El Niño is associated with record breaking temperatures globally. Whether this will happen in 2023 or 2024 is not yet certain. The EU's Climate Change Service believes 2023 is more likely. 2022 was Europe's second warmest year and hottest summer ever: this year is predicted to be hotter. The effects of El Niño, which take months to be felt, may mean that 2024 breaks temperature records. Extreme weather is making coffee cost more and taste worse; we need to be prepared. See Pray for Europe’s climate adaptation conference in Dublin from 19 to 21 June, where 500 policy makers will hear from Europe’s leading climate researchers. Pray for God to work in this event to cause individuals to devise workable solutions in their particular area of expertise. 

Several of Jesus' parables liken the preaching of the Gospel to the scattering of seeds, which sprout and bear fruit in due time. Our May online gatherings showed how the word of God has been scattered throughout our countryside and that shoots are sprouting up in all sorts of places. Believers are building relationships and communities centred around the good news of Jesus Christ. People of all ages are asking questions, seeking a deeper and truer meaning to life. Christians have been prepared over time, often unbeknown to them, for the people and places to which the Lord has sent them. These may be a pub, a lunch for older residents, an after-school club, a quiet garden, a bible reading group or a new church thriving in a barn through the hospitality of a farmer.

The rainbow is a symbol for the LGBT community. A former transgender is on a mission to take it back to a Christian symbol. Nichol Collins was a lesbian and drug dealer called Esco in clubs and streets and was known for partying and violence. But now she is a Christian who stands up for God and her faith. ‘I was attacked from behind by a man with a hammer, and glory to God, I miraculously suffered no injury. I tell people God literally used that to knock some sense into me. It took me seven months to come out of men's clothes. I didn't jump into dresses right away, I was bald, I felt ugly, but as I submitted myself to God, he began to beautify me with salvation.’ Collins now uses inspirational rainbows and Bible quotes designs in her Christian clothing line called Globeshakers as a reminder of God's word.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey wants the Government to allocate time in Parliament for discussing possible legislation on assisted suicide. Challenging the Church of England's current view, he said it was important to stop people from suffering against their wishes and argued that to do so was ‘profoundly Christian’. In a submission to MPs, he said that helping someone in great suffering to die would be an act of great generosity, kindness and human love. He claimed that legalising assisted suicide would be a reflection of a compassionate society and argued that the likes of Oregon, in the US, where it is already legal, show that it can be done successfully. Anti-euthanasia campaigners use the example of Oregon, the Netherlands, Canada and Belgium as reasons why the UK should not change the law. In 2022 half of people given doctor-assisted suicide in Oregon did so because they feared being a burden on family, friends or caregivers.

God is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. Lord, we ask for an awakening of Kingdom values and priorities across our justice system - supreme courts, family courts, Parliament, and arbitration. We pray life into every seed of Your word in the hearts of people of influence, regardless of their mindset or worldview. May your truth overrule in every judgement made. We pray for justice, protection and blessing to be experienced by all, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, religion or background. Father, shine your light into the dark places, so that what needs to be exposed will be revealed in hearts, attitudes, actions, roots or cultures, so that evil is uprooted and true justice flourishes. May Your people move according to Isaiah 61: preaching the good news, healing the broken-hearted, and proclaiming liberty to the captives; comforting those who are mourning, healing the sick, feeding the hungry and rebuilding ancient foundations.

Throughout the summer, across the nation, thousands of people will attend country fairs and agricultural shows. These provide great opportunities to celebrate farming, food and the land and 'Britain’s rural culture’, display skill, craftsmanship and artistry, and bring town and country and young and old together. They are also opportunities to give thanks and enjoy the diverse bounties the Lord has blessed us with in this land. At many, there will be a strong Christian presence, including through services, church hospitality tents, chaplaincies and outreach ministries, and opportunities to offer prayer. Give thanks for these occasions. Pray for the witness of local churches, rural chaplaincies and organisations like Farming Christian Link.

The YMCA will continue its summer activities to entertain and feed young people and children, particularly from struggling families. It wants the Government to invest more in youth projects to avoid crime down the line and help desperate families as the long summer holidays loom. Richard James has urged churches to rally around their communities and offer similar initiatives for the children in their parishes. Experts foresee a difficult summer for families struggling with the cost of living crisis, as children will not receive free school lunches. James has seen a noticeable difference in children's experiences using the YMCA’s summer services in recent years and says it feels as if every year is another challenge. He says, ‘Some boroughs’ budgets have zero pounds per young person per head.’ In 2020, YMCA England reported a billion-pound decline in the amount of funding afforded to youth services by local authorities, with a decline of 69% since 2010. See

Data released on 8 June showed that A&Es experienced the busiest May on record, putting emergency care staff under significant pressure. Ambulance crews attended 624,092 call-outs, the highest number in a year. Alongside this, the figures show another record-breaking twelve months of cancer treatment and referrals, with more people than ever before getting checked and starting treatment. Tens of thousands of patients are set to receive a diagnosis and treatment for skin cancer faster, with accelerated NHS rollout of ‘teledermatology’, which involves taking high-spec images of spots, moles or lesions on people’s skin. NHS’s national medical director said, ‘As hospitals dealt with the most disruptive industrial action in history, average waits on waiting lists dropped to under 14 weeks - the lowest since before winter.’ In April 51,700 calls were answered daily by NHS 111.