It is generally agreed that from late 2021/ early 2022 due to a mix of complex reasons the ‘cost of living crisis’ began. Now, in April 2024 the phrase ‘cost of living crisis’ is well within our vocabulary. We have all witnessed the staggering rise in everyday cost of things; food, bills, petrol etc. I also would surmise that it has affected everyone, whether that means you can still afford to live comfortably or not, I can’t imagine there isn’t a person that hasn’t seen that rise.

Like with most disasters, those who are already vulnerable, economically or socially challenged or oppressed are, once again, the worst affected by it. I could give you a reel of statistics that back this up but I want to share just two real-life stories that I have been a part of recently.

The first story takes place in The Hub on an afternoon I was there working really hard by holding a 1-week-baby who is one the volunteer's new baby (tough work, someone has to do it!) As I was sitting and talking with volunteers and those coming in, a man came in and took a seat on the sofa nearby. He said, ‘I just need somewhere to charge my phone, I can’t do it anywhere else.’ We were able to plug his phone in and do one better, offer him a cup of tea and conversation while he let his phone charge. As I was talking with Andy (Community Development Worker) after I asked if that happens often and he gave a firm yes ‘the cost of living crisis is real’ he said.

The second story takes place in church with Tony Colletto, chair of the Bristol Soup Run Trust. I had organised this meeting to see whether they would consider being our Lent Partner. Before I could pitch this idea to him I was listening to the amazing work the charity does. Every night, rain or shine, they give out warm soup and snacks to those who are homeless. They use Central Church’s carpark as well as SMR’s. I asked if he has seen a rise in people using the service since the cost of living crisis and Tony replied ‘we see people use our service who although have housing, find they can’t afford food prices and so, it is a meal they don’t have to pay for within their week.’ This impacted me, this rising cost of everything, has become so great for many that they are forced to use services such as Bristol Soup Run Trust, who give this out without judgment or question.

Two stories, both of our neighbours, struggling with this crisis.

After my conversation with Tony, it was easy for me to offer them our Lent Partnership because they are serving members of our parish who are in need and providing a service that is much needed in this current crisis.

I intended to enable us to engage with Bristol Soup Run Trust in many ways and importantly, to offer other opportunities other than just give money. Firstly, due to the cost of living crisis, money will be tight for many people and that isn’t the only means of how we can give. I hope you were able to read the amazing display the charity put up in the back of church- with practical and interactive ways of showing what they do. This display, coupled with inviting Tony to come and speak at the 10.30 am was intentional because we must know the reality of what many people are facing. This knowledge empowers us to talk about it more, to be informed, to think creatively about solutions and most importantly, to inform our prayers of petition to God. Someone in our congregation was so impacted by Tony speaking to us that they took it upon themselves to hold a coffee morning in their village to raise money for the charity- amazing!

As well as opportunities to give financially, I wanted us to engage in this practically, a way of gathering people to ‘do’ something to show our love to our brothers and sisters who use the Bristol Soup Run Trust’s service. And so the Big Church Cook-A-Long was born! There were over 30 people who gathered in the Undercroft and peeled, chopped, washed up, boiled, whizzed up and stirred large batches of soup ready to go out that evening to those in need. It was such a brilliant afternoon, I was staggered by everyone’s commitment and enthusiasm and we had so many people that we ran out of jobs for people- a problem which is nice to have! I believe we really showed something of God’s love for justice that day.

The thing is, we can trace the issue of the oppressed and marginalised being adversely affected in times of crisis right back to the Bible. Amongst many examples, the story of the Israelites enslaved in Egypt always impacts me. For just shy of 400 years the Israelites lived under slavery in a harsh regime, where they worked tirelessly to build another empire. Even after their freedom, things weren’t easy after they wandered in the desert for 40years to find the promised land. But I think about Moses’ cry to Pharaoh ‘let my people go’. Moses, who was full of doubt to God that he was the right person to petition the freedom of the Israelites bravely said yes to God. In Moses’ defiant and brave act, he demonstrated God’s heart for justice, God’s desire to lift the lowly and bring freedom to the captives.

Our role, in whatever way we can, is to echo Moses’s prayer today. ‘Let my people go’- to pray people would be let go from hunger, economic disadvantage and oppression. Just as Moses had a role to play, so do we now.

Thank you for all that you gave this Lent to Bristol Soup Run Trust. 

Laura Verrall-Kelly

18 April 2024