Join us November 2011 for our Annual ‘One Small Step’ Fair Trade Festival 

The Federated Church of Livingston will hold its, sixth ‘One Small Step’ Fair Trade Festival this November.  As part of our Mission Ministry we are once again sponsoring a fair trade event to help sustain and preserve social and environmental integrity throughout the world.  And we are asking for you to join with us once more in the fight against poverty, oppression and abuse by making a Fair Trade purchase.  Whether you purchase a unique gift or an everyday staple, like coffee, your dollars can help create a life of hope, dignity and empowerment for the artisan and/or small farmer.

Christianity and Judaism along with numerous other religions teach us that we must treat partners fairly and honesty when we buy and sell goods.[i]  In a globalized society it is our moral responsibility to engage our hearts, our minds and our consciousness when we shop for goods, so that our spending helps to stimulate a congruous and flourishing global economy.  Just one fair trade purchase can have tremendous impact in a world where 1,000,000,000 live on less than $1.00 a day.[ii]   Did you know that if every American churchgoer this Christmas purchased a fair trade gift it would lift one million families out of poverty for one whole year?   Just One Purchase![iii]  

As we all know, Fair trade is not about charity or pity but about promoting sustainable business and breaking cycles of poverty and dependency in the developing world.[iv]  So join the fair trade movement and its vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices both aboard and at home.[v]  All merchandise has been certified by a Fair Trade certified organization, is handmade by artisans or grown by under-privileged farmers from the world’s poorest countries. 

Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day (Aid)
Teach a man to fish and he’ll feed himself (Development)
Buy his fish and he has a sustainable way out of poverty (Fair Trade) ⁶

In a country where $450,000,000,000 is spent on Christmas yearly, wouldn’t you like your holiday purchase to make a REAL difference![vi]  There will be jewelry galore; adorable accessories for the hair; cold weather wears from fun & trendy hats to elegant shawls; home décor gems, and kitchen staples along with a host of other artifacts. 

So Stop by and SHOP

at the

FEDERATED CHURCH OF LIVINGSTON

~ Lounge Entrance ~

6 West Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ  07039

November 12, 13 and 17-20, 2011

Saturday’s: 10 – 4 pm, Sunday’s: 12 – 4 pm, Thursday & Friday: 4 – 7 pm.