A message from Brian Cuthbertson, Head of Environmental Challenge:

Lent 2009 is now upon us!  Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday 25 February.

The Bishop and the Diocese are warmly supporting the Lent Carbon Fast, organised by Tearfund again this year.

Here are four key themes for every church and congregation member to reflect on:-

• ‘ “Love does no harm to its neighbour” (Romans 13:10) – climate change can mean our neighbours go hungry because of drought … There are many things we can do … to change the way our lives impact poor communities.’
• We encourage all church members to observe Lent and Holy Week (from 25 February to 11 April) with specific actions which reduce our contribution to climate change.
• Reducing our emissions and changing the way we live are not just things we do in Lent – they need to be forever! Let’s make changes which have the most benefit and which we can sustain well after Easter!

And here are three food-related highlights, based on Tearfund’s menu:

• Let’s give up bottled water – even when we’re on the move, we can fill a bottle from the tap.
• De-frosting the fridge and freezer (unless they’re auto-defrost) improves their efficiency, reduces emissions – and is good for our own health.
• Can we buy unwrapped food, e.g. fruit and veg, and save on packaging and landfill use?

Full details of the Carbon Fast can be found on Tearfund’s website here and here.

The Bishop of London circulated recently his reflections on the Implications of the Financial Crisis and the Recession.

The London Church Leaders received a request for a day of prayer concerning the recession and decided to commend in common prayers which could be used ecumenically across London on Ash Wednesday, or as churches wished. These are attached.

We are also asked by our Archbishops to remember the people of Zimbabwe on this day of prayer and fasting.

+ Peter Edmonton

Prayers in a crisis (pdf)

The latest edition of the Treasurers’ Newsletter has been published and can be downloaded below.

This edition includes information regarding:

• Annual Accounts: Thresholds, property ‘owned’ by the PCC, registration with Charity Commission
• Annual Returns: Online submission of returns, postal submission of returns
• Common Fund: 2008 arrears, 2009 Standing orders
• 2008 clergy fees
• Data Developments’ Open Day
• Employment: Foreign nationals, payroll agencies
• Fund raisers
• Surface and Highways water charges / potential increases

If you have any questions relating to items please contact your area finance adviser:

• kevin.ogilvie (Email: kevin.ogilvie [at] london.anglican.org) for City and Willesden
• mary.spredbury (Email: mary.spredbury [at] london.anglican.org) for Charing Cross and Kensington
• theresa.moses (Email: theresa.moses [at] london.anglican.org) for Edmonton and Stepney.

Treasurers’ Newsletter February 2009 (pdf)

This is the text of a speech the Bishop of London gave today at General Synod. General information about General Synod can be found here. Synod agendas and papers, and live audio, can be accessed here.

“A friend left the following stark message on a mobile phone belonging to one of my children. “Called to the Plaza. I am out – told to report to reception. Don’t use this e mail account again.” The person concerned is not UK born and while she was not one of the high earners in the City, work provided her with a social world as well. With some hundreds of others she was summoned to HQ. The people who faced her across the table were not from the HR department but they were lawyers and security. She was asked if she had left anything on her desk. She mentioned her hand bag. She was told to go directly to Reception where her bag would be brought to her by security. This of course reflects the relative ease with which great damage can be done in today’s wired up world.

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