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From the Sanctuary I am often dismissive of the book of Leviticus, lies at the heart of the book - which I believe is oravianoravian because the details of it seem to have little relevance relevant for today; and that wisdom is in the mm for us today as Christians. It is a book in the Bible beneficial nature of living with an awareness of God, which features little in the lectionary readings, so we and of 'holiness', which needs to be at the centre MARCH 2020 don't have many sermons that are based on that of our living. How often do we think about God in mmessengeressenger book in our Sunday services. It contains mainly a the detail of what we do before we do anything, or series of regulations for worship and religious make any decision? Yet, Leviticus shows that God is ceremonies from ancient Israel, and it regulates ways concerned with the detail of our lives, and that our of living and worshipping God so that people could lives would be lived better if we were concerned maintain their relationship with God. Perhaps the about God more in the detail of everything that most famous words to come from Leviticus are 'Love we do. your neighbour as you love yourself' - words that Whilst 'God' has been taken out of much in society, are often attributed to Jesus, and yet by uttering many of the political messages we are surrounded them, Jesus was merely quoting the early scriptures by regarding climate change and single use plastic that evolved out of the formation of the (to name but only two) have, at their core, the establishment of Israel as a coherent community, necessity for good stewardship of our planet - a based on a belief of what was God's will - and biblical principle found in Leviticus; therefore, God is therefore God's law. in it. Much of the antidote to the hate in society is CAYAT women's society, For those Christians who believe that the Bible should found in Leviticus - 'Love your neighbour as you love Biasso village group Fairtrade Fortnight: © Peter Caton, Fairtrade Foundation be taken literally, there are many challenges in living- yourself' - a principle that is found at the centre of out the detail in Leviticus, because if taken literally, the work of many charities and individuals, but ordinations should be rather bloody affairs with the without acknowledgement of God; yet their work is killing of many animals involved. According to of God. It is all ancient wisdom from ancient Israel, Celebrating 25 years of the Fairtrade Mark! Leviticus, sin offerings are to be made every time we which, if strayed too far from, results in struggle, sin, and there is much about animal sacrifice and conflict and destruction - for us and for society. about how animals are to be eaten which most Guidance for our wellbeing and wholeness rests Monday 24th February to Sunday 8th March Christians don't live by today. There are even within living close to what God wills - yet this ancient It's over a quarter of a century since the difference to the lives of farmers and Rosine Bekoin is a mother of five, cocoa instructions about what to do with mildew in your wisdom is often so easily cast aside. So - how can FAIRTRADE Mark launched in the UK and workers, by demanding fairer trade and farmer and member of CAYAT co-operative house, and how to purify oneself from skin diseases you live in such a way that has God, and holiness, last October they celebrated 25 years of living incomes for farmers and workers. in Côte d'Ivoire. Rosine is slightly unusual - and even what to do with unclean bodily discharges! more at the centre of your life? For in that, lies our Fairtrade products in the UK. as cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire go - Much of it is of historical interest in its detail, but of wellbeing, wholeness and salvation - as individuals In 1992 the Fairtrade Foundation was Fairtrade in Action because she owns and runs her 2.5-hectare little relevance spiritually for 'now', if it is taken and as society. Many of the people behind our food still farm, which was passed to her from her 'literally'. established by a group of charities including Oxfam, The Women's Institute, CAFOD, live in extreme poverty and behind the mother. Normally it is men who own farms However, looking more deeply at Leviticus, one can Br Peter Gubi, Christian Aid and Traidcraft, who formed sweet delight of chocolate lies the bitter and earn the income from them. Rosine get a real sense of the deeper spiritual wisdom that Dukinfield the Fairtrade Foundation to tackle the crisis taste of exploitation. The UK chocolate first sold her cocoa as Fairtrade in 2016. in the collapse in world coffee prices which industry is worth at least £4 billion each Having received training in quality and good was having a devastating impact on year. And yet the average cocoa farmer in agricultural practices from CAYAT, her smallholder coffee farmers around the globe Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, where 60 percent production increased by 50 percent in 2018. - they were earning less than the cost of of all cocoa is grown, makes less than 75p Ways to support Fairtrade BMB News: YPMA Update growing their coffee. Two years later the a day. This is well below the extreme poverty The international Fairtrade movement was first few FAIRTRADE Mark certified products line of around £1.40 per day. If this wasn't a reaction to the crises facing coffee farmers enough to cope with, the climate crisis is The Young People's Missionary Health the future. The YPMA will donate £500 in the UK were launched by Cafédirect, when the price they received for their crops Clipper tea, Green & Black's and Percol already wreaking havoc on global food Association, who continually seek to raise to each institution. collapsed. Despite the success of the global The Rewa Society, Ladakh: the REwa Coffee. By 2016 there were over 1.66 million production. Farmers are battling less Fairtrade market, the problems facing funds for missions abroad, have selected predictable seasons, more plant diseases Society is a rehabilitation and Mission / Ministry - equipping farmers and workers in 1,411 producer farmers and workers around the world the projects they will be supporting over organisations across 73 countries in the and weather extremes, leading to a lack of continue, which is why the organisation is physiotherapy centre in Leh, Ladakh, led the next year and we have listed these leaders in supporting and Fairtrade system. Celebrating the 25th food. They are suffering, struggling to campaigning for living incomes to become below, further information will be primarily by Moravian members. Its focus promoting Youth Work anniversary the Fairtrade Foundation harvest crops and working longer hours, for a reality for all farmers and workers. There lower prices. provided by the YPMA secretary over the is working with children with disabilities thanked the public for fighting for the rights are several ways to help: in Ladakh, India. The YPMA will provide Lusanji Bible College, Western Tanzania: of vulnerable people who are exploited by For women, the situation is even more coming months. The Bible College was established in 1957 •Choose Fairtrade £1,500 to support its ongoing work. trade. Thanks to the demands of consumers unfair. In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, women by the Danish Moravian Church and today there are around 5,000 Fairtrade- carry out more than two thirds of the labour •Donate to Fairtrade Education Sikonge Hospital, Tanzania: the hospitals Danish Lutheran Mission. It currently has certified products on sale in the UK. involved in cocoa farming. They work in the •Join a local Fairtrade group The growth of the market over 25 years fields, look after children, carry water, and •Be a Fairtrade advocate Binnakandi, Assam: there will be a £5,000 current focus is HIV/Aids, and one of their 20 students who are prepared for •Sign up to emails evangelism through the following has made Fairtrade the most visible ethical help bring the crop to market. And yet they donation made to a transport initiative main patient groups is children born with often have fewer rights than men, and often •Share on social media subjects: Biblical Subjects, Faith, Civics, label in the UK, recognised by 9 out of 10 for the school, which is located in rural HIV. The hospital is in need of new lab people and trusted by 84% of consumers. earn less than a quarter of the money •Follow them on social media areas and there are little effective or easy equipment and £2,000 will be donated Marriage, English, Swahili, Leadership & generated. That's why the 'She Deserves a •Fundraise for Fairtrade Reliance. There are six pastors who make During that time, Fairtrade and their transport routes to the school. by YPMA. supporters have been fighting against Living Income' campaign was launched For more details and resources please see up the teaching staff and five support poverty and inequality, making a real last year. their website: www.fairtrade.org.uk Chiktan & Khalaste, Ladakh: £500 will be Elim Home & Star Mountain: ongoing staff. There is a need for three new provided to each school for education support of Elim Home and Star Mountain computers which the YPMA will purchase materials. is essential to their ability to sustain into (cost: £1,500). The Moravian Messenger Advertisements and Editorial Team, Church House, Design & Artwork all communications 5 Muswell Hill, London N10 3TJ David Bull Official Journal of the Moravian concerning [email protected] [email protected] Church in the British Province.