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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, preached last Friday at Westminster Abbey in a service to celebrate 200 years of church schools. He spoke of the importance of church schools in providing an environment for children to become good citizens. Preaching to a packed Westminster Abbey congregation of school children, teachers and church and education leaders, the Archbishop said that whether pupils were of the Christian faith or not church schools provided a vision for them ‘to see the biggest possible picture of humanity and the world they live in.’ Church school children from across England and Wales carried specially-made banners to celebrate the founding of the Church of England's National Society in 1811 offering education to the poor in every parish - 50 years before the state joined in. The Revd Jan Ainsworth, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England, said ‘Our task is to make sure our church schools find a place within the new system and to bring other schools into relationship with us.’
Pray: Thank God for the work of the National Society and pray for the future of our Church schools in an increasingly secular society. (Col.3:17)
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for action to be taken to address UK poverty levels. He spoke out as churches up and down the country prepare to hold services marking ‘Poverty Sunday’ on Sunday 26 June. Writing for the Guardian newspaper the Archbishop said rising poverty was not necessarily linked to unemployment levels, stating there was a ‘significant problem in our country where even those who work hard are not able to put food on the table for their families’. The Archbishop said ‘I’d like to challenge people to call for justice for those living in poverty. Be generous not only with your wallet, but with your time, your words, your actions. We need to remember that poverty isolates people, reducing their ability to engage in social and community life.’ Pray: for a positive response this Sunday especially during the current economically difficult times. (1Sa.2:8) More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2093/archbishop-calls-for-action-on-uk-poverty
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu has today called for urgent and lasting reform of the way care is funded for older people in England, stating that the system is no longer fit for purpose. Writing an open letter to the Prime Minister and his fellow Taxpayers in England, the Archbishop has asked the Government to consider a new social covenant to protect the most vulnerable in society. He said, ‘A truly caring and Christian society is one that sees older people, not as a growing and irrelevant burden, but as a rich treasure store of energy, experience and wisdom to be placed at the service of the young and of its future. Ensuring the conditions under which older people can make the special contribution of which they are capable is key to releasing this treasure. Providing a sustainable long term funding arrangement for the care of older people is a vital part of ensuring those conditions.
Pray: for a society that respects and honours its senior citizens and values their role in partnership with its younger members. (Job.12:12)
In his pastoral letter to the Catholic Church, the Archbishop said repentance, self-denial, almsgiving and prayer were ‘part of the recipe’ for Lent. He said the season helped believers prepare to celebrate afresh ‘the great events of our faith’ – the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. He asked Christians to think about how they could get involved and ‘learn again all that separates us from Christ’. Prayer too is crucial, he said, admitting that many Christians could find it difficult to commit to a period of prayer and reflection but encouraged them to ‘try it and see’. ‘I am fully aware of the pressure on time which we all feel. It is difficult to fit more into a busy routine,’ he said. ‘Yet Lent itself helps us to address this issue. Creating moments and times of space for prayer and reflection gives us new vitality and focus with which to return to our routine obligations.’ Pray: for us all to heed this message irrespective of denomination and to use Lent as a time for prayer and reflection. (Ps.141:2)
Dr Rowan Williams named the Rev Jonathan Baker as the next Bishop of Ebbsfleet despite knowing he was an active and senior mason. The appointment, announced earlier this month, marked a significant U-turn by Dr Williams who had previously said that Freemasonry was ‘incompatible’ with Christianity and had refused to promote Masons to senior posts. Last week, as news of Fr Baker’s membership of the Masons began to circulate through the Church, it provoked growing concern and criticism from clergy and members of the General Synod. When contacted by The Sunday Telegraph last Friday, Fr Baker defended his continued membership of the Masons and insisted it was compatible with his new role as a bishop. Yet yesterday he said he had changed his mind and was leaving the Masons so that he could concentrate on being a bishop, adding: ‘I wish nothing to distract from the inauguration of that ministry.’
Pray: that the confused messages from Fr Baker would lead to his finding God’s truth and freedom from false ‘religion’. (Jer.23:16)
More:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8514169/Archbishop-allows-freemason-to-be-bishop.html
The people of Machynlleth came together to remember April at an emotional church service last Sunday. The parish priest, the Reverend Kathleen Rogers, vowed that ‘evil will never win over the good in people’ as she praised the extraordinary love and resilience the community had shown in the face of deep despair. The Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Andy John, praised the ‘extraordinary’ determination of the community. ‘You have touched the hearts of people across the world,’ he told the packed church and the hundreds gathered outside listening on loudspeakers. The congregation stood arm in arm and grasped their children's hands. Silent tears streamed down many faces. Superintendent Ian John said police remained ‘totally focused and committed to finding April’. The family and friends of the missing Welsh five-year-old April Jones have been urged to accept that their ‘sweet and innocent little girl’ is never coming home. Mr Bridger, who knew April’s family, has been charged with murder.
Pray: for April’s family and that police will find her body so that she can have a proper funeral. (Jn.10:28)
More: http://www.watoday.com.au/world/aprils-tragedy-outpouring-of-emotion-for-missing-fiveyearold-20121008-277w9.html
The National Church Leaders Forum has condemned the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich this week and pleaded for calm amid reports of a backlash against the Muslim community. Leaders in the forum, which exists to offer a black Christian voice on current affairs, condemned Rigby's murder as an "act of barbarism" and said they were standing in "prayerful solidarity" with his friends and family. "We call upon all sections of our community to remain calm and continue to work together to ensure our communities remain safe places for all our citizens, especially our children and grandchildren," they said. They concluded: "It is our hope and prayer that all faith and community leaders will increase their efforts to ensure that every local community remains united in peace and good will." Their appeal for calm came as the Faith Matters group warned that there had been an increase in anti-Muslim incidents since Rigby's murder.
Pray: for the Rigby family, the community in Woolwich and and for calm and friendship to replace fear and violence between different groups in our society. (Lev.19:18)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/appeals.for.calm.after.killing.of.drummer.lee.rigby/32654.htm
Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, has charged several of the UK’s most prestigious universities of ‘turning a blind eye and a deaf ear’ to the increasing number of speeches defaming and delegitimizing Israel being made on campuses all over Britain. He contrasted the conduct of universities with government officials of all political parties who take ‘an unequivocal and a firm stand against anti-Semitism.’ ‘Let me be blunt,’ Sacks said. ‘I believe that the inflammatory public speeches being allowed to take place on university campuses would, in any other context and directed against any other group, be prosecuted under the law forbidding incitement to racial and possibly religious hatred.’
Pray: against this trend in our education establishments by those whose values are distorted. (Pr.16:13)
More: http://www.icej.org/article/anti_semitism_on_rise_at_british_universities
Micah Challenge UK is encouraging Christians in Britain to get on board with an anti-poverty action pledge, following the example of public figures. The Archbishop of York has promised to launch a global charity for those in need, the Chief Executive of aid agency Tearfund has promised to inspire his children afresh about world poverty; Andy Flannagan, songwriter and Director of the Christian Socialist Movement, has promised to be part of changing the global economic system. These are just a few of the promises being made at the request of Micah Challenge to help end world poverty. ‘What’s Your Promise?’ is part of the Micah 2010 campaign being mobilised around the world. The promises of Christians, around the globe, will be brought together on Sunday 10th October (10.10.10) when over 100 million people worldwide will stand united in prayer and commitment to a life that remembers those in poverty. Pray: for all involved in Micah Challenge and for a huge global response to help the poor of the world. (Gal.2:10)
Peter Sissons has revealed that the BBC has no qualms about insulting Christians. Mr Sissons, whose memoirs are being serialised in the Daily Mail, slammed the BBC for its bias. He said: ‘Islam must not be offended at any price, although Christians are fair game because they do nothing about it if they are offended.’ His comments are unlikely to surprise many Christians who have become increasingly concerned about a perceived anti-Christian bias at the public broadcaster. The veteran presenter, who fronted news and current affairs programmes at the BBC, also said that staff damage their careers if they don’t follow the BBC’s mindset. In 2010 Radio 2 host Simon Mayo warned that religion was ‘increasingly driven to the margin’ on the BBC. And in 2009 Jeremy Vine, another of the Corporation’s radio presenters, said he believed it had become ‘almost socially unacceptable to say you believe in God’.
Pray: that the anti-Christian bias in the BBC be halted and the agenda of secular religion be silenced. (Ps.31:18)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/anti-christian-bias-is-ok-at-the-bbc-says-former-presenter/