Dana: Hope and joy for challenging times
These may be challenging times, but for believers they are also filled with hope and joy.
That will be Dana’s message when she opens CRE 2017 on Tue 17 Oct (10am).
‘I am happy and honoured to cut the ribbon on this wonderful exhibition,’ said Dana, Ireland’s first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. ‘I’m really looking forward to being with everyone at Sandown Park but then I always enjoy being with hopeful, joyful people.’
As an 18-year-old schoolgirl in 1970 she was the last of 12 performers to sing before an estimated viewing audience of 200 million. Her ‘All Kinds of Everything’ pushed the UK’s entry, sung by Mary Hopkin, into second place.
‘It is a special pleasure to welcome Dana back to CRE,’ said the exhibition’s new owner, Steve Goddard. ‘And I’m especially delighted she will be with us for all three days when she will sing, be interviewed about her distinguished career in music and politics and take part in Worship Alive!’
Dana last opened the exhibition in 1993.
‘It has been some years since I last attended CRE and it is wonderful to see that with Steve and his wife, Allison, it continues to inspire and inform the Christian family,’ she said.
Nominated to run in the 1997 Irish Presidential election, the first non-political candidate ever to do so, she campaigned to protect Christian family values, and while not winning, took 14 per cent of the votes, ahead of one of Ireland’s major political parties. She was subsequently elected as an MEP, representing Ireland’s Connacht-Ulster constituency for five years until 2004.
Goodbye paper, hello digital, say thousands of worship leaders
Thousands of musicians are saying goodbye to paper, thanks to CRE exhibitor Cambron Software.
‘We have converted thousands of musicians from dead tree to digital technology,’ said Cambron’s Gordon Cameron. ‘Ukulele players, guitarists, organists – and everyone in between. In fact, it’s exactly a decade since we launched our first version of Power Music, at CRE.’
Power Music is the ultimate digital music management and display system – for Windows, Mac and iPad. From page-turning foot pedals to complete digital music stand solutions, Cambron have it all.
‘Come to stand S84 and we’ll tell you about the big advantages of dropping paper and going digital,’ said Gordon. ‘If you are already a digital music user, you can discover the latest hands-free page turners, iPad and tablet mounts, along with our new MusicOne scanner. We’ll give you free advice on software, hardware and legal sources of digital music – and answer any questions you have about digital music display.’
• Cambron Software are on stand S84 at CRE 2017
Photo: iStock/GNK82
Sip ahoy! Coffee that brings a blessing to seafarers worldwide
A sip of coffee at CRE will remind us that more than 90 per cent of everything we own comes to us over the waves.
BySea is a new exhibitor offering a brand from which every penny in profits goes to help seafarers and their families in more than 27 countries.
An initiative of the Sailors’ Society, BySea’s eye-grabbing Land Rover coffee bar will be in the paddock at Sandown Park where you can sample one of their five blends – African, Americas, Asia Pacific, Brazilian, Indian and decaffeinated.
The Land Rover can be hired for corporate events and private parties, providing exquisite coffee on demand. Or you can simply buy the coffee – in pod format for machines or ground.
‘Seafarers are typically away from their homes from nine to 12 months at a time, facing violent storms, loneliness and isolation, even piracy and terrorism,’ explained Stuart Rivers, chief executive officer for the Sailors’ Society, an international maritime charity. ‘BySea reminds us of the journey our coffee has made before it reaches our cups. It tastes good, too!’
• BySea are on stand S136 at CRE 2017 and their Land Rover will be in the paddock.
Tailor-make your visit to world-famous Oberammergau
A picturesque Bavarian village will welcome more than half a million visitors in three years’ time and an exhibitor at CRE 2017 will make sure you join them.
The world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed 386 years ago. With neighbouring villages ravaged by the bubonic plague, the villagers vowed to present the drama of Christ’s journey into Jerusalem, his death and resurrection – if the village was spared.
More than 2,000 villagers, an orchestra and a vast stage have enthralled audiences every ten years since.
The last time the play was performed in 2010, Tailored Travel took one in every 10 people who travelled from the UK and Ireland. So, as an independent tour operator with more than 20 years’ experience in putting together escorted holidays, they understand exactly what’s needed to make every aspect of your trip to Oberammergau a success.
• Tailored Travel are on stand S101
Time to reform ‘ageist’ church, says CRE speaker
God cares no less for the old than the young – and the church must take an ageing population seriously when it comes to mission and growth.
That will be the message to CRE 2017 from Rev Dr David Hilborn of St John’s College, Nottingham.
‘The generational distinctions we use today are relatively recent and specific to western culture,’ David will contend. ‘Scripture shows us that God’s people tend to go wrong when the young are set against the old.’
The biblical writers tend to see economic status, race and gender as of more concern to God than distinctions of age – and cut across generational lines.
‘In our pastoral care, we need to get these concerns into proportion,’ said David. ‘After some 30 years dominated by a generationally-segmented approach, recent mission and church growth thinking has recovered the importance of intergenerational Christian life and witness.’
In his seminar David will offer practical examples of intergenerational church and mission, alongside case studies of how it can be complemented by generationally-specific strategies.
• Millennials, X-ers and Boomers: Should Mission and Church Growth Be Generation-Based? Rev Dr David Hilborn of St John’s School of Mission (3pm, Wed 18 Oct)
• St John’s College Nottingham are on Stand S26 at CRE 2017
A perfect gift for that Holloween trick or treater
A new resource to help with mission work leading up to the eve of All Saints (Halloween) will be seen for the first time at CRE 2017.
The Meaningful Treat Pack is suitable for light parties, outreach events, schools or simply for children who call at houses to trick or treat on 31st October.
Inside each pack is a bag of Fairtrade chocolate buttons and a poster with eight challenges including a quiz, maze, word game, a call to buy Fairtrade, a prayer suggestion, a national competition with a prize – and a challenge to treat someone less well off by donating to a children’s charity.
Produced by The Meaningful Chocolate Company, creators of the Real Easter Egg, each box costs £30 (there are 30 packs per box – £1 per pack). If ordered before September 30th, delivery is free.
‘Most people feel there has to be more to Halloween than dressing kids up as serial killers or monsters,’ said Meaningful Chocolate’s David Marshall. ‘The Meaningful Treat box is a way for adults to challenge kids to look at the good in the world, give to a charity and to enjoy some great Fairtrade chocolate at the same time.
‘The word Halloween means “the night before All Saints Day” – a time when we celebrate men of faith who have gone before us. We also remember friends and family members and celebrate good triumphing over bad, light over darkness.’
• The Meaningful Chocolate Company are on stand S3 at CRE 2017
Hope and harmony: Ukrainian group debut at CRE
Young Ukrainian music and dance group Zozulenka will perform at CRE 2017 – before setting out on a tour of the UK.
Under the auspices of Youth Zone exhibitor Hope Now, the talented teenagers offer brilliant entertainment and excitement but join us from a beautiful country that is struggling with war and years of political upheaval.
Hope Now, who have been working in Ukraine since 1992, provide healthcare for children and adults in need, as well as working in orphanages and with children taken to the Rescue Shelter by the authorities.
‘We share the love of Jesus and attempt to make him known by ministering to those in spiritual, physical and emotional need,’ said Hope Now’s Jonathan Budgell. ‘We want the Gospel to touch the hearts of young and old, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, free and imprisoned.’
Since 2014 the charity has extended its reach into Moldova and Sri Lanka.
Among the places Zozulenka will perform after their debut at CRE 2017 are Southampton, Swanage, Milford On Sea, Leamington, New Milton, Paignton, Chard, Stroud, Peterborough, St Neots, Great Yarmouth and London.
• Zozulenka are in concert at 11.30am, Wed 18 Oct, in Cindy’s Bar
• Hope Now are on stand C12 in the Youth Zone in Surrey Hall
Retreat in style: old meets new at Academy Residencies
Clean rooms, reasonable food, and flexible meeting space – Academy Residences have the lot in an atmospheric listed building.
Four years ago they opened the Academy Newland Park campus. And they’ll be at CRE 2017 to tell us about another: Academy St Albans in London Colney.
While Newland Park can take up to 900 people the St Albans campus will provide accommodation for 250, eventually rising to 400.
But don’t get the idea that your group can only apply with big numbers. Academy take groups from ten upwards, providing full-board accommodation, meeting, conference and social and activity facilities all year round.
The new campus is an elegant listed Victorian building – originally All Saints Pastoral Care convent. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster acquired it in 1973 and adapted it to modern requirements, taking care to retain its original charm. With mostly twin rooms, a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, sports facilities and a beautiful central quad garden it is the perfect place for groups to relax and socialise.
Among recent visitors have been church groups, school parties, choirs, sports teams, a brass band, athletes and charity conferences.
Dr Barney Skrentny, the senior leader of City Gates Church, London, said: ‘Our church members are from all walks of life – yet Newlands Park satisfied everyone. As an organiser of weekends away for decades I know what I want: clean rooms, reasonable food, and flexible meeting space that I can prepare in any way I want to. Having used many well-known venues I was surprised this was the best.’
• Academy Residences are on stand S56 at CRE 2017
Young at heart: let’s deal honestly with the next generation
In a world shaped by internet technology, how can we help teens and pre-teens not just survive it all, but thrive beyond it?
In her seminar at CRE 2017, Rachel Gardner, Relationships Lead at Youthscape and president of the Girls’ Brigade (pictured above), will give visitors insight into digital sexual culture.
‘I’ll look at why online porn and sexting damages our young,’ said Rachel. ‘I’ll also encourage people not to shy away from difficult conversations, offer practical tools to use with young people and provide links to Christian organisations and resources for discipling and encouraging them.’
Rachel’s seminar is one of four youth-orientated talks scheduled for Youth Leaders’ Day at CRE (Thu 19 Oct). Tom Butler, Head of Missions at the Message Trust, will look at ways we can reach young people today and how we can mobilise the church to adopt them effectively. Laura Hancock and Dan Lodge of Youth for Christ will examine fundamental shifts in youth culture and how we respond to ‘Gen Z’ in a relevant way. Jo Squires, also of Youth for Christ, will look at the importance of the family unit in the life and mission of the Church.
CRE’s Youth Zone will be open for all three days of the exhibition, offering short, TED-style talks on subjects like engaging marginalised young people, parents as disciple makers, re-defining all-age worship and inspiring young men to become ‘warriors for Jesus’.
Youth Zone exhibitors include:
Bible Education Services
Discover Archery
Hope Now
Hope UK
Innervation Trust (ising Pop)
Message Trust
Nicodemus
Pulse Ministries
Sandyholme
The Treasure Box People
Youth For Christ
Youthscape
Bags of blessing for ‘untouchable’ women of India
Buying the right shopping bag will not save the world – but it provides freedom for people living in poverty.
CRE 2017 exhibitor Promise Bags employ women classed in India as ‘untouchables’ – to make jute, cotton and leather bags. The beautiful products deliver freedom and dignity to their makers.
A Promise Bag is colourful and stylish with all manner of uses – shopping, food or stationery, for example. Made of jute, cotton and leather, it can even be produced with a company logo or publicity message printed on the surface.
Best of all, purchasing a Promise Bag has a direct benefit on people like Mani – an ‘untouchable’ from the rural Indian village of Andhra Pradesh. Mani had no hope and no future having given up school to help provide extra income for her poverty-stricken parents. Married at 14, she lives in a thatched mud house. She worked wherever she could – for long hours under the hot sun in rice, cotton or vegetable fields – for the equivalent of $2 a day.
Now 24, she has regular work, is treated equally and given opportunities to design different types of bags. ‘My ideas and thoughts are valued,’ she said. ‘I am so glad to be part of the leadership team of Promise Bags. I am full of joy and dreaming of building a nice house. I have dignity and the opportunity to dream.’
Promise Bags do not just ensure that ten women stitch together material to create something useful. They are stitching together lives that have been ravaged by unfair treatment and lack of hope. The company’s owners intend to have 100 women in employment by 2020 – a dream that visitors to CRE can share in, by taking away a bag to treasure.
• Promise Bags are on Stand S73 at CRE 2017