EDN - Feb 09 issue.indd - St Edward's Church, Eggbuckland ...

FAMILY LIFE www.exeter.anglican.org/flame
Are Your Finances Being
Squeezed?
Many people are worried about managing
their finances in light of the current
economic climate. The ‘credit crunch’
and rising cost of living are hitting many
families in the UK. Fear of redundancy,
repossession, repaying credit card loans
and simply making ends meet are very real
stress factors affecting our relationships
and health. Where do we go for help?
Christians Against Poverty is a national
debt counselling charity with a network of
82 centres based in local churches. CAP
offers hope and a solution to anyone in
debt through its unique, in-depth service
info@capuk.org . www.capuk.org tel:01274
760720. CAP offers training for ‘Money
Coaches’ who will work in their locality.
£100 trains 3 delegates to run 3-session
money management courses and includes
DVD and resources.
Similarly Care for the Family offers The
Money Secret Adult Education Course.
This is free and can be downloaded at
www.themoneysecret.info. This course can
also be run in your community.
Money, Debt and Family Life is a free
Support Net information sheet available
from www.careforthefamily.org.uk/
supportnet
If you’re 20s or 30s and want to stay in
control of your finances, take a look at
www.lookingatlife.org.uk
‘The Money Secret’ by Rob Parsons Is
available as a book (£6.00) or CD (£13) and
offers practical ways to unravel the murky
mysteries of credit cards, deal with debt
and find financial security. There is an
accompanying workbook to help you get
the most out of the book/CD. Available from
Care for the Family on 029 2081 0800.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
is free, confidential and gives impartial
advice. Visit www.cccs.co.uk
or phone 0800 027 4995.
Susie Ursell
FLAME Coordinator
01392 294919 / 01805 804737
A Tale of Two Farmers
Steve and Lesley Harris’s family has been
farming in South Devon for three generations.
Dartmoor’s Haytor on the horizon, their herd
of cattle, Pure South Devons, live solely on the
local pasture at Waye Barton Farm. Their fields
produce potatoes, swedes, carrots, parsnips,
courgettes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and
kale. In the autumn they harvest apples and
plums but the flock of Dorset sheep lambs at
any time of the year so there is fresh meat all
year round.
Sounds idyllic but we know better – it’s hard
work farming in Devon these days.
‘A.V.’ Thomas has been farming in the
mountains of Kerala, South West India, for 30
years and knows the best way to produce good
tea without using pesticides. In fact he’s a local
expert for a farmers’ co-operative. On top of his
own farm work, every morning and evening he
walks to neighbouring tea farms to give advice.
Fairtrade Lent
Use the discipline of Lent to make
intentional choices that reflect your faith as
you spend:
Buy locally when possible, but if the product
is from overseas, look for a Fairtrade option.
Don’t buy things because they are Fairtrade
- buy what you need but choose local or
Fairtrade.
One simple way to start the Fairtrade habit
is to choose Fairtrade coffee, tea and sugar
throughout Lent.
If you have already begun the Fairtrade
journey then buy local and avoid
supermarkets for Lent.
This Lent ask your church PCCs to discuss
committing to serve Fairtrade coffee, tea
and sugar and use local milk at all church
events as an expression of our faith.
If you are already serving Fairtrade at
church, then consider becoming a Fairtrade
Church this Lent and tell your community
you believe in a just and compassionate
God.
For more details visit:
www.exeter.anglican.org/society/fairtrade
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