Making a difference, one bauble at a time
Hand-blown by Muslims, hand-painted by Christians, shipped by Israelis – the 2020 Bethlehem Bauble will soon be appearing on a Christmas tree near you!
Each bauble arrives on a bed of straw in its own presentation box along with a certificate of origin. No plastic is used – and it’s made from recycled materials. Founded by Ros Pollock whilst posted to Jerusalem with the UN, Bethlehem Baubles aims to provide a grass roots, fair living wage to a struggling community.
‘The craftspeople working in the glass-blowing company were producing wonderful, delicate items but I had to convince them to make baubles which would bring a beautiful decorative Holy Land touch to any home,’ Ros explained.
Her enthusiasm won the day and with a different design for the collection each year, Bethlehem Baubles have the potential to become an abiding part of the Christmas experience – a perfect stocking filler and something unusual that tricky relative who is always difficult to buy for!
‘Christmas should be about giving something special to the ones we love and connecting with the things that really matter,’ said Ros. ‘In an age of mass production and commercialisation, Bethlehem Baubles offers you the chance to return to these simple origins and renew the authentic spirit of the season. We’ve paired up with Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA) who work closely with Muslim and Christian communities at an individual level in order to produce a unique gift with a direct and meaningful impact. Together we can make a difference for these skilled artisans.’
The baubles now sell in many renowned shops around the UK including many cathedral and church shops including Lambeth Palace and St. Pauls, and a host of gift shops and garden centres who have all embraced a project that encourages a genuine celebration of Christmas.
‘Our goal is to take Bethlehem Baubles around the world,’ said Ros. ‘The more we sell the more jobs we create, so we would love to find new customers. People are growing weary of putting cheap bling on their Christmas trees and want to celebrate in a more authentic way. By investing in something truly meaningful they can renew the spirit of Christmas each year – one bauble at a time.’
Click here for Bethlehem Baubles’ 2020 edition, available in dark blue, silver and turquoise at £13 + shipping. Also available are limited edition trio boxes – three beautiful baubles in a handmade wooden box that makes an original and thoughtful gift. Available for £32 + shipping.
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Befuddled by fundraising? Now there’s a Saint at your service
Churches looking to rekindle a capital appeal project in the wake of lockdown can increase their chances of success with the help of a third sector consultancy.
Prior to lockdown, Action Planning ran three church capital appeals workshops on behalf of the Diocese of Oxford. All three were oversubscribed. Now the consultancy is planning to take this service online, giving churches throughout the UK the opportunity to log on and gain valuable insights for their own projects.
‘It’s not uncommon for churches to be sitting on capital projects that were launched years ago but have stalled for some reason,’ explained Action Planning chairman David Saint. ‘It’s a classic case of “don’t spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar”. Successful capital appeals rely on a number of factors: a realistic target, a strong case for support, a plan of action, good communication, faith… We help church fundraisers to make all these factors watertight and give them a clear plan for launching – or relaunching – their appeal. As Christians ourselves, we are always keen to see church projects succeed.’
Action Planning’s experience in church capital appeals is extensive and among its network of consultants are seasoned church fundraising specialists whose expertise is renowned, not least David Saint himself. Associate consultant Andrew Barton is another highly-respected expert in church fundraising. Earlier this year he carried out extensive bid writing work for Oxford Diocese, which clinched a £2m grant from the Church of England Strategic Development Fund. Three churches across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire had appeals that had been in play for more than 10 years reignited by a feasibility study carried out by David Saint and associate consultant Sean Tully.
One, St Mary’s in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, reported that ‘Action Planning’s recommendations were spot on… it was helpful to have a third party telling us the things we need to address.’ St Mary’s have since asked Action Planning to deliver a further piece of work, advising them on how best to pursue their strategy in light of Covid-19.
‘In addition to our practical experience, it’s often our objectivity that enables us to bridge gaps and bring all parties together behind one cohesive plan,’ says David Saint. ‘For thousands of churches around Britain that are trying to recover from the blows inflicted by the pandemic, the need for calm, experienced guidance has never been more pressing.”
• Action Planning are exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (12-14 Oct). For more information click here
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Bespoke sanitisers? You have to hand it to Fullers
Much more aesthetically pleasing than plastic and aluminium options - let alone the cost!
That’s how St Mark’s Community Café in Bristol responded to a new, purpose-built hand sanitiser station – made by regular CRE exhibitors Fullers Finer Furniture. Specialists in products made for places of worship and education, Fullers, a bespoke company based in Weston-super-Mare, had been approached by another local church in the process of undertaking risk assessments.
‘Its members needed to consider additional safety precautions required to enable their building to re-open for corporate worship,’ explained company founder Paul Fuller. In response, he designed a free-standing hand sanitiser station (pictured). Made of wood and finished in a hygienic, easy-to-clean real oak veneer, each unit is supplied with a refillable dispenser. The unit has a clip frame in which to insert an A4 printed notice.
‘Given the current situation and ongoing importance of hygiene, the unit is designed with practicality and durability in mind,’ said Paul. ‘It weighs approx. 9.2 kg, can be moved easily and placed appropriately for use on entering the building and approaching the servery or dining area.’
Delighted with the design, the church ordered four free standing hand sanitiser stations and 10 wall-mounted versions. The free-standing station costs £120 (+ VAT & delivery) with the wall-mounted option £70 (+ VAT & delivery).
To find out more click here
• Fullers Finer Furniture are exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, 12-14 Oct)
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Webinars prove lifeline for safeguarding trainees
Vulnerable people are still vulnerable during lockdown, so Thirtyone:eight harnessed digital technology to provide vital member training.
Like thousands of other organisations, the independent Christian safeguarding charity closed its head office and training centre in March and staff worked from home. Established for more than 40 years, the organisation works with thousands of member organisations to make sure safeguarding standards are upheld and protected.
‘We usually hold more than 230 face-to-face training courses a year, with up to 40 delegates present at each,’ explained Thirtyone:eight’s Matt Cooper. ‘Because of the lockdown, face-to-face was no longer feasible.’
Their member organisations still needed access to vital training with many seeing an increase in volunteering.
‘We started trialling webinars before Covid-19 but had to fast track these to meet new demand,’ explained Matt. ‘Adapting face-to-face into webinars was not easy with our trainers requiring a different skill set. We also had to overcome technology needs for our users.’
In spite of the difficulties Thirty-one:eight delivered more than 40 webinars between April and June.
‘We also had new business from clients for whom face-to-face did not meet their needs,’ said Matt. ‘We started small and worked up, trialling one course and adapting as we went on.’For more information click here.
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Beating the path to being truly human
In this time of struggle and challenge, nine sayings of Jesus will help us reconfigure what’s important in the world.
So says author Mark Scandrette, who suggests the sayings – or ‘beats’ – invite us to see things differently. Captured in the Sermon on the Mount, the beatitudes offer a Ninefold Path to what it truly means to be human.
‘The only way to really experience fullness of life is by learning to apply the words of Christ to the messy details of our lives,’ said Mark. ‘There is a huge gap between how Christ calls us to live and how we actually live. The path addresses that gap in gentle and life-giving ways, exploring the way of Jesus with curiosity.’
In a world crying out for change, Mark, who is also the Ninefold Path facilitator, believes the beatitudes offer a way to make change happen, starting with ourselves.
Revd Alexandra Lilley, of St George’s, Tufnell Park, London, said: ‘I really recommend the path as a way to refresh our understanding of how to live the life that Christians are called to – being the hands and feet of Jesus.’
The project is an initiative of Lifewords, who want people everywhere to experience the Bible as good news for their lives and for the world. The Ninefold Path Notebook is now available at just £15 for a pack of five. Click here to find more, order resources, and access free online content.
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Les lands a grand result for Bournemouth church
No wonder Les Howard (right) and his team are smiling – they’ve won a battle for Immanuel Church, Bournemouth that has saved the fellowship a staggering £100,000 in unnecessary VAT.
‘We are pleased to say we have saved and protected many millions of pounds over the years, including Immanuel where we successfully argued a case at the tax tribunal,’ said regular CRE exhibitor Les. ‘Whilst we try to minimise VAT costs of any project, we do not become involved in dubious tax avoidance schemes. We want our church clients to have confidence in the integrity of their advisers, as well as the quality of the advice itself.’
The vatadvice.org team has recently grown with Les now joined by Rebecca and Nick (pictured). The plan is to develop a larger team, supporting even more churches and charities through the VAT maze.
‘We have leased an office,’ said Les, ‘although, with lockdown, we are not often there!’
Much of the company’s work is advising on property development.
‘Always to speak with us at an early stage,’ said Les. ‘We can provide written guidance for your leadership team or trustees. This gives certainty as the church will invariably need to raise funds. No church leader wants to ask a congregation for further funds to pay an unexpected VAT bill.
‘Many churches are diversifying their activities. Coffee shops, food banks, debt advice, counselling, mental health and furniture stores are increasingly found on church premises. These can have VAT implications, so ask at an early stage.’
Click here for more information.
• Vatadvice.org are exhibiting at CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey Oct 12-14)
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Flash Gordon to George Floyd: it’s all in Good News
Lockdown meant outreach newspaper Good News published just one edition, rather than its usual four monthly issues – but the September issue is back with a bang.
Having weathered both lack of sales and the closure of its printer, the publishers are thanking God for finding a new printer and returning to monthly publications.
‘As a registered charity we run Good News on a shoestring, existing purely on sales of the paper rather than fundraising, so to miss three issues was a financial hit,’ said editor Andrew Halloway. ‘To see our printer go under was a further blow. But God has taken us through that and many churches who use the paper have kindly given gifts to sustain our ministry.
‘In addition, we took a step of faith in doubling the number of papers we normally give away free to prisons and have seen people also generously support that outreach.’
With the testimony of a professor leading the hunt for a Covid-19 vaccine, stories on George Floyd and racism, as well as a farmer’s testimony as harvest approaches, the September issue is relevant to the times. There is also a sports page, including the testimony of a Nottingham Forest player and an interview with Flash Gordon star Sam Jones – as the sci-fi movie celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Good News is ideal for door-to-door distribution but also works alongside any other form of church outreach. And at only 15p per copy plus p&p, it’s very cost effective.
Click here for more information.
• Good News newspapers are exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey Oct 12-14)
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Coming through Covid with a building to bless
Can existing buildings be re-purposed in our brave new post-pandemic world?
CRE exhibitors CPL Architects think so and are taking up the challenge under their new Building to Bless initiative.
‘It has been wonderful to see churches developing a vision for their local communities within the constraints of social distancing,’ said CPL’s Phil Winch. ‘They are delivering new outreach projects through innovative building projects, meeting the new needs of our world.’
With online streaming of services a necessary form of collective worship under lockdown, the gradual relaxation of government restrictions has required a fresh look at how existing physical buildings can be re-purposed.
‘Social distancing requirements effect many aspects of the built form,’ explained Phil, ‘including access, egress, circulation, ventilation and spacing between seating. It all means larger areas are needed for the same number of people.’
Many churches are reviewing their building portfolios to see how they can be modified to meet these important new requirements, suggests Phil. At the same time, some churches are seeing this crisis as an opportunity to achieve a more aspirational vision – to bless their communities with new ventures delivered through exciting building programmes.
A Building to Bless project in Beckenham (pictured) envisages a brand-new facility on the high street, providing a safe and attractive offering to the night-time economy with music events, fine coffee and other social activities to meet community needs.
‘If you have a vision for your community in these challenging times, we would love to hear about your ideas for Building to Bless,’ said Phil. Click here for more information.
• CPL Architects are exhibiting at CRE South West 2021 (Westpoint, Exeter, 17-18 Mar) and CRE National 2021 (Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey Oct 12-14)
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Let your light shine (and don’t be LED astray)
Most of us fail to consider how much oil our church lighting burns – not the refined hydrocarbon found in traditional oil-burning lamps but the environmental cost of the energy used by everyday light bulbs.
‘On average, churches in the UK use between 22,000 and 30,000 kWh of electricity annually,’ said David Burch of CES, a lighting design and installation practice with teams dedicated to re-lighting heritage churches. ‘To put this in perspective you could make two million cups of coffee with this energy, which in the C of E is probably about right!’
Worryingly, this is also equivalent to 2,800 litres of oil being burnt and expelled into the atmosphere. And although the UK government has made inroads into green and renewable energies, the jury’s still out on whether we’ll meet the 30 per cent target by the end of 2020. So how can churches play their part?
‘New technologies can allow us to cut lighting energy consumption by 90 per cent,’ said David. ‘At CES we understand the importance of system longevity with minimal maintenance. Churches are charities and we appreciate the importance of value for money where budgets are tight. We also understand how lighting can be used architecturally and impact worship for good.
‘New LED lighting should not be entertained without careful consideration and professional assistance. Many quick swaps or poorly-designed schemes are a false economy!’
• CES Lighting are exhibiting at CRE National 2021 (12-14 Oct 2021). For more information click here.
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Single people: don’t lock them out during lockdown
The Single Friendly Church campaign has worked harder than ever during lockdown.
‘We are only too aware that single Christians may feel especially lonely, isolated and frustrated – whether they are living with others or indeed by themselves,’ said Amelia Gosal, executive director of Single Friendly Church. ‘In the UK 40 per cent of the adult population are single. For many not being able to go to church and meet regularly with other Christians will have had negative impacts for their mental health, spirituality and general wellbeing.’
The organisation has created a series of five-minute videos featuring single Christians who talk about how they are looking after themselves spiritually. They also share top tips on surviving during these unprecedented times.
The first video was created by Kate Wharton, vicar of St. Bart’s in Roby, Liverpool and author of Single Minded: being single, whole and living life to the full.
‘As a well-known voice on Christian singleness in the UK, we were so grateful for her support,’ said Amelia. ‘A number of different single Christians have come forward to share their thoughts and experiences as well.’
Find out more by visiting Single Friendly Church, and see the video here
Join our mailing list to make sure you receive a free copy of the CRE At Home 2020 handbook, which will be posted in October
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021 – 17-18 March 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021 – 12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey