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St Paul's has become the first of Britain's top public schools to pull down its chapel and do without a place of worship. It is one of Britain's oldest and most prestigious public schools, founded 500 years ago by the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. St Paul's School has knocked down its chapel to make way for new science classrooms, becoming the first of the country's leading public schools to do without a place of worship. The decision has upset the Church of England and brought complaints that the institution is turning its back on its Christian heritage in favour of a more secular approach to education. The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, has expressed his dismay in a letter to the school and the Rev Robert Stanier, an Anglican chaplain and former pupil said he was appalled, ‘This is a school with a Christian foundation. They're spending nearly £80 million and yet they can't find any space for a chapel.’
Pray: for the school authorities to reconsider their decision and also that this does not mark the start of a new trend. (2Ki.17:37)
The next Bishop of Durham, current Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, has identified his priority issues as growing the church, tackling poverty, and addressing the role of children and young people in the church. Bishop Butler was announced as the Bishop of Durham-Designate this week, taking over from the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who left the post to become Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year. He said growing the church in numbers, depth and discipleship was the "highest priority" for the Diocese of Durham."It will not be an easy task but a healthy, growing church is good for the community. I want the church to be good news for the area. I know it is already is but I want it to be better and people to talk more positively about it." He added: "Tackling poverty together must also be a priority.”
Pray: for Paul as he prepares to take up his new role and also that he will be successful in leading the church in the North East towards his declared goals. (Ac.20:28)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/bishop.of.durham.designate.focuses.on.church.growth.poverty.and.young.people/33979.htm
The Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Rev Nick Baines has written a series of prayers for the World Cup. The first prayer calls for all who work and play in the tournament to be guided, guarded and protected and that fans will find the tournament a ‘source of celebration’. In his second, Bishop Baines asks God to smile on the host country, South Africa, and all those who travel to ‘join in the party’. Another, written for those with no interest in the game, asks that they may be granted ‘the gift of sympathy’. The Church of England's Bishop Baines, a Liverpool fan, said: ‘More than half the population pray at some time and everyone will be affected by the World Cup in one way or another, so it makes sense to have some prayers for those that want to use them.’ Pray:for all those involved directly or indirectly in this major event both in South Africa and around the world. (2Ch.30:23)
The Bishop of Lichfield has called on leaders in the Church and secular society to put serving others before their own comfort. The Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill criticised the MPs’ expenses scandal and banking practices, comparing some of today’s leaders to the tyrant kings spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel. ‘Those who should have been looking after the people, the flock, were apparently fiddling their expenses, awarding themselves huge bonuses, while at the same time cutting the pensions of ordinary folk. In other words they were in leadership for what they could get out of it,’ the bishop said. ‘A nation loses its social coherence if a few very comfortable leaders enrich themselves at the expense of the majority.’ Bishop Lichfield said a bishop’s task is not to ‘major on keeping the church going for another 10 years. He is here to help us serve our country and those who are scattered like sheep without a shepherd’. Pray: for all our leaders in whatever field, that they be guided wisely and selflessly. (2Ch.12:6) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/bishop.hits.out.at.selfish.leadership/26791.htm
The Bishop of Bradford has criticised the BBC for its ‘lazy intellectual sidelining of religion’ and questioned why the broadcaster does not have a religious editor. In a disparaging analysis of religious programming, the Rt Revd Nick Baines claimed major television networks chose to ignore faith as if it had become ‘a toxic contaminator of decent culture’. He called for a shift in attitudes among leading broadcasters and warned that a wide variety of political and economic stories could not be adequately covered without taking ‘religion seriously. Writing in the Radio Times, he asked: ‘How does the BBC fulfil its public service remit by transcending the lazy intellectual sidelining of religion – challenging the ridiculous assumption among some in the Corporation that the ‘non-religious’ world view is neutral? The BBC has a sports editor, an economics editor, a political editor and editors for other areas of life. It has no religion editor.’ (See also Prayer Alert 09-2012)
Pray: for the BBC that the pressure fom the Church and the public will lead to recognition of the importance of our faith. (1Cor.2:6)
The Rt Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, urged politicians to help protect the ‘God-given meaning of marriage for the sake of all generations to come’. He also criticised the idea that ‘progress’ should mean a ‘continuous shifting’ of society away from its Christian foundations – just days after a landmark legal ruling against prayers being said at council meetings. The Bishop’s intervention comes just weeks after reports that more than 100 Conservative MPs could vote against David Cameron’s proposals on same-sex unions.The Bishop said that the ‘timeless institution of marriage’ was recognised as a key building block of society, including by non-Christians. For politicians of Christian conscience this will be a moment to resist the leadership of their own political parties together with every parliamentarian who recognises the Judeo-Christian foundations on which our society rests. (See also Prayer Alert 06-2012 & 05-2012)
Pray: that the Government will listen and respect the views of the Church and others who recognise the importance of marriage. (Ps.85:8)
The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds has called for policies from the parties contesting the general election, which promote fairness and support for those most in need. The Rt Rev John Packer says that the ‘burden of cuts’ must fall on those with adequate resources and not on those struggling with debt or unemployment. It comes as ethics look set to play a central part in the election off the back of the scandal over MP's expenses, and slogans from the main parties which address 'fairness'. On taxing and cuts, Bishop Packer says, ‘I shall be searching for signs of a concern for those in most need in our society. So in dealing with national debt, I shall want the burden of cuts to fall on those of us with adequate resources, and not those who have inadequate housing, who are unemployed or who struggle with debt. They need protection.’
Pray: for a genuine desire by the political leaders to support the truly needy in our country. (Dt.15:11)
An Anglican Bishop has hit out at the Government’s failure to tackle alcohol abuse, an issue he describes as ‘one of the major sins of our time’. The Rt Revd Geoff Annas, the Bishop of Stafford, blamed the extension of the licensing laws and called for a ‘seismic shift in attitudes’ towards alcohol, as there has been towards tobacco. He said successive governments had failed to prevent alcohol abuse, ‘a problem that blights our society and colours the view the rest of the world has of our nation’. The Bishop declared that, in hearing countless tragic stories of lives damaged by binge-drinking, it was time for the church and society to speak out. In a letter published in parish magazines across the Diocese of Lichfield, he said: ‘Hospital managers, the police and fire services have all told me in recent months of the way alcohol related issues are soaking up ever decreasing resources.’ Pray: that Government and society will take this matter more seriously and that a solution may be found. (Ro.13:13) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bishop-blames-binge-drinking-culture-for-blighting-britain/
People across Great Britain are getting ready to take a fresh look at the Gospel of Matthew during Lent with the Big Read. It is part of the Big Bible project, an online digital community that promotes regular Bible reading and engagement with contemporary culture. This year, it’s gone national on Twitter and Facebook and with multimedia resources available through the Big Bible blog, has a ‘blend’ of physical and digital materials. The Project is launching this year’s Big Read with Tom Wright's Lent for Everyone: Matthew. As well as using the book, house groups will be able to take advantage of free online study materials from a range of contributors, including week-by-week group resources, videos and audio reflections, and a challenge to carry that learning through the week. Big Bible offers a great opportunity to dust off your bible, share with your friends and neighbours and learn more about what God wants for your life. Pray: for the success of this project and that many people will re-open their Bibles and refresh their relationship with God. (Lk.24:45) More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=492
Premier Christian Radio and Premier Gospel Radio have launched an advertising campaign to lift morale in the nation’s capital in the wake of the riots. Posters will appear in parts of the city that saw the worst rioting, pointing to the work the radio stations do in offering hope and inspiration. The posters will appear in Croydon, Hackney, Ealing, Haringey, and Lewisham. Peter Kerridge, CEO of Premier Radio, said: ‘The aim of these posters is to be a source of hope. We want to be a beacon of hope to Christians, those of other faiths and none, who live in these areas. In the aftermath of the riots there has been a lot of condemnation. We want to focus on a possible way forward, a tried and tested way of re-building lives and communities. Hope and inspiration are things we all need and the Christian gospel provides it.’
Pray: for all affected areas and that the Gospel message will bring healing to these communities. (Pr.13:17)
More: http://www.religiousintelligence.org/churchnewspaper/news/bid-to-lift-morale-after-riots/