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Churches are being invited to pray for their parent and toddler groups on 2 June. The National Day of Prayer for Parent and Toddler Groups is being coordinated by 1277, an alliance of churches and agencies supporting the work of church-based toddler groups. Many churches run parent and toddler groups as a way of reaching out to their local communities. “For many young children and their parents, the parent and toddler group is a highlight as they meet up with friends to play and chat, but for many it is also the only time they will come into contact with a local church community," said Alison Clark, chair of 1277 and children's evangelist with Praise and Play. The day of prayer has been timed to coincide with National Family week and is described as a fantastic opportunity for the church to serve their community and share the gospel at the same time.
Pray: for all parent and toddler groups, for the churches who run them and for the relationship between them. (Ps.90:16)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/churches.encouraged.to.pray.for.parent.and.toddler.groups/32502.htm
The Government has broken its pledge to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol. The Church of England, the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church, the Salvation Army and Quaker Action on Alcohol & Drugs are deeply disappointed that the Government has abandoned this vital policy. Jeremy Browne, the Minister for Crime Prevention, has said minimum unit pricing will remain 'under consideration'. But his claim that there is not enough 'concrete evidence' to implement it flies in the face of five years of medical research. There were over 1.2 million alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2011-12 in England, and the cost to the NHS was £3.5 billion. The total bill to the taxpayer caused by alcohol misuse, including crime and lost productivity, is currently £21 billion. James North, Policy Advisor for the Methodist Church, said: "The Government's failure to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol will cost lives. As Churches we are deeply concerned at the effect of alcohol misuse on problem drinkers, families and communities.
Pray: for all those affected by alcoholism and that any government policies adopted will have a significant impact on this problem. (Pr.20:1)
More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/news-and-events/news-releases/churches-condemn-u-turn-on-alcohol-pricing
With church investments in the national spotlight, a website launched on 17 October will provide church groups and individual believers with a host of new resources to make ethical and spiritual decisions about their use of money. Your Faith Your Finance website – www.yourfaithyourfinance.org – contains facts, links and case-studies covering issues ranging from banking and shopping to biblical parables about money. The new website provides quotes and explains a range of different views on the subjects in question and includes resources for personal reflection and group discussion. The site was launched at an Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) debate on church investment. It has been developed jointly by ECCR and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW). They aim to meet the growing demand from faith groups for help with the complex ethical and practical questions around the use of money.
Pray: that this new website will provide insight in making ethical and spiritual decisions about the use of money. (Ps.37:30)
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, the Quakers in Britain and the United Reformed Church have warned that the draft Energy Bill undermines the Government's commitment to meet the UK's carbon targets. They say the Bill will encourage the construction of more coal and gas-fired power stations, which environmentalists oppose because they produce high levels of carbon emissions. The Churches back recent recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change advising the Government to cut down on carbon-producing energy sources in order to reach the UK's carbon targets. They pointed to a recent study by World Wildlife Fund -UK, which showed that the UK could achieve at least 60 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2030. The Churches want the Bill to incorporate the Committee on Climate Change’s recommendation of a 2030 decarbonisation target.
Pray: that the Government will consider the study seriously as it reviews the Energy Bill and the UK’s carbon targets. (Is.45:8)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churches.challenge.governments.green.commitment/30781.htm
The Government must take urgent action in response to a report showing a rise in the number of problem gamblers, say a group of churches. The churches want local councils to have the power to limit the number of gambling premises in their areas. Paul Morrison, of the Methodist Church, said: ‘The government must stop putting industry profit before prevention. Localism should mean that local councils have the power to regulate what happens in their communities and ensure it is to the benefit of all.’ Gareth Wallace, of the Salvation Army, said: ‘When we campaigned against many of the original proposals to liberalise gambling, we were very concerned that problem gambling would increase. There are now nearly half a million problem gamblers in this country. This is far too many and the Government must now commit to halt its plans to raise the stakes of gaming machines and no longer permit arcades and bingo halls to increase in number.’ Pray: for the Government to have wisdom and realise the problems that gambling excesses cause. (Dt.32:29) More: http://www.eauk.org/media/churches-call-government-to-act-on-problem-gambling-rise.cfm
Three of the UK's largest Christian Churches have criticised government proposals to change the way that poverty is measured. The Methodist Church, Baptist Union of Great Britain and United Reformed Church said that the proposals continue a trend of blaming the poor for their own poverty. ‘These proposals risk further stigmatising the poor in the eyes of voters and the media,’ said Paul Morrison, Public Issues Adviser for the Methodist Church. ‘It is universally acknowledged that poverty is a relative concept. These proposals seek to undermine the idea that relative poverty matters, by focusing on other issues. At its worst it will seek to measure the 'faults' of the poor, further blaming them for poverty’ We are called to stand alongside the poorest and most vulnerable in society,’ insisted Morrison, who accused the government of avoiding the real issues. He added, ‘Recession, low pay and decreasing benefits are driving poverty and none of these are the fault of the poor’.
Pray: for better understanding and agreement of poverty and how best it can be tackled. (Pr.14:31)
Elizabeth Hall has been appointed to the post of Safeguarding Adviser for the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain. Rev Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said: ‘Our churches take the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults very seriously, and we have a responsibility to offer the highest standards in safeguarding. This role is central to that work and we are pleased to welcome Elizabeth to our team.’ The Rt Revd Anthony Priddis, Chair of the Church of England’s Central Safeguarding Liaison Group, adds: ‘Elizabeth’s range of experience in the statutory sector will be of great benefit in helping churches across both denominations keep up to date with the latest good practice in this area, and in offering professional support to our network of diocesan safeguarding advisers.’ Elizabeth said, ‘I am excited about taking on this role. I look forward to the opportunity to use my safeguarding and child protection expertise within the church communities.’
Pray: for Elizabeth as she takes up this challenging role to to care for our youngsters. (2Ti.1:14)
More: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/prsafeguardingadviser.html
Rising repair bills, and dwindling heritage grants are threatening many listed churches and chapels, across Wales. The gap between community donations and the total bill used to be narrowed by grants from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and Welsh heritage agency Cadw, as well as with support from bespoke funds such as the Listed Places of Worship scheme. But in recent years these funds have become more difficult to obtain or their terms made more restrictive. Pray: that congregations in Wales will be able to find innovative ways of keeping their places of worship. (Mt.16:18)
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is lending his support to a new church coalition working to end sexual violence against women. The Silent No More coalition consists of the Anglican Communion, Lambeth Palace, Tearfund, Christian Aid and Restored. Its formation coincides with the launch of the Silent No More report documenting the role of the church in response to sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Liberia. The report was launched Monday at Lambeth Palace, as the coalition’s first step towards addressing the silence, pain and stigma faced by survivors of sexual violence. Speaking at the launch, Dr Williams said: ‘It is of the first importance that churches and all communities of faith continue to hold before the world’s eyes the absolute priority for justice and dignity for all’. Pray: that this initiative and others in the Silent No More campaign will raise awareness and achieve lasting results. (Ps.11:5)
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has announced the start of 16 new debt counselling centres to help some of the poorest people across the UK. The counselling centres are being set up in local churches, where volunteers have been trained to restore hope and help people find a way out of their debts. The expansion reflects the scale of the need, with the total number of CAP debt counselling centres now standing at 160 across the UK. In addition to the new centres, four existing centres have taken on extra debt coaches to cope with the demand for the service. Many of the charity’s clients are in financial difficulty because of job loss, pay cuts or illness, but the charity is expecting the numbers to rise in the tough economic climate. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicted yesterday that household disposable income would fall by 2pc this year. Pray: that as the work of CAP expands, many more will be helped and set free from debt. (1Sam.22:2a) More:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/churchbased.debt.counselling.grows.as.households.feel.squeeze.on.income/27817.htm