The demands and stress of deployment in Afghanistan can lead individuals to switch off from thinking and communicating with their families back home, in order to focus on the task in hand. However, this is distressing for the families and leads to fear and worry. Then, in reverse, some children of serving personnel deployed get too upset when talking to their parent on the telephone or video link via Skype and so refuse to do so. This in turn proves to be upsetting and stressful.

Pray: about the needs of both those deployed and the families back home that there will be good communication and support between them and that those deployed and those back home will have the appropriate concern for the other. (Jn.15:12)

More: http://www.army.mod.uk/welfare-support/23208.aspx

The astonishing speed at which traditional family life has collapsed is laid bare in a recent report. Shocking figures reveal that births outside marriage are at their highest level in two centuries and nearly half of children can expect their parents to separate by the time they turn 16. Nine out of ten couples now live together before -or instead of – marriage, earlier it was considered shameful to have a child outside of wedlock, now it has become the norm. Some 46 per cent of children are born to unmarried mothers, according to research by the Centre for Social Justice. The think-tank said a child growing up in a one-parent family is 75 per cent more likely to fail at school, 70 per cent more likely to become a drug addict, 50 per cent more likely to have an alcohol problem and 35 per cent more likely to be unemployed as an adult.

Pray: for the Church to respond and support those adversely affected and to promote strong, loving stable marriage. (Heb.13:4 )

More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2011/04/18/the-collapse-of-family-life-half-of-children-see-parents-split-by-16-as-births-outside-marriage-hit-highest-level-for-two-centuries/

Will it be another Anglican bunfight or will new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby hold the communion together? Asks Sam Jones in last Sunday's Guardian. He writes “On Friday afternoon, the Church of England's General Synod will descend on York to begin the Herculean task of clearing away some of the debris from its last meeting. The synod's failure in November to approve draft legislation that would have allowed female clergy to become bishops was memorably described by one member as "a train crash of epic proportions". Few would disagree. With parliament breathing down its neck and many angered by the church hierarchy's opposition to same-sex marriage, the C of E knows it cannot risk another embarrassing meeting. On Friday evening, Justin Welby, will address his first synod. Even for a man who has travelled to some of the most dangerous places on earth in the hope of bringing about peace and reconciliation, the five-day meeting will be a tough gig.

Pray: for Justin Welby and all attending General Synod that they will be open to God and be led by the Holy Spirit. (Ro.8:28)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/30/church-of-england-general-synod

The Church in Wales has unveiled radical plans to ensure its future ahead of its centenary in 2020. The Church makes 50 recommendations for change in a published report. Recoromendations.include setting up supersize parishes run by teams of vicars and lay people. These would replace parishes with larger ‘ministry areas’ and mirror the catchment areas of secondary schools. Recations are intended to address the problem of small, unsustainable parishes and overstretched priests having to serve multiple parishes. The report also recommends that churches invest in ministry to young people and come up with ‘creative ideas’ to ensure they stay at the heart of their communities. To implement the vision, churches are being asked to allow their buildings to be available for use by the whole community. Other recommendations include: training lay people to play a greater part in church leadership; developing new forms of worship to reach out to those unfamiliar with church services; encouraging tithing.

Pray: for the Church in Wales to rise up and meet the challenge. (Mt.16:18)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.in.wales.unveils.major.overhaul/30316.htm

The devil, it is sometimes said, is in the detail. But in an experimental service from the Church of England, it is the absence of Satan from the small print which is causing a furore. A trial liturgy for baptising children in church has been making waves because, while parents and godparents have traditionally been asked whether they ‘reject the devil and all rebellion against God,’ the suggested alternative format merely asks them to ‘reject evil’. Also proving contentious is the omission of any question asking whether those bringing a child to be christened are willing to repent – as has been the case up until now. The service is currently being trialled. To come into permanent use, it would need to gain approval from the church's governing body, the General Synod. The existing wording in the Common Worship service book, with its references to the devil and to repentance, will remain in use either way.

Our British Service personnel have done a wonderful job in maintaining security at the London Olympic Games. Their presence was a blessing and their cheerful and helpful manner enhanced the success of the Games. Half way round the world 9500 more British Service personnel are involved with the security in Afghanistan under very difficult and exhausting conditions. Please pray for our British Service personnel as they continue to serve our country in whatever role that is demanded of them. Pray for them as they continue to provide security during the forthcoming London Paralympics.

Pray: also for those who work willingly and tirelessly under the most difficult and hostile conditions of Afghanistan. (Ps.25:1,2)

Tesco has sparked outrage after dropping its support for the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’, and announcing shortly after that it would now become a headline sponsor of Britain’s largest gay festival. The supermarket giant has supported Cancer Research for more than a decade, helping the charity raise hundreds of millions of pounds towards combating the illness – estimated to affect one in three of the population. But now the retail chain has signed a deal to become a major sponsor of Pride London, and will host the festival’s family area.

Pray: that this move by a major retail company would be looked at carefully in light of its involvement with the wider
community. (Eph.5:15)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/tesco-funds-gay-pride-but-drops-support-for-cancer-research/?utm_source= feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+christianinstitute+%28The+Christian+Institute%29

will pray for the ten days leading up to Pentecost, the Global Day of Prayer. Beginning on Ascension Day, June 2, millions of Christians will find ways to pray night and day throughout the ten days leading to Pentecost. Gathering in creative ways many are forming prayer chains to build bonfires of 24-hours-a-day prayer. Others will meet for an hour or two of focused prayer. Some will be fasting. Look for how the Holy Spirit may give you fresh ways to pray with family and friends. Click 'More' for full details of resources to help you plan your event and pray with others.

Pray: for the Church to humble itself and seek God's face. (2Ch.7:14)

More: http://www.gdopusa.com/how-to-be-involved/ten-days-of-constant-prayer/