Hello!
In case you're not on the network email list and didn't receive Jo's wonderful message below, here it is for you! Group leaders, please pass on to your group members/list so that they will be aware of what's been happening and what's coming up. Thanks for those of you that came to Soundcheck and the Day of Action, I hope you had as much of a good time as I did and felt encouraged and renewed. For those that didn't, I hope to see you soon at one of the upcoming events or during a visit from me!
Keep in touch, and God bless, Ele xx
"Dear SPEAKers
For those you you who made it to Soundcheck and the Day of Action - we hope you had a fantastic time! And for those of you who didn't here is an update!
For everyone, there is loads to update you on and loads more happening so read on!
1. Soundcheck and the Day of Action
2. New Resources
3. New t- Shirts!
4. Lost property!
5. The Next Flower Model...
6. Check 2
7. Vocal Training
1. Soundcheck and the Day Of Action 2006
Soundcheck and the Day of Action 2006 are now over, and what an amazing time it was! Around 200 hundred people from around the country and across Europe gathered at Soundcheck for worship, prayer, teaching, music, dance, art, community, food and fun, exploring the theme of Questioning Power together through a wide variety of different activities and media. There were inspiring and practical workshops on a range of topics from sharing faith to setting up a SPEAK group, from in-depth trade issues to arts and story telling, from Iraq and Palestine to community and monasticism. There was also plenty of time for people to meet others who shared the same passions as themselves and to network with other SPEAKers in their area; and also time to dance and sing!
The following Day of Action was also a great success. We gathered at St. Martin’s in the Field before processing down Whitehall and taking communion at Parliament Square. As we lay beneath burdens symbolising the weight of unjust trade, aid and debt on the world’s poor, a group of photographers from top news corporations such as the Guardian, Getty Images and Associated Press happened to walk past, see what we were doing and start taking photos, one of which made page 4 of the Metro! This was one of the many ways in which God was showing us His favour on the day. The afternoon lobby of MPs was also a great success, with several MPs, research assistants and civil servants in attendance to hear about SPEAK’s Big Dress campaign for corporate social and environmental responsibility. Hilary Benn, the Minister for International Development, came along and praised SPEAK on their work!
For photos of the Day of Action, please visit www.speak.org.uk. More photos and reports from the weekend will be added over the coming days and weeks.
Thank You
A big thank you everyone who not only took part but helped to make Soundcheck and the Day of Action happen! …All the stewards, cooks, artists, speakers, facilitators and everyone who contributed to making Soundcheck and the Day of Action a success.
2. New Resources
Several new SPEAK resources were launched at Soundcheck, including a new guide to sharing faith in a SPEAK context entitled Reclaim the Gospel, a manual for those considering adopting a multinational company or getting involved in shareholder activism, and new prints of previously hard-to-get Radical Discipleship and How To Organise a Prayer and Meditation Night booklets. We have also put together a sharing faith pack to equip, inspire and help you as you seek to share your spirituality with other activists.
We also have a new Big Dress Campaign Briefing, Adopt a Multinational booklet and information on how to get involved in the Big Dress Tour.
All of these resources are available free of charge from the network support team, so if you’d like a copy get in touch!
3. New T-shirts
Soundcheck also saw the launch of some rather funky new SPEAK t- shirts. All of the new t-shirts are sourced from a family-run factory in Bethlehem, Palestine, via the Freedom Clothing Project, and of course are all fairly traded with organic cotton, safe dyes and eco- friendly printing, as you would expect! Women’s fits are available in red or black, and unisex loose fits in blue or black, with a SPEAK logo and a quote from either the prophet Amos or Oscar Romero, and can be purchased from the network support team for the very reasonable price of £12.75+p&p.
A small selection of previous SPEAK long-sleeve shirts and t-shirts are also available on request.
4. Lost Items
We have a substantial collection of lost items left over from Soundcheck and the Day of Action. If you have lost anything over the weekend, do get in touch and we will see if we have it! Any items unclaimed by the end of the month will be donated to the local Oxfam Shop!
Other Exciting SPEAK Stuff Coming Soon
Soundcheck and the Day of Action may be over for another year, but don’t despair – there are plenty of exciting SPEAK gatherings and opportunities coming up in the next few months!
5. Flower Model Weekend: 31st March - 2nd April 2006
If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved in your particular area of interest in the network, be it campaigns, arts, prayer, sharing faith & discipleship, or more, or to input your thoughts and ideas into the network more directly, then Flower Model is for you! The next Flower Model weekend is taking place on the above dates in London, and everyone in the network is invited to come along and take part in the discussions and decisions that help shape the network. We can provide accomodation. If God got you excited at the thought of using your particular skills or interests to help take the network forward, then come along and get involved! Contact ben@... if you’d like more information first and to be pointed in the direction of the right team for you.
6. Check 2: 24th June 2006
Check 2 is a new SPEAK gathering for young adults involved in the Network, looking at the things you can do as a young adult in society in being a prayerful advocate for social change. Hear from young adults pioneering projects and networks for change in social justice issues; meet and look at the lives of inspiring examples; and explore how SPEAK’s campaigns can connect to your sphere of work.
This is also an event of those wanting to use artistic and creative action for spiritual and social change on more of a professional basis as part of working life. We will also be looking at ways in which young adult s are experimenting in expressing their faith and sharing it. If you’re a young adult in the network or in a SPEAK group, or if you’re at university wondering how justice activism and the SPEAK ethos might work out post-graduation ( and yes, there is life post-graduation! ), then this is the event for you!
7. Vocal Training 2006: 8th-12th September 2006
Changing society and bringing in God’s justice isn’t just about changing yourself; it’s also about encouraging and equipping others to change themselves. That is why we will be gathering once again at the picturesque Quinta conference centre for five days of teaching, worship, prayer, community, friendship and fun where you will not only be trained in justice activism yourself, but will be equipped and inspired to go and train others in your uni or local area. If you not only want to go deeper yourself into God’s heart for justice, but want to be a catalyst for a whole movement of people who have that same heart, then get yourself along to Vocal Training!
More information on all of these events are available from the network support team ( 020 7249 4309 or speak@... ), and will be appearing on our website shortly.
We look forward to seeing or hearing from you soon!
Grace & peace
From the SPEAK network support team"
Joanna Frew
SPEAK Network Support Team
tel: 020 7249 4309
email: jo@...
www.speak.org.uk
SPEAK, The Crypt, St Peter's Church, Northchurch Terrace, London, N1 4DA
Offline 
Send Email