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Speak New Year Newsletter
I hope you all had a great Christmas, and are refreshed and ready for a new year of praying and campaigning for justice.
2010 is already shaping up to be a very exciting year for SPEAK, with the launch of the new phase of the Arms Trade campaign, Soundcheck and the Day of Action, and our 10th birthday celebrations! You can book your place at Soundcheck here.
Read on to find out all about:
Soundcheck 2010 - Workshops and Speakers being confirmed!
Day of Action, 1st March - The Plan!
New Pray & Post Card on the Arms Trade
Greenhouse Day, 23rd January - Creative preparation for Soundcheck
Do you live in Yorkshire? Come and help send out our mailing!
SPEAKy Twitterings
1. SOUNDCHECK 2010 - WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKERS BEING CONFIRMED!
With speakers including Ruth Valerio, Benny Wenda, and Roger Mitchell; the launch of a new phase of our arms trade campaign; the acoustic Music Speaks night; the Day of Action; 10th anniversary celebrations AND, for the first time ever, a creche (Squeak!), Soundcheck2010, on 27th February - 1st March, promises to be the best yet!
Our main speaker Ruth Valerio has written extensively on justice, environment and lifestyle issues, including 'L is for Lifestyle: Christian living that doesn’t cost the earth', and is manager of A Rocha's Living Lightly project. Fantastic workshops are getting confirmed on the arms trade, reflections on Isaiah 58, asylum, stories of mining and conflict in DR Congo, labyrinth prayer, climate change campaigning post Copenhagen, and many more! See the website for more information about the speakers and workshops.
Please do book early, to help us plan, get cheap travel, ask others to join you, and prepare spiritually for a potentially life-changing weekend. You can BOOK HERE!
Why not get more involved by stewarding, cooking, or helping with hospitality or set-up? Go on, email speak@speak.org.uk to volunteer!
2. DAY OF ACTION, 1st MARCH - THE PLAN!
At Soundcheck, the launch of our new Arms Trade campaign, calling for an end to government support of the arms trade, will inspire, equip and move us. On the 1st of March we will bring this to the street!
We’re inspired by Isaiah’s vision of the new, redeemed Earth in the Bible as we call for government support of the arms trade to be diverted towards civilian uses:
"They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." Isaiah 2 v 4.
We begin with an act of worship at 10 am, and then we will march to DSO, the heart of the arms industry in government. We will then have an act of repentance for the injustices of the arms industry, and a prophetic celebration in anticipation of the day when swords will become ploughshares, and tanks windturbines!
We will deliver a wire mesh tank to DSO, which we will then cover in messages and symbols of peace as a prophetic message of the transformation we want to see in society. Then finally we'll go to meet our MPs to lobby about the level of support for the arms trade, finishing around 4:30pm.
Join us on 1st March 2010 to be a part of this powerful and prophetic day.
See more information on the plans for the day here.
3. NEW PRAY & POST CARD: "TROUBLE IN PARADISE"
Do you remember Benny Wenda from West Papua who spoke at Soundcheck 2009? Well, we were so inspired by his story that we've teamed up with him at the Free West Papua Campaign to bring you the first Pray & Post Card on our new Arms Trade Campaign, "Defend Peace: Disarm Tax".
The UK government has been supporting the Indonesian military for decades despite its appalling human rights record and oppression of the West Papuan people. The new Pray & Post, which will be landing on your doormat this month, highlights the way the arms trade fuels conflict, aids oppression and harms development, keeping poor countries locked in poverty.
Don't forget to send the Pray & Post Card and call for an end to government support of the arms trade!
4. GREENHOUSE DAY, 23rd JANUARY - CREATIVE PREPARATION FOR SOUNDCHECK
Saturday 23rd January is our final planning and preparation day for Soundcheck 2010 together!
The day will include all manner of creativity to make décor, props, and performance for the weekend and the Day of Action. We will take time to pray together on the theme, and for the event. We’ll meet at the SPEAK office in London (address below) at 1pm and create ‘til 6pm. We'll then eat together at a nearby restaurant. Bring your ideas and dreams, and contact speak@speak.org.uk if you're planning on coming.
5. DO YOU LIVE IN YORKSHIRE?
Also on Saturday 23rd January, 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sheffield SPEAK are hosting the January mailing, sending out Pray and Post cards and other resources to the SPEAK Network. You are very welcome to come and join in if you live in Sheffield itself or Leeds, Bradford, York or other places nearby.
A fantastic opportunity to meet and chat to others involved in SPEAK locally.
Meet at St Thomas Crookes, Nairn Street, Crookes, Sheffield, S10 1UL (15 minutes by bus from the train station). We'll be going for a curry after the hard work!
Please email Peter on peter@speak.org.uk for more details or phone the Manchester SPEAK office on 0161 278 8835.
6. SPEAKY TWITTERINGS!
For the latest updates on SPEAK news, info on campaigns, and updates on Soundcheck and the Day of Action you can follow the SPEAK network on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/SPEAKNETWORK
That's all for now, but do remember to book your place at Soundcheck and the Day of Action, its going to be awesome!
Many blessings to you all in Jesus for 2010,
The SPEAK Network Support Team
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SPEAK, 04/01/2010 |
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