Israel: Prayer for Jerusalem's Mayor to attend event
Millions of Christians around the world will join together on Sunday October 3 to pray during the Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem the prayer day will be marked by a special live televised celebration to 192 nations from a position overlooking the Old City. The Rev Dr. Robert Stearns of Eagles' Wings will lead the Jerusalem event and Mayor Barkat will bring greetings from Jerusalem to the hundreds of thousands of worldwide viewers joining the telecast. See Jerusalem is under tremendous pressure on all sidesand the prayers of faithful people will make a difference, especially as Christians and Jews from the nations, together with Israeli Christians and Arab Christians, stand together in Jerusalem. Pray: for many to hear of this and stand in prayer with Arab and Israeli Christians for the Peace of Jerusalem. (Ps.122:6) More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=8234
Israel: Jerusalem rioting
Security in Jerusalem was tightened on Thursday following large riots on Tuesday that erupted when Samar Sarchan a Palestinian from east Jerusalem was killed by an Israeli security guard. Jerusalem District Police Commander gave his backing to the guard. Whilst Succot holiday events were scheduled to proceed as planned, a large police presence was in place in the Old City and surrounding area due to fears of further clashes. Also riots broke out in east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan before dawn on Thursday morning, ending a two-month period of calm. The disturbances broke out after members of a Jewish family that owns a pathway in the area sought to take down an illegally built gate placed on the path by Palestinian residents. The gate leads to a mosque in the neighbourhood. (See: http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=186026 In Silwan, three Molotov cocktails were thrown at police and four Molotov cocktails were hurled at the Beit Orot Yeshiva near the a-Tur neighborhood in Jerusalem. Pray: for police to have prudence and discretion as they calm the situations and for residents to refrain from further reprisals. (Pr.8:12-14)
Launch of major UK Campaign: ‘Not Ashamed’
A Christian advocacy group has launched a new campaign defending the right of Christians to express their faith and beliefs in public. The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey is among the supporters of the nationwide ‘Not Ashamed’ campaign launched by Christian Concern for our Nation. The campaign criticises the discrimination some Christians have experienced in school or the workplace as a result of being open about their beliefs. It points to the recent high profile cases of Gary McFarlane, a relationships adviser who was dismissed by Relate for refusing to counsel same-sex couples, and Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was taken off wards after refusing to remove her crucifix. The group is asking Christians to wear the Not Ashamed logo during Advent and on December 1, which it has declared ‘Not Ashamed Day’. Lord Carey is writing a leaflet to accompany the campaign, to be delivered to every household, in which he explains why Jesus Christ is good news for all. www.notashamed.org.uk Pray: for this campaign to be successful in empowering Christians to express themselves unashamedly. (2Pe.2:2) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/new.campaign.to.defend.place.of.christians.in.public.life/26765.htm
Archbishop says desire for God is 'undimmed'
Dr Rowan Williams insisted the country has not ‘turned its back on God’ as he personally invited its residents to return to church this week. His comments echo those of the Pope, who declared at the end of his historic visit to Britain that he detected a ‘deep thirst’ for faith despite the forces of ‘aggressive secularism’ at work in Britain. Churchgoing has declined in recent decades, although some figures suggest it is now stabilising. (See Prayer Alert 3810) This has led many organisations, particularly in the public sector, to stop traditional celebrations of Christianity and to make staff keep their beliefs private. When launching a publicity campaign ahead of the annual Back to Church Sunday, the Archbishop said: ‘The desire for God is undimmed in Britain. This country has not turned its back on God or spiritual things and the Church of England is here for the whole nation: we are a spiritual home on every street corner.’ Pray: for God to grant a renewed confidence in living and working the Christian life in the UK. (Ac.16:5)
Government’s commitment to people of faith
The Evangelical Alliance(EA) has welcomed assurances from Baroness Warsi that this Government ‘does God’ and is ‘comfortable’ with faith. The Government minister made the comments to Church of England bishops last week, adding that the church was ‘at the heart of society’ and that the Labour Government had failed to ‘create policies to unleash the positive power of faith in our society’. The EA head of public affairs, Dr Don Horrocks, said her comments were ‘welcome’ and ‘timely’. He pointed to the work of Christian charities like Redeeming our Communities in Manchester, whose volunteers have been credited with helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The General Director of the EA, Steve Clifford, said that Christians were ‘already at the heart of serving their communities’ but should grasp the opportunity to get even more involved by being a part of the Government’s Big Society initiative.(See Prayer Alert 3010) Pray: for Government to act on their words to place the Church at the ‘heart of society’. (Isa.26:2) More:http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/evangelical.alliance.welcomes.governments.commitment.to.people.of.faith/26745.htm
Pope's visit ‘challenges stereotypes’
After all the fears expressed before the Pope left Rome of a possible debacle - street protests and a poor turnout - there was a tangible sense of relief, even of euphoria, among Pope Benedict's entourage during the return flight. The Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, said the Pope had challenged the whole country ‘to sit up and think’ about the relative roles of religion and politics. The Pope had talked about ‘the development of a healthy pluralistic society’. He expressed his admiration for Britain's ‘instinct for moderation’ which found an echo in the Prime Minister's vision of a country that is ‘deeply but quietly compassionate’. The Pope's triumph was really his speech to leaders of civil society at Westminster. One politician said that his performance had been ‘sheer magic’. Pray: that the Papal visit will leave a long-term legacy in the role of the Christian faith in this country. (Phm:20)
Police need to reclaim streets
Police have ‘given up’ on the street and are failing to take problems caused by anti-social behaviour as seriously as victims do, a police chief says. About 45% (3.5m) of police calls relate to anti-social behaviour, but Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Denis O'Connor said officers did not regard it as real crime and were slow to act. He warned cutting spending on the issue would be ‘a very significant mistake’. Police chiefs say they are deeply aware of the impact of anti-social behaviour. Home Secretary Theresa May said the report was a ‘damning indictment of Labour's failure to tackle anti-social behaviour’ and the government was reviewing the tools the police needed to deal with anti-social behaviour because Asbos were ‘clearly not working’. The work of Street Pastors www.streetpastors.co.uk and Street Angels www.streetangels.org.uk/ have contributed to crime reduction in many of the areas where they serve. Pray: that the Police, together with the Church and all peace-makers, would reclaim the streets bringing law and order and God’s new life. (1Jn.5:5)
Threat to end dialogue with Anglicans
The Russian Orthodox Church has threatened to withdraw from dialogue with Anglicans because of the ‘liberalism and relativism’ of some Anglican Churches, and the development of women bishops in the Church of England. In a speech at Lambeth Palace a week ago, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk attacked the Anglican Church for what he described as ‘betraying our common witness by departing from traditional Christian values and replacing them by contemporary secular standards’. He urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to resist pressure from liberal Anglicans. His prolonged attack on liberalism in the Anglican Church stunned Dr Williams, onlookers said. He said ‘The abyss that exists today divides not so much the Orthodox from the Catholics or the Catholics from the Protestants as it does the ‘traditionalists’ from the ‘liberals’. Pray: that fundamental reconciliation between the two churches may be reached to promote the Kingdom. (Mt 5:24)
Church coalition at party conferences
Five denominations have formed a coalition to raise their shared concerns with the three main parties during conference season. The coalition is formed of senior leaders from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the Quakers, the Salvation Army and the United Reformed Church. They hope to keep the Government’s Big Society initiative, affordable housing and poverty on the agenda when they attend the conferences of the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative parties during September and October. These denominations are encouraging members of the public to attend the fringe events that they and Christian political fellowships are staging alongside each of the conferences. The Rev Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Conference said: ‘Some people believe that politicians don’t ‘do God’ and that the churches shouldn’t get involved in political life. Our delegation demonstrates that the churches value the vocation of those who work to improve our society through political life’. Pray: that our politicians will take into account our Christian values when planning change. (Ps.103:6) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.form.coalition.at.party.conferences/26752.htm
Poland: Holocaust denier tours Nazi sites
Prosecutors in Poland say a British historian who denies the Holocaust is touring World War II sites including former Nazi death camps. Author David Irving is leading a group on a visit to the camps and other World War II sites but is not releasing his exact itinerary. Poland's National Remembrance Institute said on 22 September that its prosecutors know where Irving is. The Institute's spokesman Andrzej Arseniuk said prosecutors are watching his public statements for any violations of the law that forbids the denial of the Holocaust. Violations are prosecuted and can lead to prison terms of up to three years. Irving was convicted under a similar law in Austria in 2006 and served 13 months in prison. Pray: that sceptics about the horrors of the ungodly Holocaust are saved by the Holy Spirit from the path they have taken. (Gal.4:11)