The Liturgy of the Palms

Luke 19:28-40
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56
or Luke 23:1-49
Psalm 31:9-16
Luke 19:28-40

The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian community working for peace and social justice, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.

Although its members and associates are scatted over the world, it’s focus is the rebuilt medieval Abbey buildings on the Scottish Isle of Iona.

People from around the word are welcomed to the Abbey where each morning the following words open the worship:

The world belongs to God

THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLE

How good it is, how wonderful,

TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY

Love and faith come together,

JUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDS

If Christ’s disciples keep silent

THESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUD

Open our lips, O God,

AND OUR MOUTHS SHALL PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE

(Iona Abbey Worship Book, ‘The Morning Service’)

It is easy to see the source of some of those words:

19:39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.”

19:40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

In a well-planned piece of street theatre, Jesus acquired a donkey. The people put some clothes on the animal and spread some on the ground. Jesus rode the donkey down from the Mount of Olives and into the city of Jerusalem.

In Luke’s gospel there are no palms. The palm theme comes from the other Gospels, such as Matthew.

The people shouted. They shouted ‘Hosanna’. Which means ‘Praise God.’

Perhaps fearing the ever-watching eyes of the Romans some Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to tell his followers to keep quiet.

And Jesus’ response?

“I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

The stones would shout out.

For Jesus it was the stones of the city of Jerusalem. Stone beneath the donkey. Stone all around. Buildings, temple. Everywhere.

In Iona abbey in the cool morning, it’s the stones of the eight-hundred-year-old building.

Yet, we can’t leave it to the stones to shout. We can’t be silent. The people of the Iona Community are not silent. Working for peace and social justice is integral to the Iona Community.

The literature, crafts and other products in the Abbey Shop reflect this ethos.

Therefore, they take great care to source their products from a range of small family-run businesses, local where possible, and fair trade organisations.

Iona Community people are committed to Fair Trade.

Members of the Iona Community are committed to following a rule of worship, prayer and commitment to justice and peace. Among their working principles is economic justice.

Our economic values

We deplore economic injustice. We are committed to the common good, to trade justice and to a critique of economic policies that increase poverty and inequality. We support our work through our own giving and our trading operations. We operate a balanced budget, try to bank and invest ethically and purchase fairly-traded goods. Our residential staff are paid the same, regardless of job. We seek to minimise salary differentials for non-residential staff.

These Iona people do not keep silent. Their praise to God is in the form of worship and economic justice.

Reflection

Use the Iona Morning worship responses as your approach to God.

Try replacing ‘We’ with ‘I’ as you re-read the ‘economic values’ statement.

What action are you taking for yourself and your community to express trade justice and purchase fair trade goods?

Your group can become a Fair Trade Faith Group

Prayer

Loving God,

We thank you that Jesus approached the great city of power on a donkey, symbol of peace and not a horse, symbol of war.

We thank you that the disciples shouted your praise in the face of opposition.

We pray for the Iona Community and their commitment to worship, peace, and justice.

Bless me and my community as we seek to live the peaceful and just way of Jesus.

Amen

Bradford Cathedral

Join the Bradford Cathedral Big Brew! on Sunday 27th February 2022, from 11:30am, or by sending a #VirtualBigBrew selfie

Bring in your own cakes, buns or biscuits for the Big Brew! – a list of recipes, guidance and where to get Fairtrade ingredients, can be found on the Bradford Cathedral website.

Alongside the food and drink there will also be quizzes and competitions, and a presentation all about the work of Traidcraft Exchange, a charity that works to promote justice and fairness in trade. All the money raised at the Bradford Cathedral Big Brew! will go towards Traidcraft Exchange’s work.

The Cathedral’s ‘Traidcraft stall’ will also be returning. There you’ll be able to buy many of your favourite Fairtrade products, and you’ll even be able to place an order for Fairtrade Easter eggs.

Those who would like to come along to the Big Brew! in person will be able to join in from around 11:30am on Sunday 27th February, following that morning’s service.

There will also be the opportunity to get involved even if you can’t physically get into the Cathedral. If you’re at home, you can also support the event by making yourself a Fairtrade drink and buying or making some Fairtrade treats, and sharing a #VirtualBigBrew selfie with the Cathedral. Full details of how to get involved can be found on the Bradford Cathedral website, including how to join the online service that is streamed before the Big Brew.

BRADFORD DISTRICT FAIRTRADE COMMUNITIES

Bradford, Baildon, Burley, Haworth, Ilkley, Keighley, Shipley

A special feature in Bradford will be the Lord Mayor showing the Fairtrade flag and City Hall being lit up in Fairtrade colours to brighten City Park at night. The district’s seven Fairtrade Villages and Towns organise a variety of events throughout the year to promote Fairtrade, and collaborate with schools, places of worship, organisations and businesses whenever possible.

ACTIVITIES

Mon. 21 Feb – Sat. 5 March in Baildon Library

Fairtrade display with information available.

21 Feb  University of Bradford in Student Central

Student members distribute information about Fairtrade Fortnight

22 – 27 Feb in Northgate Co-op, Baildon

Display of Fairtrade goods available in Co-op stores with arrangement of Fairtrade flowers by Emma’s Florist, Baildon

24 – 25 Feb  in Northgate Co-op, Baildon

Baildon Fairtrade Group members staffing information desk with focus on Fairtrade and Climate Crisis.     Thurs. 24  12 – 3pm    Friday  12 – 5pm

26 Feb – Christchurch, The Grove, Ilkley

10am – 12 noon. Fairtrade coffee morning and Fairtrade stall.

26 Feb Baildon Farmer’s Market

Stall selling Traidcraft Fairtrade products with information distribution by members of Baildon Fairtrade Group

4 March – St John’s Church, Ben Rhydding

9 – 11am  Fairtrade coffee morning with Traidcraft stall

1 – 5 March in Northgate Co-op, Baildon

Display of Fairtrade products available in Co-op stores with arrangement of Fairtrade flowers by Secret Garden Florist, Baildon

3  March  5pm  Upstairs at Pennybank House, Haworth

Join Haworth Fairtrade Group watching Sandy Docherty.  Free and open to all

on a first come basis.  Please email: upstairsatpennybank@gmail.com

Baildon

A special feature in Northgate Co-op this year will be an arrangement of Fairtrade Flowers as the Fairtrade Foundation is asking supporters to encourage local independent florists to use Fairtrade Flowers.  We are delighted that Baildon’s two florists, Emma’s and Secret Garden will each create an arrangement (one for each week), including flowers donated by the Co-op and with publicity for their shop.

At the Farmer’s Market on Saturday 26th Feb there will be a Fairtrade Stall organised and staffed by Sean Hayes and friends from Baildon Methodist Church.  The stall will sell Traidcraft Fairtrade products as well as providing information on Fairtrade and the Climate Crisis.

See events list above for details of Baildon events

Fairtrade supporters across Yorkshire are calling for COP26 to be more than just blah, blah, blah. Climate justice is needed to ensure that the countries of the global south, who have contributed the least to escalating climate change, are given the support they need to adapt to the changing climate. The Fair Trade movement is at the forefront of assisting producers to cope with the adverse effects of climate change and has a key role to play in creating sustainable livelihoods for the future.

Fairtrade supporters joined the Global Day for climate justice march in York on Saturday 6th November. The march began at York Minster and the protesters demanded that world leaders assembling at COP26 deliver on promises of a low carbon future and climate justice for the world’s poor.

Global Day for Climate Justice march in York

Across Yorkshire Fairtrade supporters have been drawing attention to the need for climate justice. They supported the Young Christian Climate Network march for climate justice, as activists walked from Cornwall to Glasgow, passing through our region. Events along the route included the holding of  a special service at York Minster, which was led by the Dean. At a local level, Fairtrade campaigner Cynthia Dickinson set up a display of climate related artwork in the Crofton Parish Centre and promoted the Wave of Hope, to persuade leaders to do act swiftly in the face of the escalating climate crisis.

Fairtrade stalwart, Cynthia and the artwork display in Crofton

Wave of Hope window display

Thursday 3 June was World Bicycle Day and the Fairtrade Yorkshire banana peloton – famous from this video from the Tour de France’s visit to Yorkshire in 2014  was back in action as part of a 20 strong cycle relay on the leg between Bradford Cathedral and Wakefield Cathedral. The journey is part of the Cathedrals Cycle Route which takes in over 2,000 miles and visits all 42 of England’s Anglican cathedrals. The circular route starts and ends at Newcastle Cathedral with Truro as the furthest point to the South. Yorkshire is well represented with Ripon, York, Bradford, Wakefield and Sheffield Cathedrals all featuring.

The photo above was taken at Wakefield Cathedral and shows the Dean of Wakefield Cathedral greeting the Fairtrade banana (our friend Mike de Villiers of Baildon Fairtrade). The ride was part of a relay of cyclists aiming to visit all 42 cathedrals in 42 days. The baton passed from Bradford to Wakefield and on to Sheffield and beyond.

For more information about the route see the Cycling UK website.

And if this story has inspired to join in with others on long distance routes you can join the Young Christian Climate Network on their walk from the G7 in Cornwall to COP26 in Glasgow.

The route takes in walking routes between Sheffield, Marsden, Huddersfield, Leeds Tadcaster, York and Ripon in September.

Click here to seethe route and join them if you can.

We were sad to hear of the passing of Kay Holmes, a stalwart campaigner for Fairtrade in Halifax.

This tribute from her MP Holly Lynch says it all.

Read Holly’s tribute

Condolences to Kay’s family and friends

BAILDON FAIRTRADE GROUP REPORT JULY 2020

Good News from the home front:

1   Just a year ago, Bradford Council unanimously renewed its commitment to Fairtrade Community Status.  This means it will actively promote Fairtrade, including the use of Fairtrade teaching materials in local schools and colleges.  In a conference call, members of Bradford Fairtrade Zone met with Ian Westlake, Head of Procurement, who is committed to implementing the Council’s resolution to purchase Fairtrade products wherever possible, and to the inclusion of Fairtrade considerations in any contracts going out to tender.

2  Local churches, Baildon Methodist Church and the Parish of Baildon, have both recommitted to Fairtrade Church Status. The Fairtrade Foundation:  Once again, congratulations on becoming a Fairtrade Church and thank you for supporting positive change for people and planet. In order to achieve this status, the churches have confirmed that the tea, coffee and sugar used are all Fairtrade, that other items are Fairtrade wherever possible, and information about Fairtrade is shared in as many ways as possible.  Both churches support Fairtrade through regular Traidcraft stalls and members of both churches are active members of the Baildon Fairtrade Group.

3 Home deliveries: Many of us are discovering the range of companies doing home deliveries of groceries and other items. Have you tried a home delivery from Traidcraft?  They offer a wide range of groceries – not just chocolate – which includes Zaytoun products.  Have a look at their web-site.  We have been delighted with the 2 deliveries we have had.

Matters of concern:

1 News of concern from Zaytoun about the Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley:

The latest newsletter from Zaytoun states that ‘as the world’s attention is diverted during the COVID pandemic, under the new ‘Unity Deal’ Israel has been escalating plans for land confiscation and annexation in the Jordan Valley area of Palestine’s West Bank. This planned land theft has been condemned internationally.  In the UK, nearly 140 MP’s signed an unprecedented cross-party letter calling on the Prime Minister to place sanctions on Israel if these plans are carried out.’

Many producers of olive oil for Zaytoun will be affected by this action.  We can continue to support them by purchasing olive oil and other Zaytoun products.

2 COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis is a global humanitarian challenge. Fairtrade continues to work to advocate and support small-scale farmers and workers in developing countries. The farmers and workers Fairtrade serves are some of the most vulnerable and the least prepared for a pandemic.

In Kenya, tens of thousands of workers on Fairtrade certified flower farms have lost their jobs, with no local work alternatives and there is concern about the long-term financial stability of flower farms if shipments do not resume soon.

The drop in retail sector sales has resulted in a sharp decline in demand and price for cotton.  And some fashion companies in the West are refusing to honour their contracts to buy clothing already made, for example, in Bangladesh.

You can read more in the attachment to this report.

3 NESTLE AND KITKAT

After a decade of buying Fairtrade cocoa and sugar, Nestle have announced that KitKat will no longer be Fairtrade.  This means 27,000 farmers from co-operatives in Cote D’Ivoire, Fiji and Malawi will lose nearly £2m in Fairtrade premium each year – despite Nestle reporting global profits of more than £10bn last year.

We need to make sure that the voices of farmers losing these benefits are heard loud and clear.   Please join over 240,000 others and sign the Fairtrade Yorkshire petition – and share it widely!

To read more, please see attachment to this report.

Don’t Give Up On Fairtrade this Lent
Lent is a time when many of us choose to make a small sacrifice for a few weeks. For lots of us this includes giving up chocolate, which has the added benefit of making our Easter celebrations that bit sweeter, but have you considered the impact of your choice on the millions of cocoa and sugar farmers who rely on our chocolate consumption for a living.
Fairtrade Fortnight starts on the Monday before Ash Wednesday and we’re asking you not to give up on the Fairtrade farmers this Lent. By pledging to make sure all the chocolate you eat this Lent is Fairtrade – and talking to others about your choice – you can help support farmers around the world to have a better life.

When we ask Fairtrade farmers what they want us as campaigners to do, the answer is nearly always “Buy our goods!”
So while giving up chocolate for Lent might feel like the right thing to do, it leaves cocoa (and sugar) farmers out of pocket.
So this year we’re saying “Don’t Give Up On Fairtrade this Lent”
By making sure you only eat Fairtrade chocolate in Lent – instead of giving up altogether – you can help farmers around the world.
Because the Easter message is partly that one person can save the world and Fairtrade is a way for you to be that one person.

So instead of refusing all chocolate by saying “Sorry, I’ve given up chocolate for Lent” now you can say “I’ve pledged only to eat Fairtrade chocolate during Lent” and start a conversation with someone who may not know how important Fairtrade is to farmers.

You can download our leaflet below and this Fairtrade Fortnight look out for stories from the cocoa farmers themselves to help you explain why you’re not giving up on Fairtrade this Lent. Some of these will be “storybombed” by Fairtrade campaigners and supporters, some will be in the national and local press and some will be available on the Fairtrade Foundation website and social media.

Dont Give Up on Fairtrade – download the leaflet

Bradford Cathedral has become the first cathedral to re-commit as a Fairtrade place of worship,

Bradford Cathedral’s commitment to Fairtrade began with an award back in 2009, spearheaded by
Canon Andy Williams and his wife Jennie.
The cathedral continues to focus on Fairtrade by ensuring all its tea and coffee provisions are
Fairtrade as well as running a stall every Sunday after the morning Eucharist selling a whole range
of goods including chocolate, cooking oils and biscuits, as well as seasonable items like advent
calendars.

Click the link below for more details

Bradford cathedral Renewal publicity with latest photo

It was fantastic to see Fairtrade Yorkshire represented at the Beeston Community Eid celebration on Saturday.