The first of our three online 'Street Stories' events on aspects of 'Facing Up to Race' took place last night. Big thanks to Faye Bruce of the Caribbean Health Network for her presentation and also to Dr Steve Taylor and Rosie Holden from Christians in Caring Professions. View the full event below. Next is 'Church Complicity' on Wednesday - more details here.

Our Street Stories event planned for June 4 had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus Lockdown. Then on May 26 the brutal public killing by police officers of black man George Floyd sparked an upsurge of #BlackLivesMatter in the USA, with similar protests in the UK. We felt we should find an alternative way to discuss issues around racism and have planned 3 short Zoom events on Facing Up To Race, with the same guest speakers, plus a few more. Dates and more info here. 

Here are the four presentations from our Facts and Focus' Zoom gathering, at which we looked specifically at several responses to and impacts of the Coronavirus crisis.

We have uploaded 6 new short vlogs by Mosaic members, reflecting on aspects of the impact of the Coronavirus crisis. Several were taken from a Mosaic Zoom meeting at the end of April. They are on our Covid-19 page.

On May 20, 1:30pm to 3pm, we are having a ‘Facts and Focus' Zoom gathering, looking specifically at responses to and impacts of the Coronavirus crisis. For all members, plus any others involved in social action work who might find it helpful.
4 people from the Mosaic Justice Network will share for 10 minutes each followed by time for questions.

• Faye Bruce – Caribbean and African Health Network –  impact on the BAME communities.
• Tom Skinner – Greater Manchester Poverty Action - food strategy, now and planning for the aftermath.

• Rosemary Hack – Press Red – Domestic Abuse is spiking under the lockdown.

• Ian Rutherford – Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network – strategy for the homeless.

​To join the meeting click here.

We are encouraging Mosaic members to send in 1 minute video logs to share a quick story, maybe a prayer or a something you have been reflecting on. Here's the first, from Andrew Belfield. You can upload your video using the free service WE TRANSFER – please send them to paulkeeb@gmail.com

The Coronavirus crisis has affected everybody, including our Mosaic Justice Network member organisations, whose workload has increased as they seek to find ways to continue to serve the vulnerable and marginalised during this time of lockdown. Meetings of the network are suspended for now, but we are looking to continue to support one another in other ways: circulating information and resources by email, phoning and texting, meeting by Zoom, and of course through prayer.

If you are a Mosaic member, please remember the rest of us are here to encourage and help as best we can. Use the network to share requests for prayer, practical ideas, anything that you might need or be able to offer. If you are not a Mosaic member but would like to contact one of the member organisations, maybe to offer some assistance, please use the details on the Partners page.

Thank you.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
​Romans 15:13

Last Sunday's 'Songs of Praise' came from Manchester and featured the Manchester launch day for 'Red Letter Christians' which MJN helped to facilitate back in June. Also included in the programme was an interview with Victoria Armstrong from MJN member Oasis, Gorton. Watch it now on BBC iPlayer. The Oasis segment can also be seen here.

The next meeting of the Mosaic Justice Network will be on September 10. More details and booking via Eventbrite here. Members will have been sent a password by email. If you are reading this, not a member of MJN and curious to find out more or join, please contact one of the facilitators.

Our last meeting was an interactive Red Letter Seminar with Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo with over 70 activists drawn from the Mosaic Justice Network and across the city and region. Meeting at Methodist Central Hall, after hearing from Tony and Shane, attendees held a ‘Hackathon’ discussing four issues they felt were most critical to justice in Manchester: Climate Change, addiction, homelessness and hate crime.

In the afternoon a number of us went out into the nearby Piccadilly Gardens right in the centre of Manchester for a public Red Letter Action with Shane, Tony and Peggy Campolo and others to highlight injustice and declare “Love over Fear”.  As part of a public act of mourning, the names and faces of 100 people who have died due to knife crime in the UK this year were displayed, and an anvil was struck 100 times to remember them.

In the evening, Jubilee Church Manchester were welcoming and generous hosts for An Evening of Jesus & Justice to launch Red Letter Christians UK, featuring Shane and Tony and also amplifying the voice of local activists engaging with their communities in practical and powerful ways in the city.