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On Tuesday the Christian Legal Centre, along with other objectors including St Ebbe’s Church, asked Oxford City Council not to grant a sexual entertainment licence to a club called Coven II. The club is situated on one of the main roads running into Oxford City Centre, close to residential areas, a higher education college and the Oxford University Training Corps, making it a highly unsuitable area for a sex club. This is the second application for a sex club licence in Oxford in the space of eight months. (See Prayer Alert 10-2011 and 2710)
Pray: that the city council will listen to the objections and reject this application. (1Th.5:22)
Media regulator Ofcom has moved to clampdown on offensive language on the radio amid concerns that children are being exposed to inappropriate material. It says that broadcasting offensive language when children are likely to be listening has ‘frequently been the focus of complaints’. In October the watchdog censured one radio station for playing a track which repeated one swear word 41 times at 7.30 in the morning. Now Ofcom, which has a statutory duty to protect young people, has issued new guidance saying that listeners ‘do not expect to hear strong language during the day on radio’ even if children are unlikely to be listening. It has also warned broadcasters that children must be protected from songs with clear references to drugs and sex. The guidance says that ‘broadcasters should avoid broadcasting lyrics that clearly focus on the taking of drugs, sexual acts or behaviour, or convey a clearly sexualised theme, when children are particularly likely to be listening.’
Pray: that the move by Ofcom to restrict the use of offensive language on the radio will succeed in its aim. (Ps.139:24)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/clampdown-on-offensive-language-on-the-radio/
The Scottish Government, the European Parliament, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and civic and faith leaders were among those involved in the official opening of the 2013 Just Festival. Hundreds of people turned out for the occasion at St John's Episcopal Church, in the heart of Edinburgh, on Saturday 3 August. Just Festival is the largest multi-ethnic and multi-faith event of its kind. This year it features 129 events across 450 performances and 28 venues from 2-26 August. "As ever, the vibrant multi-cultural mix of the Festival is a key feature of its continuing popularity and it is great to see a continued commitment to building positive relations within the diverse communities of Scotland. "Each year, there are some fantastic and engaging talks on important topics such as peace-making, the future of Scotland and working to eliminate sectarianism and discrimination. We wish the Just Festival and all involved in it the very best for their busy programme."
Pray: for all those running and visiting this festival throughout August. Pray that's its impact will be positive and long lasting. (Rev.5:9)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/18720
Citizens Advice is working with churches and other places of worship across the country to make advice services more accessible, particularly for those living in remote areas. This will provide face-to-face advice in the local community rather than users having to travel significant distances. Faithful Advice: A guide for advice services in places of worship published at the Citizens Advice service’s annual conference provides practical examples and guidelines for churches to set up face-to-face advice sessions on their premises. The guidelines acknowledge that as the public sector cuts bite, churches can play a vital role in offering premises for advice sessions, particularly where there are no alternative sites available locally. The Rt Revd John Gladwin, former Bishop of Chelmsford, said, ‘By working with faith organisations, Citizens Advice Bureaux have already established partnerships which enable them to reach out and provide advice services to some of the most vulnerable and disengaged sections of our communities.’
Pray: for the success of such ventures and for it to further emphasise to Government the importance of the church in society. (Ac.5:20)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=533
Leaders from the United Reformed Church, the Methodist Church in Britain and the Baptist Union of Great Britain have given thanks for the decision of the UK Parliament to reject military action in Syria. Leaders from the three churches said: "We are thankful that our MPs carefully considered the difficult matter of military intervention in Syria - and decided to reject it. Our prayers now are that all diplomatic means are used to bring government and opposition leaders to the negotiating table and that divided parties are encouraged to seek a future they can inhabit together. We also urge that priority is given to a quick and effective humanitarian response to the thousands of Syrian people affected by the violence."
The Revd Roberta Rominger, General Secretary of the United Reformed Church
The Revd Ruth Gee, President of the Methodist Conference
The Revd Stephen Keyworth, Faith and Society Team Leader, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Pray: for the United Kingdom to unite in prayer for Syria and for our leaders to be granted the wisdom to do the right thing. (1Co.14:33a)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/news-and-events/news-releases/churches-welcome-governments-decision-on-syria
The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, said it was ‘madness’ to cut investment from public services and communities after the Government unveiled its cuts to public spending in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Dr Sentamu urged people to ‘stand up and call on the state to play its part by investing in Britain’s recovery’. The Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, who will be translated from Woolwich to Southwark early next year, said: ‘The cuts are accompanied by changes to the way welfare and housing are provided. This has implications not just for vulnerable individuals, but whole communities.’ The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Rev Michael Hill, told BBC News it was ‘slightly chilling’ that the Government had ‘targeted some five million benefit recipients, and is trying to knock down their benefits. Nobody thinks that’s a bad thing for people who are clearly cheating the benefit system, but my understanding is that the majority aren’t’. Pray: that God's Spirit will move communities to succour the needy. (Pr.14:31)
Christians from 18 churches are set to work together this summer to engage in community projects in the north west of England. Engage 2010 is a project 12 years in the making and building on the success of a one-day event in Hoole, Chester in 1997. This one day developed into a week-long Hoolefest in 2004 and then Chesterfest in 2007. Each year it has grown to include more people and to have an even greater impact on local communities. 20 churches have partnered with local businesses and agencies to deliver a week-long youth and community programme. Young people have grown in confidence as they have understood their value and significance as well as building character, self-esteem and teamwork. 18 church congregations from across Cheshire West and Chester are working together with the support of partner organisations including Link Up, The Light Project and Chester Christian Schools Work to organise the programme. Pray: for God’s blessing on all those involved in this project as they live the Gospel message. (1Pe.3:15) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/chester.churches.unite.to.transform.communities/26265.htm
The Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE) have heralded 2012 as a ‘year of celebration’. With the Olympic Games and torch relays, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee all on the horizon, they say the four month period from May to September will provide opportunities for people to gather and celebrate together ‘in ways which will both enhance and deepen community life’. The CTE Presidents are the Moderator of the United Reformed Churches, the Rev Michael Heaney, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, and the head of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, the Rt Rev Jana Jeruma-Grinberga. In a joint statement, the Church leaders spoke
of the ‘unprecedented’ collaboration between the denominations ahead of the Olympics. ‘More Christian communities from different traditions than ever before are coming together to plan practical ways of serving the project of the Olympic Games, which can bring many and diverse benefits,’ they said.
Pray: for all those involved in the preparations for the celebrations and especially for the successful collaboration between the denominations. (Ps.145:7)
Anglican churches in the Oxford Diocese are being urged to focus their evangelistic efforts on men in an attempt to redress the gender balance in many parish churches. Estimates indicate that 65 percent of regular worshippers are women, and in many churches, the percentage is much higher. On February 5, the Oxford Diocese, in partnership with Men And The Church (MATCH), is to host a one day conference for clergy and lay people. The aim is to review resources and ideas for churches wanting to reach un-churched men with the gospel, to explore why so many men leave the Church, and to encourage new strategies for evangelism to men. The event is the idea of the Revd Paul Eddy, curate at Grove Parish Church, who said: ‘In churches across the diocese, clergy are very concerned about the lack of men in their congregations and have been asking for resources and support in developing effective evangelism’.
Pray: for the Holy Spirit to open up the way to bringing the Gospel to more men or more men to the Gospel. (3Jn:8)
Rural Presence is the new interactive website for Christians engaged in rural mission. It provides a forum for all Christians to share good news stories and information about the church in rural communities. The aim is to encourage and inspire mission and discipleship in rural churches. By sharing the wealth of ideas and practical approaches from churches around Britain it is hoped that an effective Christian presence can be promoted and sustained in the countryside. ‘This site offers an opportunity to share in all that is good and exciting about the rural church,’ said Rev Graham Jones, National Rural Officer for the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. ‘Whether it’s setting up community cinemas or hosting local post offices, the opportunities for rural churches to serve their communities are endless. We want to resource, enthuse and inspire Christians to think differently about their ministry in the countryside.’ Experiences may be shared at www.ruralpresence.org.uk where creative ideas can be found. Pray: for the mission and work of rural churches and for their leaders. (Ac.16:5) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=474