BLACK LIVES MATTER

Racism isn’t an exclusively American problem. Racism is alive in the UK and here in Bristol and in the Church. Racism is a sin, and as such all Christians everywhere are duty bound to stand, be counted and fight against it. Silence on the matter is complicity.

In response to the recent death of George Floyd, and in the light of the problems we have with racism here in Bristol, Tim Dobson, one of our pastors at Woodlands, wanted to share a few thoughts to help us pray and share some resources to help us learn to listen, learn and respond in a sensitive and meaningful way.

Watch our video with Tim from early June:

In addition, Hannah Mitchell also made a very helpful devotional on her feelings this week with the Black Lives Matter movement gaining momentum and how we might be able to take action. Watch Hannah’s video here:

Our young people at church have also been discussing racism this week. Check out what they’ve been up to by looking @devoyouth on Instagram. Thanks to our youth pastor Joe Cook for getting the conversation going and Abi Ndosi for being so willing and open to share her experiences. Watch the video interview.

Also at Woodlands Metro on 7 June, the team set aside time in the service to listen to black members of the Church as they shared their experiences of racism, their prayers, thoughts and reflections on how we can be a part of standing against this evil. Watch Metro vs Racism below:

Our Woodies Young Adults also had an Instagram Live session called Let’s talk about racism on 7 June, you can watch it online here:

For our 21 June service, pastor Tim Dobson got to catch up with Carmen Carrol, who works for The Keyboard Trust in Bristol, an organisation that aims to build unity between black and white led churches to help transform society. It was great to hear about what she's been doing in her role and what we can do to combat racism and to have her pray for unity.

ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES

There is a wealth of content online about anti-racism which can be useful to watch, read, study and listen to when thinking about how you can become more thoughtful, aware and educated. Here are just a few links to resources that you might find helpful. Let’s all seek to listen, learn, pray and act in ways that will change the world for good. Please share any links you think are helpful with us on social media.

CAMPAIGNS & MOVEMENTS:

Black Lives Matter
European Network Against Racism website
The Keyboard Trust Bristol (Networker Carmen Carrol is a Woodies member)

ONLINE CONTENT:

BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTIANS

ONLINE RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTIANS

BOOKS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTIANS

Book: The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone
Book: Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus by Reggie L Williams
Book: The Christian Imagination, Theology and the Origin of Race by Willie James Jennings
Book: Is Our God Colourblind? by Anthony Reddie
Book: The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
Book: Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way by Richard Twiss
Book: We Need To Talk About Race: Understanding the Black Experience in White Majority Churches by Ben Lindsay
Book: Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
Book: The Colour of Compromise: The truth about the American Church's complicity in racism by Jemar Tisby
Book: Why I am no longer talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo Lodge
Workbook: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR WHITE PEOPLE

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, KIDS & YOUTH:

We are excited to announce the Noise weekend for 2019! Following on from the amazing time we had with hundreds of other Christians last year for Hope Bristol 2018, we are back again to the regular May Bank Holiday Noise weekend (4th-6th May). It will be the same kind of community action projects as last year in the more needy parts of Bristol alongside free family fun afternoons and activities for senior citizens.

We realise that the Bristol 10k has been moved to the same weekend, but we hope those taking part in Love Running, could find time to volunteer for the Noise too, as we see God’s love being shown to our city in practical ways. You can volunteer for one day or the whole weekend, you can book in as an individual, a group or a family. Visit the Noise website for more details, and let’s show the communities of Bristol that there is a God that loves them.