‘Miserly’ Chris is the wizard of warm
A new, all-electric heating system has proved to be a winner with urban as well as rural churches.
ChurchEcoMiser was originally designed for country churches where gas was either unavailable or expensive and oil the only alternative. Now the system is winning plaudits from a wide range of ecclesiastical properties and those buying electricity through a ‘green’ supplier find it is also carbon neutral – allowing some churches to install solar panels which had previously been refused.
Designed by Chris Dunphy, who launched Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Ltd 40 years ago, the system has no boiler, no flue and no noxious gasses.
‘Many of the 1000-plus churches that I have dealt with over the years are Victorian or medieval where protecting the fabric of the building is as important as heating the people, so it can be a challenging but very rewarding task,’ he said. ‘This system is virtually maintenance free, compatible with solar panels, silent in operation and warms the fabric and congregation.’
ChurchEcoMiser and Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical Ltd are on stand S7 at CRE National (12-14 October 2021, Sandown Park, Surrey)
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
CRE News
Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!
Your journey ends with Searchlight
Puzzling over service ideas for Mothers’ Day and Easter?
Searchlight Theatre have a package that not only saves you time but also provides a dramatic boost to your presentations.
It includes three short, cleverly-crafted sketches from the Searchlight team – each dramatically and humorously developing a different aspect of the Easter story. There is also a 20-minute message, All Stations to Easter, from CRE National 2021 speaker Jeff Lucas. Look out, too, for some bonus material for Mothers’ Day. You’ll find a 20-minute talk by Jeff and a moving song on video from Searchlight, visually accompanied by a performance from members of the cast.
Jeff, an international author, speaker and broadcaster with 26 best-selling books to his name, gives a clear message for each occasion.
‘This is a resource for churches that have struggled to provide fresh, accessible material for online services over the past 12 months,’ said Searchlight’s David Robinson. ‘We hope it will provide a real boost.’
The complete package is available for £49. Click here for more details
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
CRE News
Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!
Insure your house and bless your church
Every time someone takes out a fresh home insurance policy, Ecclesiastical donates £130 to the church of the customer’s choice.
More than 2000 churches have already benefitted – one of them being St Marks & All Saints Churches in West Parley, in the diocese of Salisbury. With Covid-19 playing a part, treasurer Derek Warner is expecting a shortfall of between £15,000 and £18,000 for the year. Ecclesiastical Insurance’s recent Trust130 donation of £650 went into general funds – a welcome addition.
‘We have had no congregations, so no collections,’ said Derek. ‘But even more importantly, we have lost all our income from church hall lettings and survived by eating into our capital. The Trust130 money is absolutely vital – we’re very grateful to Ecclesiastical.’
Trust130 was launched in 2017, to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the founding of the company and, to date, the company has given more than £430,000 to 2,283 churches around the UK. There is no limit on the number of donations which can be made.
Ecclesiastical are on stand S149 at CRE National (12-14 October 2021, Sandown Park, Surrey)
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
CRE News
Your new 60-page products and services guide. Nothing beats reading it!
Discover Jesus and justice with a bunch of ‘ordinary radicals’
A three-day online ‘retreat in daily life’ for lovers of Jesus and justice is planned for the new year (6-8 Jan 2021), designed to fit alongside your day-to-day responsibilities.
That’s the promise of Resilient Discipleship: Embodying spiritual rest when the world wants us to zoom – from Red Letter Christians UK. Led by a variety of ‘ordinary radicals’, this mini-retreat will be a moment to breathe and develop healthy patterns of spiritual nourishment in the strange times we live in. Participants will receive a pack by post containing a few items to help with this quest and will be encouraged to explore local spaces (where restrictions permit) to discover the sometimes-hidden reflections of glory all around us.
‘We will also enjoy daily reflections from experienced Christian activists, bringing us some spiritual food to chew on as we take some time out to allow God’s Spirit to lead us in re-creation,’ said Naomi Bennett.
Red Letter Christians UK is a relational network for those who want to live for Jesus and justice. It aims to be an open-handed network for people already living out a Jesus-centred approach to poverty, injustice, exclusion and social need in our communities.
‘We’re not interested in calling people OUT of existing churches, organisations or networks – we want to play a part in helping forge new and deeper connections amongst like-minded Jesus followers,’ said Naomi. ‘Our great desire is to inspire those who might be new to this vision of Jesus and justice, whether young or old, churched, un-churched or ex-churched. We’d love to help you meet co-conspirators and embrace what we believe is an essential part of a compassionate life lived with Jesus.’
Click here for more information about Red Letter Christians.
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Beyond Covid at Christmas: hope meets real lives
A free Bible resource has been created for churches and individuals approaching Christmas during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Produced by Christian charity Lifewords, The True Light connects the Nativity with the realities of Christmas 2020.
‘As the global pandemic rages, the usual festive trappings will be overshadowed by sadness and uncertainty – even with the hope of vaccination,’ said Steve Bassett, creative director at Lifewords, a regular CRE exhibitor. ‘We’ve created a resource that responds to our shared struggle and pain and speaks of the true light meeting us in the hopes, dreams and disappointments of our daily lives.’
A print and digital resource, with a 20-page booklet and online conversation, The True Light asks the question: ‘How does the true light find you this Christmas?’ Hard-hitting contemporary collages frame scripture episodes of how the true light came – to shift workers, grieving mothers, lost young people and those fighting injustice and fleeing oppression.
‘Through this resource we invite people to consider how the true light finds them this Christmas,’ explained Lifewords’ Elizabeth King. ‘In the original nativity story, hope meets real lives. We are encouraged that, whatever the situation, the true light is coming – and we are not to be afraid.’
You can use the resources individually, or share the story with your church, friends and neighbours.
Click here to order your free The True Light booklets (in packs of five).
Image: Collage artwork by Jadan Reeves-Bassett
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
In the darkest of years, the gift of light
In this darkest of years, a new film can be used by churches and individuals to reflect the wonderful news that God sent light into the world (John 1.9).
Produced by Stew Smith, CPO’s new chief creative officer, Share The Light is a Christmas present to us all from the organisation.
‘When Stew joined us in August, he was asked to address the question “What will Christmas 2020 be like?”’ said Alan Hare, CPO’s chief executive officer. ‘Three months later we have his answer! We are delighted to invite you to join in our Share The Light campaign.’
The film shows Christians spreading light and bringing hope and love into our world. They do that in many ways – with friends and family, at work and in their communities.
‘The film has had an extremely positive reaction,’ said Alan. ‘The CEO of one well-respected Christian charity described it as “absolutely stunning. It grabs your heart and is a work of art… executed to perfection.”’
Churches and individuals can also personalise the campaign by using a QR activation code that links to the film and to up to two different weblinks or to a page with a specific message.
‘Some churches have already used this to link to their home page and/or their live stream page,’ said Alan. ‘Alternatively, it can link to a page with a Christmas message for everyone who has that QR code.’
A range of social media clips can also be used to share the campaign more broadly and swiftly.
To see the film click here
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
No Zoom at the inn? New resources for a creative Christmas
One organisation is determined to make it a cracking Christmas in spite of the limitations brought on by Covid-19.
Faith in Kids supports churches and parents so that children can engage with Jesus Christ and respond to him, having their hearts and minds captured by Christ’s words.
And this year they have created some unique resources to make that happen, including:
- Bake-along-a-Christmas: real-time baking online with an all-age Christmas talk
- Walk about Nativity: an immersive walking tour through scenes of the Nativity
- Zoom Nativity: a virtual scratch nativity play
- Car park carols: a drive-in, all-age carol service in a car park
- Christmas came to me: a local outdoor community carol sing-along on your street
‘Let’s step out of our church buildings and celebrate the birth of Christ in ways we would never have considered before!’ said Ed Drew, director of Faith in Kids.
‘Too often churches are losing the hearts and minds of our children. Too many of the children who attend church grow up knowing Bible facts and a long list of Christian behaviours but without a love for Jesus Christ. Faith in Kids wants to see more children engaging with and responding to God personally. Children who are having their hearts and minds informed by Christ’s words, by God’s grace, will grow into teenagers who want to live for him.’
Click here for more information
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Inclusion ‘doesn’t stop at wider doors and disabled loos’
An organisation created to get children off the streets and learn about Jesus wants to help churches get back to ministering to children in a fresh way.
Urban Saints, originally Crusaders, sees the current national situation as an ideal opportunity for churches to take a fresh look at their youth work.
‘We should be thinking about how to welcome children and young people back again,’ said Mark Arnold, director of additional needs at Urban Saints. ‘And that includes including children and young people with additional or special needs.’
Mark, father to James who is autistic and has associated learning difficulties as well as epilepsy and anxiety disorder, is also co-founder of the Additional Needs Alliance, a vibrant and fast-growing online community. He is an enthusiastic national and international advocate for children and young people with additional (special) needs or disabilities and is passionate about enabling everyone engaging with them to be inspired, trained and well resourced.
‘About 20 per cent of children and young people in the UK have an additional need or disability of some kind – that’s roughly 2.5 million,’ he said. ‘Every church youth group is likely to include children and young people with additional needs and many will need some support.’
A Mumsnet and Scope joint study shows that many of these children and young people, and their families, feel excluded from a wide range of social and other activities. Mark believes that inclusion is something that should be offered to every child and doesn’t stop at wider doors, ramps and disabled loos.
‘We should also be about creating a culture of welcome and belonging for all, as well as looking to develop the faith of every child whatever their ability or needs.’
Urban Saints lead training seminars on a variety of subjects including working with young people outside the church, disciple-making and wellbeing.
Click here for more information
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
‘Overwhelming’ response to first Christingle chocolate orange
With traditional Christingle events likely to be cancelled or radically different this year, the world’s first Fairtrade chocolate orange box, with relevant symbols, is now available.
The box also doubles as a charity collection opportunity with a slot for coins. Everything is plastic free and can be recycled.
With a few simple tweaks to liturgy, order of services or events it is now possible to run a safer, socially distanced or zoom Christingle.
‘The box has been on the drawing board for the past seven years but I thought now was the time to do a pilot,’ explained David Marshall, founder of Meaningful Chocolate Co. ‘The response has been overwhelming. We have seen people buying for whole schools, Messy churches and as stocking fillers. One church leader, based in Chesterfield, wrote: “The Christingle chocs are great. Just what is needed this year.”’
In 1747 Bishop Johannes de Watteville started the Christingle tradition in Germany. The Moravian Church then spread the tradition. In the UK, since the 1960s, Christingles have been used in Advent to share the Christmas message and raise funds for charity.
Meaningful Chocolate’s sugar comes from cooperatives in Paraguay and Belize. Most of the cocoa from cooperatives in the Ivory Coast (Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Limited Ghana). Beans are also sourced from cooperatives in the Dominican Republic, Peru, Panama and Ecuador. The chocolate is blended in Belgium.
Buying products from Fairtrade producers enables them to obtain fair prices for their crops and have decent working conditions.
Click here for more information
• Meaningful Chocolate Co. will be at CRE National 2021 (12-14 Oct, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey)
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2022
23-24 February 2022
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey
Remember them with brand new resources
Searchlight Theatre Company, together with international speaker and author Jeff Lucas, have combined to produce some helpful online resources for Remembrance Sunday and Advent.
‘All our tours are on hold for the foreseeable future,’ explains Searchlight’s David Robinson, ‘so we decided to join the great online migration of 2020 and professionally film some new resources for churches to use over Advent.’
The material for November includes extracts from Searchlight’s award-winning production of Woodbine Willie: Poet and Padre, as well as insights and devotions from Jeff Lucas. Woodbine Willie (real name Rev Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy), was an inspirational WWI padre on the front line who gave out cigarettes and New Testaments in equal measure.
‘The lads loved him for staying with them in the trenches,’ explains David. ‘He believed he could only pray for them if he was there with them and the soldiers never forgot him.’
Five scenes from his life have been dramatised and filmed by Searchlight and these, together with reflections from Lucas, make an ideal Remembrance Day online package for churches.
In December he will give four seasonal short chats based around Searchlight’s light-hearted festive sketches. These are ideal for services and small groups alike. An added bonus is a 25-minute sermon from Jeff entitled The Hope We All Wish For.
The two online packages are available for all churches for the price of one: £49
Click here for more information
Our next exhibitions
CRE South West 2021
23-24 June 2021
Westpoint, Exeter
CRE National 2021
12-14 October 2021
Sandown Park, Surrey