FEB 10th: St. Vincent's Breakfast

On Sunday, February 10th @ 8am, we will be serving breakfast at the St. Vincent de Paul Society's Drop-In Centre. Be sure to join us, we always have a great time!

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING.

Thanks,

Ben

ST. VINCENT'S BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, February 10th, from 8am-11am
St. Vincent de Paul Drop-In Centre
1180 3rd Avenue

Black History Month Evening of Song

The SATS Band will be performing at the Black History Month Evening of Song on Saturday, February 9th. Other performers include: Bel Canto Choir, Nove Voce with Robin Norman, Cliff Raphael and the Afro -Caribbean-Canadian Choir, Heather Fisher and Cedars Christian School drama group, and Sssnap live drum music with Granville Johnson and Martyn Piper.

From the Prince George Citizen, Jan.31/08: (http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115653&Itemid=556)

"The Canadian government has formally celebrated Black History Month since 1970, and officially proclaimed it in 1995. The aims are to educate the public about the realities of Blacks and Black communities across the nation, celebrate the successes and achievements of the Black community as part of the Canadian heritage, and to promote public awareness of ongoing issues of racism and discrimination."

Be sure to check it out:

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENING OF SONG

Saturday, February 9th @ 7pm

First Baptist Church, 5th & Gillett

TRAFFICK LIGHTS

On Saturday, Feb. 2nd, we will be getting together to reflect on the reality of human trafficking in our culture. This is a very important topic that we really encourage you to explore with us.

There will be live music, delicious dessert and plenty of friends.

Please join us!


T R A F F I C K L I G H T S
reflecting on HUMAN TRAFFICKING in the 21st Century
AN EVENING OF MUSIC, FAITH & CONVERSATION
SATURDAY, February 2nd @ 7:30pm
First Baptist Church, 5th & Gillett

Human Trafficking Poster

Our contemplation of human inequality continues with our next theme:
"TRAFFICK LIGHTS: reflecting on human trafficking in the 21st century".

With the above poster, you can help us promote our February 2nd evening of music, faith & conversation.

Print it and post it, email it to friends or use it in any other CREATIVE way you can think of...

Thanks!

A Possible Response

This past month, S.A.T.S. looked at the current state of the world in terms of poverty and the inequity that exists between the rich and the poor nations. We looked at the importance of moving from acts of charity to justice. i.e. Not solely administering aid to the needy (charity), but working on changing the conditions which lead to people being in need (justice). We looked at the U.N.’s response in terms of the Millennium Development Goals, and the subsequent call to action in 2005 by groups such as Make Poverty History and the Micah Challenge to encourage world leaders to reach these goals by 2015.

We looked at the words of:

Martin Luther King Jr.: “The curse of poverty has no justification in our age…. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty."

Nelson Mandela: “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings… overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.”

Proverbs 31:8-9: "Speak up for the people who have no voice, For the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!”

8 Millennium Development Goals
1. ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER.
2. ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION.
3. PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN.
4. REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY.
5. IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH.
6. COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES.
7. ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
8. DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT.

The U.N.: “We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are now subjected.”

Steve Bradbury, Co-Chair of Micah Network: “What makes these goals so remarkable is their clear commitment to a timetable. The development community, and all who are committed to working for a more just and compassionate world, can and must use these goals to hold our leaders accountable and insist that they fulfill their promises. If we fail in this, the MDGs will undoubtedly go the way of many other “commitments” to end poverty – another set of broken promises to the poor, another tragic joke at their expense."

Micah 6:8: “He has showed you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Bishop Untener: “We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something and to do it very well.”

We discussed the following ideas regarding a possible response to these issues:
• Take one MDG a week and pray about it
• Join the Micah Challenge Prayer series at: http://www.micahchallenge.org/
• Learn from the MAKE POVERTY HISTORY & Micah Challenge websites
• Pick one MDG and do some research: www.un.org/millenniumgoals
• Give 0.7% of your family's income every year to reduce global poverty
• Commit to buying Fair Trade, and if possible, local goods
• Meet regularly with others to discuss current issues from a faith perspective
• Brainstorm ideas and discuss ways of working together
• Talk about global poverty with others
• Wear the White Band
• SIGN ON to both campaigns, by visiting their respective websites:

• http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/
• http://www.micahchallenge.ca/

• Encourage actions that support the Millennium Development Goals .ie. to buy fair trade coffee for church functions; to stop using styrofoam dishes and cups; etc.
• Talk to your MLA and MP about poverty-related issues - ie. write a letter or email
• Encourage church members to sign the Micah call.
• Write an article for your church bulletin or local/school newspaper

Thanks to Maureen Morgan for this informative post!

Directions for AMAZING GRACE Movie Night

We are just 3 days away from the AMAZING GRACE Movie Night! Here are some directions to Room 7-150 at UNBC:

• 7-150 is in the Agora (the central ring building) right next to Security. (Also right beside the chapel space).
• Go in by the library exit, and turn a hard right two feet before you get to the Security kiosk.

AMAZING GRACE Movie Night

http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/

In continuing our January theme of poverty and injustice, we are very excited to present the film "Amazing Grace" at UNBC on Saturday, January 19th. For more information, please comment on this post or email us at smokestacksandthesunrise@yahoo.ca.

a SATS movie night
Featuring "AMAZING GRACE"
SATURDAY, January 19th @ 7pm
UNBC, Rm 7-150
http://http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=unbc&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

A Great Start to a New Year

The first SATS gathering of the New Year was incredible. We had the largest attendance in SATS history, many of whom were new to the SATS community. We talked about poverty, both local and global, and how we, as Christians, are obligated to do something about the injustices that exist in our world. Maureen Morgan gave a great, interesting and informative presentation about poverty, charity vs. justice, and the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge campaigns. After her presentation, we had a group discussion about the issues addressed. This is a new addition to SATS and I think it was great. We got to talk, ask questions and let the ideas really sink in. This kind of group dialog emphasizes that SATS is a community.

If you want to become further involved in our community and help alleviate poverty in our area, you are more than welcome to come to St. Vincent's on Sunday to help serve breakfast with us.

Also, don't forget about the movie night on Sat, Jan 19, when we'll be showing Amazing Grace. Showtime is 7pm.

JAN 13: Breakfast at St. Vinnie's

On Sunday, January 13th @ 8am, we will be serving breakfast at the St. Vincent de Paul Society's Drop-In Centre.

PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS POST IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING.

Thanks a bunch!

Ben

Serving Breakfast at St. Vincent's
SUNDAY, December 30th, from 8am-11am
St. Vincent de Paul Drop-In Centre
1180 3rd Avenue