One half of the Justice Matters strap line is "building community" (the other half being "bringing hope" if you hadn't noticed). Just 18 months ago, this was just an aspiration. Today we have a mailing list of 50 people, 60 followers on Facebook and between 15 and 25 people regularly attending our gatherings.

Its great fun to be part of such a dynamic and diverse community and there's room for more. Come along to our next session and see for yourself...

Government Advocacy Training Day

"Would you like to learn the best way to get your MP's attention? Do you want advice on how to raise awareness in your community?"

The following message was posted on our Facebook Page by International Justice Mission UK. It looks like an interesting training opportunity - anyone interested in going?

"Given your interest in issues of social justice, I thought you might be interested in an event we’re holding on Sat 13th October. It’s an informal and relaxed afternoon consisting of workshops about engaging your MP and your local community in issues of social justice. It will finish with an address by Labour MP Stephen Timms. It’s going to be a great event so I hope you’ll be able to make it! You can get full details and book your place here: www.ijmuk.org/advocacy-training."

Shared from the Justice Matters Facebook Page

JM this evening

Looking forward to seeing you tonight. Just to let you know, though I had planned for us to be out and about for the first part of this evening's gathering, if it proves to be pouring down with rain, we will revised that part of the plan and stay in the safety of the pub. So don't let the rain be a reason not to come along...

8pm at the Bohemia, 762-764 North Finchley High Road.

See you later...

October Update

Its the start of a new month and another chance to get together and explore what it means to "learn to do right [and] seek justice". We had an excellent first session of our new theme, with practical tips on reducing your water impact from Dave Farnworth and inspiring real-life stories from Wendy, who challenged us to consider what disturbs us and find out how to get involved in solving it. For her, that has meant stepping out in faith to work alongside clubbers, addicts, sex workers and trafficked women. In each case, it was about stepping out and being willing to embrace opportunities and connections. What would embracing an opportunity to step out mean for you?

Our pub gatherings this term will compliment the theme of the cafe sessions, looking at how we can develop Justice Matters sessions to be even better at equipping and encouraging its members to be effective, ordinary radicals. The first of these will be this Wednesday, so make sure you come along and add your ideas to the mix. More information about the session is available in the post below.

That's all for now - have a great week and see you at The Bohemia on Wednesday.

Reduce you water impact

At our cafe session on 19th September, Dave Farnworth shared some excellent practical tips on ways to reduce your water impact. Why not give one of them a go?

• Use a 'hippo' or expanding crystals to reduce the water used in flushing the loo
• Know where your stop cock is
• Get an eco shower head and timer to reduce the water you use in the shower 
• Use a directional head spray on kitchen tap
• Use water gel granules for hanging baskets / potted plants (reduces watering by up to four times)
• Use 'Ecozone' magnets or similar to reduce limescale in your washing machine or dishwasher
• Consider using a water meter - you can always have it uninstalled after a year if its not cost effective

For more information:

• www.veoliawater-savewatersavemoney.co.uk
• www.waterwisely-savewatersavemoney.co.uk
• www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills

If you have a practical tip to share, drop us an email or add a comment below!

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!