'Food for Thought'
Index
Farming Matters!
Foot and Mouth
and
Countryside Matters!
'Burning Issues'
Spring 2001
and
January
The Foot and Mouth Crisis.
How can we help?
There are many ways of helping our rural communities during the current crisis, and as they seek to rebuild their lives and businesses. The following outline is for a half night of prayer which took place at Winsley, Wiltshire, on Friday April 20th. It can be adapted for use as you wish in your own situation. For other suggestions on how to help see the Foot and Mouth articles at 'Farming Matters!' TWB 20/4/20018.30 ; Introduction on the 'shape' of the evening.
Resurrection for the Countryside. MARK 16 v.8.
Early on that first Easter morning the followers of Jesus were still living as though it were Good Friday! At the present time we are living through a 'Good Friday' event. It will only be in looking back that we can see where we have been and where we have come from. We need to pray for faith in the Resurrection.
8.50: JOHN 20 v.v. 11 - 16 MARY IN THE GARDEN
Grief, anger despair loneliness
PRAY FOR; Those immediately affected by FMD.
Farmers, workers and their families. Esp. their womenfolk
9.10: LUKE 24 v.v.13 - 31 ROAD TO EMMAUS
Gossip does little for the truth!
PRAY FOR; The Media, T.V., Press and Radio
9.30: JOHN 20 v.v. 19 - 20 THE UPPER ROOM
Behind locked doors. Fear, incipient panic, finger pointing, blame!
Jesus came and said 'Peace be with you'
PRAY FOR; Those blamed. MAFF, Vets, slaughtermen, officials.
9.50: JOHN 21 v.v. 1 - 8 THE LAKESIDE
Unable to do the job at which they should be expert. No fish therefore no income.
PRAY FOR; Tourist industry and dependent trades. Livery stables, hotels, tourist attractions.
10.10: MATTHEW 28 v.v.16 - 20 BUT SOME DOUBTED
The Church is commissioned to show the love of Christ and to be Christ to the world.
PRAY FOR; The churches in affected areas. The Arthur Rank Centre, Farm Crisis Network, Rural Stress Information Network, Farmers helplines and their staff.
10.30: PROVERBS 13 v.v. 23 (Good News Bible) Widening the issues.
Economics and food production. W.T.O. Politics, 'food miles'.
PRAY FOR; Christian Aid, Development Agencies, The hungry especially in the Third World.
10.50: ISAIAH 5 v. 8
How much should 'Market Forces' dictate food production?
What is 'Best Value' long term for County Council (and other) owned farms?
PRAY FOR; Food Processors, Supermarket Chains,
Tenant / Landlord relationships (including Church Commissioners).
11.10: HABAKKUK 3 v.v. 17 - 18 Faith even in dark times.
The need to watch and pray.
PRAY FOR; Leaders in Church and State.
For 'prophets', speaking God's word into uncertain times and situations.
11.30: PSALMS 24 v.1 and 104 v.v. 14 - 23 The earth IS the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
PRAISE AND PRAYER OF EXPECTANCY!
Previous letters
'Food for Thought' Index2000-2001
Cost of food
January 2001
and
'Best Value'
November 2000
Transport and Travel in the Countryside:
and
June/July 2000
Crisis
Cheap Food
Labelling
and GM
Spring 2000
Food for Thought
2000-2001