December

CHRISTMAS C

ENVIRONMENT

Eco Church award recognises green initiatives

FOREST OF DEAN

THE corps has been awarded a bronze Eco Church award by charity A Rocha UK in response to its efforts to care for creation.

The corps began by applying the Loaf principles to the food produced for its activities, ensuring it is locally produced, organically grown, animal friendly and fairly traded. It helps families grow their own vegetables, having developed its garden into a community vegetable patch with greenhouse space for community growing.

The corps owns sheep, goats and chickens, holds seed swap events and provides low income families with starter kits of seeds, compost and pots. The corps also uses green-friendly cleaning products, as well as eco-friendly toilet paper.

However, corps officer Major Vivienne Prescott wanted to ensure that, when talking about nature and the environment, the ethos they have fostered is one of loving concern and not paralysing guilt. Many of the children and young people the corps works with have been through trauma and she wanted to be sure they feel empowered rather than fearful.

As a result, the church has launched Wild Ministries, which encompasses Wild Church, Wild Kids, Wild Women and Wild Recovery. It aims to encourage a love and enjoyment of the outside world, with each Wild Church meeting taking place outside with a focus on the sacredness of nature and meeting God the creator.

Major Vivienne said: ‘Really it comes down to the principle that you won’t protect what you don’t love and you won’t love what you don’t know. We wanted to help people fall in love with the environment and help them learn how they could make a difference. We are encouraging people to live differently and live more sustainably.’ – AR

HAMILTON The corps cel ebrated 136 years of ministry with a meeting conducted by divisional leaders Majors Ray and Pat Brown. Major Ray gave thanks for the past and the present and looked forward to the future and eternal life with God. Pictured cutting the cake are Retired Corps Treasurer Bob Adamson, the youngest corps member, Tyrese, and No 1 on the roll Recruiting Sergeant Mary Howie. – WL The mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Elizabeth Hughes, opens Ipswich Citadel’s Christmas Fair; music was provided by Pop Chorus and more than £900 was raised for local charities and to improve online outreach for those unable to attend worship

CHRISTMAS C

MERTHYR TYDFIL A factory donated more than £500 of Christmas toys for the corps appeal. These will be distributed through the local authority social services. CSM Lynne Brill and corps officer Major Kevin Rand are pictured with the regional administrator for Ecolab, Catherine Goodridge, and Rebecca Brill. – LB

Prescot corps officer Major Bryn Hargreaves and food bank volunteers receive crackers and biscuits donated by United Biscuits to include in Christmas food parcels