Tsedaqah House and Social Justice - Reflection by Canon Ellen

I have blogged in the past about Tsedaqah House and the work young people who join the community are engaged with. The primary focus of the work that community members are engaged with is social justice with a particular emphasis on reflecting and acting on injustice associated with the slave trade and global inequality.

As a community member each of us commits to engage in social action and participate in community life.

During lock down the way we have engaged in social action and sough social justice has inevitably changed significantly. I have been taking an active role in supporting the Voluntary Community Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector by being part of the emergency resilience cell groups. These groups were set up at the beginning of the covid-19 lockdown to work remotely to support the combined efforts of the lead officers in ensuring that medical supplies, food and other emergency provision was delivered to those shielding and the vulnerable. We have worked together to co-ordinate this work – meeting remotely 4-8 times a week. I have been impressed by the compassion and dedication of those involved in these cell groups. The responsibility of the work has been huge but they have borne this burden diligently and with good spirit.

As we slowly emerge from lockdown we are seeing a shift in the emphasis from emergency provision to a sustainable ‘resilience ready’ response. This means that the VCFSE sector will need to pick up much of the support currently provided by government via boroughs. The VCFSE sector will need all of our support and prayers as we together find new ways to support the vulnerable and those in particular need.

Nelson (seen in the photo above holding a scone baked by my baker husband Mark!) has been supporting Micah Liverpool with packing bags for the foodbank, writing articles and blog posts (see his recent post here) and he is also responsible for curating this website. Jen Williams is working remotely to support the work of Together Liverpool and writing articles about the social action of churches for the Diocese of Liverpool bulletin and website.   

So, please do pray for our Tsedaqah community – particularly for Nelson and Jen as they discern their future and work for social justice in community life. Also please do pray for the common good that we might all seek it together and see God’s generous love surround all who seek social justice for God’s world.
         
The Together for the Common Good prayer https://togetherforthecommongood.co.uk/what-you-can-do/pray
 
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. +
 
Come Holy Spirit. We welcome you here in our midst.
Govern our hearts and minds, govern every aspect of our time together.
Be in every thought and word; in every intention and motive.
Lord, we thank you for those who have been an inspiration to us.
Thank you, for calling us through the Gospel to work together, and for each other.
We pray for others working for the Common Good and for those who resist it.
Bind us together across our traditions and move our heart's desire closer to the heart of your desire for us.
Lord, give us the grace do your will, and make our mission a joy.
In the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Canon Ellen

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.