Advent, funding and communications resources
 Resources of interest to the Christian community include funding and leaflets for Homelessness Action Week. Christmas resources include advent reflections and Christmas posters to download and print.
Funding
Faiths in Action is a £4 million grant programme from the Community Development Foundation and round 2 is now open. Grants are offered to faith, inter-faith, voluntary and community sector organisations at all levels in England. Applications must have a clear focus on faith or inter-faith issues and show how projects relate to one or more of the fund’s four priorities. There is no formal deadline for applications which will be accepted until the fund has been exhausted. Grants will be distributed from April 2010 and will fund activities that take place between April 2010 and March 2011. Any additional funding that may be required must be secured at the time of the application. The maximum size of a grant is £6,000.
Download the round 2 guidance notes , an application form or call the Faiths in Action helpline on 01223 406533.
Advent resources
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have also produced some reflections and sermon materials around the theme of Advent hope in an economic crisis looking at the crisis in relation to the roots of our Christian beliefs and values, aiming to turn anger and disappointment into a positive force for change.
Resistance and Renewal. Jesus was born into a world of violence, injustice and corrupted power. His teaching calls us to resist the values of this world and follow the narrow path of love, redemption and grace. Livability’s Jon Kuhrt has written some advent prayers and reflections around the themes of Resistance and Renewal which look at the destructive values of the world that we need to resist in favour of God’s life-giving Kingdom values.
Christmas starts with Christ! Join this year's advertising campaign and download the poster featuring the nativity scene in a bus stop from ChurchAds or sponsor a bus shelter. It’s also not too late to Simplify at Christmas and join others who have been reviewing how they live to enable them to benefit others. Tearfund can help you with ideas for alternative gifts and creative and ethical present ideas and also offer top ten tips for an ethical Christmas and the Evangelical Alliance have brought together a range of Christmas resources from other organisations for churches.
Poverty & Homelessness Action Week
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, organised by Housing Justice, Church Action on Poverty and Scottish Churches Housing Action, takes place from 30th January to 7th February under the theme ‘Enough for all’. Leaflets and other materials are available free from the Action Week website, email Guy Cruls or phone 020 7920 6600
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