A Matter of Life and Debt

Devotion to debt is damaging the economy. We borrow £310 million per day; in just five minutes Britain’s personal borrowing increases by another million pounds. Total UK debt now stands at £1,421bn. But that’s enough about the Chancellor, let’s bring it closer to home. How is it damaging us? We have £21,000 non-mortgage debts per household, with our personal credit card debts and unsecured loans rising to £4,774 per adult as at the end of February this year. Our debts are spiralling out of control as consumer spending accelerates in today’s ‘buy now pay later’ culture. (Source Creditaction April 2008).

What is it like to be in a huge amount of debt and how do you begin to deal with the problem? Christians are not immune from falling into the debt trap, and Jane Wyles met one man who is determined to help others to learn from his experience…

A Kick Start – ‘recycling’ the Gospel in Beeston

Sue Feasey is the ultimate in repair kits, providing training, employment and support for vulnerable young people through her bike shop in Beeston. Sue, from St Helen’s Church, Stapleford, has had a difficult life herself: 20 years ago she became a widow, and suffering chronic ill health, was herself given only six months to live. Battling with extensive debts as a single parent she managed to find a new home, also becoming an unofficial foster parent to victims of unfortunate family or social circumstances. Bryony Wood went to see this remarkable woman.

The ‘Cycle Repair Shop’ at Beeston, Nottingham does more than repair broken bikes. It helps to repair broken lives too. For owner, Sue Feasey, this is more than just a business; it’s a way of life and how she shows the love of God to both customers and employees.

The story of this particular cycle shop and its inspiring owner started many years ago, and has upon investigation, more twists and turns than your average mountain biker could manage…

Interview with…

Faith Finds a Way Out

According to the Archbishop of York faith is much better than sat nav in helping you find your way in life! It was comments like this that illustrate just how in touch our Archbishop is with today’s culture and today’s young people. On his first visit to the diocese in March this year he enjoyed an action-packed programme…starting off at 8.30am from Southwell, Rachel Farmer joined his party visit to three Church of England schools and the cathedral, around 4pm the same day.

The first thing that strikes you about  Archbishop Sentamu is his smile and his open friendly face. Greeting a party of organisers at the start of the day he exchanged jokes and comments with members of the group and had time for a quick reflection on the Zimbabwe election situation which was in the headlines. The Archbishop had just returned from a visit to South Africa and was concerned about that country’s role in supporting ordinary Zimbabweans against the Mugabe regime.

Hope 08

Hopes and Cheers

Through Hope 08 long term partnerships are being developed between churches and other community groups with the common aim of helping people so that society is transformed. “Imagine all the Christians in the country actually working in unity together towards a common goal. Imagine the difference it could make,” says Nigel Adams, co-ordinator of Hope 08 in the NG9 area and Lay Minister at Christ Church, Chilwell. Here he tells us how it all began, and we have a look at what’s going on around the diocese.

Hope 08 was initiated by leaders from Youth for Christ, Soul Survivor and the Message Trust following the successes of events such as Soul in the City in Manchester. This kind of experience entailed a very high profile, short term programme of acts of kindness in specific locations. Activities ranged from bin cleaning to gardening and graffiti removal, often culminating in big concert celebrations. Hope 08 has taken this basic idea and applied it to the whole church for the whole nation for a whole year, and beyond…

Time for Tee

Momentum is gathering as we approach our first summer of Sport Ministry in the Diocese. Our Sport Ambassador, Tim Friend has relished the opportunity to visit various parts of the county, sharing the vision, answering questions and meeting people in sport clubs, sport forums, church services, deanery meetings and elsewhere. “Those who share a passion for sport and a passion for Christ can begin to anticipate some exciting times ahead”, said Tim.

He has been inspiring members of St Nic’s, Nottingham, at  Ramsdale Golf Club near Calverton, to get active in combining their sporting interests with their Christian faith (see Tim left).

The golfing members of their church will be inviting friends and colleagues to join them at a later date at the Club for personal tuition with professional, Alison Nicholas, in addition to a tournament, a meal and an interview with Alison about her faith and career…

Grave Matters

If you have been in the position of finding a suitable resting place for a loved one, you will no doubt have encountered a little book called ‘Chancellor’s Regulations.’ It is designed to offer help and practical advice to all churches in the diocese regarding what is and isn’t acceptable or workable regarding burial in a church yard. Herein lies the difficulty; how to keep the balance between what the family of the deceased have in mind, and what is deemed appropriate by the vicar..

Undoubtedly the management and maintenance of churchyards can be a considerable burden but the Revd Canon Keith Turner, Rector of Linby cum Papplewick and DAC Chair, thinks that just as the church building can be a ‘mission statement’ so, he believes, can the churchyard. “I have a childhood memory of a neglected and overgrown churchyard in Essex where my grandmother is buried; what did that say of a living and vibrant Church? From the past, we have to live with some monstrous memorials, and when one visits a modern cemetery, the impact often is the brash individuality of the stones; what do they say about life and death? The churchyard should be ‘God’s Garden’, a place that speaks of resurrection and peace…

Read these stories and much more - get a copy of C Magazine from your local church or contact Nicola Marsh 01636 817219, email nicola@southwell.anglican.org