Reflection 1 – Fair Trade
Good morning; may the Lord be with you.
(Response) And also with you.
-How do you feel when someone treats you unfairly?
In Isaiah chapter 10, verses 1-2 we read,
‘How terrible it will be for those who make unfair laws, and those who write laws that make life hard for people.
They are not fair to the poor, and they rob my people of their rights. They allow people to steal from widows and to take from orphans what really belongs to them.’
God promises justice will fall on those who treat people unfairly.
-In what ways do we treat people unfairly?
-Think or pray about what we can do about it.
Prayer 1
Let us pray,
Lord God,
When we are buying things like chocolate or Bananas, help us remember the poorest workers, including children, who are paid so little and expected to work long hours to get us these products. Help us make sure people know about these situations, so that employers will be forced to treat their workers fairly, and help us to spend wisely on Fairtrade. Amen.
Reflection 2 – Compassion and Fair Trade
Good morning; may the Lord be with you.
(Response) And also with you.
What do you do to help others?
In Isaiah chapter 58 verses 6-7 God says,
‘I will tell you the kind of fast I want:
Free the people you have put in prison unfairly and undo their chains. Free those to whom you are unfair and stop their hard labour.
Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours, and don’t refuse to help your own relatives.’
- Fairtrade is one way we can make a real difference to people’s lives.
-What other ways can we in school help the poor, needy and people being treated unfairly?
Prayer 2
Let us pray,
Father God,
We thank you that thousands of places and even whole towns have decided to choose fairtrade goods. Please build up those who conduct their business with integrity and treat their workers honourably. May those who are dishonest and exploit others be found out, brought to justice and make things better. Be with us as we spend our money and help us to make a difference. Amen.
Reflection 3 – Social Justice & Fairtrade
Good morning; may the Lord be with you.
(Response) And also with you.
-How much do you spend on an average day?
Many families around the world have to live on about 80p a day or less, because people want cheap food, and they don’t get a fair price for what they grow. That 80p has to cover everything – food, housing, school, clothes etc.
In James chapter 5 verse 4, he writes,
‘Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty’.
There is enough food and wealth in the world for everyone to be comfortable, and yet there are still people who are starving, who have poor water supplies and who work hard for very little.
Think: What are you prepared to do to make a difference?
Prayer 3
Let us pray,
Creator God,
Thank you that you created a beautiful world for all your children. As we taste and smell the fruits of this creation help us to remember those who farm the land to grow them for us. Help us live in a partnership of love and support with those who produce our food and drink so that we might enable others to feed their families and create a sustainable future. Amen.