Christians must not shy away from dealing with death, says Methodist President The Revd Alison Tomlin, who said that a faith that shies away from the issue of death is ‘neither real nor relevant’. Speaking as the Church launches its new booklet A Gift of Remembrance, Alison said: ‘Everyone is affected by death at some point in their lives. Because it can be emotionally difficult and painful it’s easy to want to put the issue to one side, to try not to think about it or deal with it. But as Christians we believe in a God of hope, a God who is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death.’ A Gift of Remembrance is a new booklet offering reflections on death, dying, mourning and loss. It includes Bible passages, prayers and reflections from a variety of authors. The booklet is being launched this week at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Sandown Park in Surrey.

Pray: for all those affected by bereavement and that this new book will be of help to many. (Mt.5:4)

More: http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=504

Britain’s Christian community must provide a strong visible presence on the nation’s streets during tough times, Street Pastors founder Les Isaac says. Street Pastors is an organisation that was launched in 2003 in response to London’s growing gang culture and yobbish behaviour. More than 9,000 volunteers now patrol streets throughout the UK on a regular basis. ‘We have been going out on the streets ever since the start of the riots, but we think as things are calming down, it’s now even more important for us to be out and we want church leaders to stand alongside us.’ Aside from calling Christians to go out on the streets, Rev Isaac is calling on the church to pray strategically during these difficult times. ‘I believe that young people have a major part to play in finding solutions for the problems with disaffected youth, and prayer will help to kick start the solution finding process.’

Pray: that the Christian community will make a strong, positive and prayerful response to the recent riots. (Je.42:3)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.must.be.visible.in.the.community.says.street.pastors.founder/28441.htm

Christians are less likely than atheists to be promoted to top jobs, official figures show. Nearly a quarter of people with no religious belief live in homes headed by someone with a senior executive position or a job in one of the professions. However, well under a fifth of Christians work in the best-paid and most influential jobs or are married to someone who does. The breakdown of employment and religious belief, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from the 2011 census, comes as campaigners claim it is becoming harder for Christians to get to the top. Barrister Andrea Minichiello Williams, a member of the Church of England’s General Synod, said: ‘If you hold views that are contrary to the prevailing orthodoxy you are seen as potential trouble. ‘This is a real phenomenon. Christianity is now a bar to appointment or promotion.’ But others believe the Christian majority are being out-paced by more ambitious religious groups.

Pray: that Christians will be inspired to take up the roll of workers willing to bring glory to God. (Ps.90:17)

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2383925/Christians-lose-atheists-senior-jobs-religious-people-held-positions.html

A network of Christians working against government cuts have urged ministers to not ‘punish the poor for the sins of the rich’. Christianity Uncut http://christianityuncut.wordpress.com/ marched with thousands of people of many religions or none in London, Belfast and Glasgow on Sunday for ‘A Future That Works’. The group said that many churches are witnessing the effects of growing poverty, unemployment and homelessness in their own communities. They urge Christians to be at the forefront of campaigns looking for alternatives, such as a crackdown on corporate tax dodging, the cancellation of the Trident nuclear weapons system and a cap on private sector rents. Sally Rush, from Milton Keynes, joined the march in London and said: ‘As a Christian, as well as part of the wider society, I believe I have a responsibility to campaign against the causes of poverty as well as working to minimise the effects’

Pray: that as Christians we make it our responsibility to stand up for our Christian principles and ideals. (Ro.8:38a)

More: http://religiousintelligence.org/churchnewspaper/?p=28869

People seem to be able to do whatever they like against Christianity, but not Islam, says one MP. Christian MP David Simpson has raised his concern over the treatment of Christians in the United Kingdom and around the world in a debate in the House of Commons this week. The DUP politician told ministers that if they wanted to see instances of Christian persecution they need not go to other countries but ‘simply look to our own back door'. 'In the United Kingdom, the policy seems to be that people can do whatever they like against Christianity – criticise it or blaspheme the name of Christ – as long as they do not insult Islam,’ he said. ‘It is sad because this country is based on civil and religious liberty for all. When Queen Victoria was on the throne, the secret behind England’s greatness was its open scriptures and open Bible’.

Pray: that David’s comments would be listened to and parliament will discern the truth. (Dt.32:28)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.in.the.uk.are.being.persecuted.mp/28044.htm

Recent weeks have seen political party conferences debate environment, climate change, international development and the economy, the Olympics, Paralympics and the NHS. Within our Government God has placed many Christian MPs who consider it a duty and a privilege to serve the nation. It can be a lonely place. The Christian Conservative party’s website requests prayer for their MPs in positions of responsibility, naming David Burrowes, Caroline Spelman, Gary Streeter, Nicky Morgan, Jeremy Lefroy, Margaret McVeigh, Alexandra Wilkinson, Colin Bloom, Kofo Sanusi and the many other Christian MPs, that they may have clarity, vision and a Christ-like witness to the Party and all whom they meet. Prayer is also requested for The Big Society initiative saying, ‘Christians do not need a definitive answer to the question 'What does Big Society mean?' For many Christians this is easy to embrace, as those who follow Jesus have been preaching the importance of giving for centuries and many churches are experienced in promoting social justice. See:http://www.ccfwebsite.com/home.shtml

Pray: for Christians in local and national government to be led by God to be an influence in policy making and strategies. (Ps.23:3)

More: http://www.christiansinparliament.org.uk/

Worshippers do more voluntary work than non-believers. Yet the government is doing little to support them in their faith. The success of the ‘big society’ initiative will not just require the help of faith organisations; it will need actively to promote them. So concludes a fresh report, The Big Society in Context: A means to what end? published by the Christian social reform charity Jubilee Centre. Recent research by Evangelical Alliance and Christian Research showed that 81% of evangelical Christians do some kind of voluntary work at least once a month. This compares with a much lower figure of 26% for the population at large. David Cameron said: ‘The big society is about a huge culture change where people feel both free and powerful enough to help themselves and their own communities.’ Yet it seems he is still not taking the action necessary to guarantee Christians their freedoms. (See Prayer Alert 08-2011)

Pray:for the Government to recognise and embrace the potential that Christian and other faith groups can offer the nation. (1Th.5:11)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/mar/17/christians-big-society-voluntary-work