Speaking Up For Global Health – Gather Collective to Participate in Local COP26 March & Rally

 

This November, the UK will host the UN climate summit COP26 in Glasgow. Governments of practically every country will come together to make plans for tackling the climate crisis. Decisions made will affect us all – especially those living in poverty who bear the brunt of the climate emergency. Through prayer and action, we can all play our part in making this a significant milestone as we tackle climate change together.

Whether or not you’re in Glasgow during COP26, there are plenty of ways you and your church can get involved. Go to this TearFund page, which will be updated regularly with new events and prayer resources to help you take action.

COP26 is a key focus of Tearfund’s Reboot campaign, aimed at seeing a breakthrough in the climate crisis.

Local churches will be taking part in the Eastbourne March and Rally alongside 28 other groups and organisations from across the political, religious and ideological spectrum.

Among those participating are Gather Collective, an Eastbourne community church. Their Gather Community Garden will be among the stall holders. Dave Roberts, part of our leadership team is urging people to participate and to use the TearFund resources including banners referencing ‘love your global neighbour’ and ‘act justly, love mercy, walk humbly’.

Look out for the bright yellow banners on the day

Delights of The Garden Art Show to be Hosted by Gather Community Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gather Community Garden, an expression of the Gather Collective, an Eastbourne community church, is hosting an art exhibition around the themes of ‘edible’ and ‘the natural enviroment.’ The Delights of the Garden exhibit has been curated by Tempo Arts and Compass Community Arts with input from Amberstone Artists and Blackberry Buzzard. The works will be spread throughout the 7 plot allotment, which is open 6 mornings a week and includes a quiet garden around the theme of Psalm 23.

The 9 day event will launch on Friday 10th of September at 6pm with special guests including MP Caroline Ansell and Deputy Mayor Helen Burton. Refreshments are included.

The exhibition can be viewed from 11am – 4pm on the following days

Friday 10th – Sunday 12th
Friday 17th – Sunday 19th
Friday 24th – Sunday 26th

The Gather Community Garden is part of the Churchdale Allotments, which can be found on the footpath between Churchdale Road and Hammonds Drive. (The path is famous for its chickens – which are part of the Gather Community Garden. Google Maps will take you to the exact place if you search for Gather Community Garden.)

Entrance is Free

Gather Community Garden ‘Open Garden’ on August 28

You are invited to join us at our Gather Community Garden (GCG) Open Garden  taking place between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday 28th August. GCG is a 7 plot partnership with local charity Growing Futures. It is open 6 mornings a week and is also used at other times. As well as growing fruit and vegetables the plot also has a 2 beehives, 21 chickens, 2 toilets, and indoor and outdoor cafe areas. Additionally there is a quiet garden based around the theme of Psalm 23 and a prayer room used for personal and group reflection.

The project will host an art exhibit in September and will be the venue for a Men’s Garden Shed project – also launching in September.

The community garden project is part of the work the Gather Collective chaplaincy team. It reflects our desire to help create community connections for people and be a presence within our communities. It is also underpinned by our belief in creation care and healthy food access.

For users of what3words here is our exact location.                   You can also find a map below – we are on the footpath between Churchdale Road and Hammonds Drive. (Bookers and Wickes)

Gather Collective Live Services Return

The Gather Collective returned to live services in the final week of July. Our meeting venue at the Love All Tennis Studio is a spacious room and we can do some social distancing between families and groups. We can also provide masks and we have hand sanitiser.

Our services start at 10.15am and include a live worship team, participatory prayer and Bible teaching. Following the service we have coffee/tea at the Love All Cafe. A free voucher for the hot drinks is provided to all attending the meeting.

We are exploring what a focus on Jesus, mission, prayer, creation care, justice and community looks like. For more information on our venue please go here

Church Gatherings

You’re so welcome to join us 10am any Sunday at the Bridgemere Community Centre,  100 Bridgemere Road Eastbourne BN22 8TY or at 11.30am for coffee or tea at our Gather Café (also at Bridgemere Community Centre)

There’s a parking area beside the Bridgemere Centre or local buses on the No 5 route run passed the centre.

Small Groups

Meet every Tuesday or Wednesday at 7.30pm in various homes or via Zoom.  Contact us for more details.

If you would like to know more about The Gather Collective email [email protected] or text 07838388128 or follow us on Facebook , Instagram or Twitter

Gather Defib Helps Save Life

The Gather Community Garden, a project of the Gather Collective, was able to donate a Defibrillator for use among the 500+ allotment users at the Churchdale site (and other people from the locality.) Funded by a generous donation, the machine appeared to have been taken recently and the casing damaged.

It has since emerged that it was used to treat a patient and went with the patient to the Hospital. Due to an admin issue the emergency services were unable to access the unlock code from their database. An allotment holder, who lives locally, had advised that there was a machine there and to access it to treat a friend who had become ill. The only option left was to force the door.

Gather spokesperson Ruth Kenward comments: ‘Our upset over the broken door was transformed the moment we heard what had actually happened. This is just the kind of patient scenario we had in mind when creating this resource for local people.’

The Gather Community Garden is spread over 7 plots at the Churchdale site and includes vegetable and fruits as well as a quiet garden. Bee keeping and chickens rearing are among the other activities at the site which has been working with a tiny team for the last 12 months. We are now back at to our full programme – find out more about a tour by calling 07838 388128

The Prayers of Jesus – The Prayers of Peace

My peace I leave with you was on Jesus lips 3 times in John 20. This is just one of the many times peace and prayer are connected in the life and ministry of Jesus. Peace is rooted in the word Shalom which has multiple layers of meaning including welfare, wholeness and calm and abundance. In this core teaching for us a congregation Dave Roberts notes that the gospel is rooted in the notion of the gospel of peace. Our forgiveness, flowing from Jesus death and resurrection, is the start of our embrace of the Kingdom of God and a belief in the restoration of all things. What do Jesus prayers of peace tell us about mission, prayer, justice and the relational nurture that God desires?