Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has urged Christians in the UK to be more public about their faith in Jesus Christ. Writing in the Telegraph, he also highlighted the reluctance of Western governments to acknowledge the suffering endured by Christians in many parts of the world and called upon the UK Government to take action. His encouragement to Christians came in the closing paragraphs of his Christmas article: ‘Closer to home, I admit I am worried about the future of faith in the West. Many Christians I meet say there is a pressure on them to be silent about their faith. Though there can be no question of a comparison with the powerlessness and weakness of the Church in the Middle East, there is an increasing timidity on the part of churchgoers in the West – about even admitting that they have a faith in the workplace’.

Tax avoidance strategies used by some multi-national companies working in the developing world have been described as ‘morally illegal’ said Malcolm Broad, treasurer of the Baptist Union, speaking at the Baptist Assembly in Blackpool. ‘About 60% of all multi-national companies use off-shore tax havens,’ he said. ‘It creates a world imbalance between the haves and the have-nots.’ The assembly overwhelmingly agreed with a resolution calling for tax to be paid where it has been earned. Malcolm Broad agreed reducing revenue demands by moving money to a more favourable tax regime is not illegal, but he says it can have devastating effects on those countries who don't receive their full quota. He told BBC Radio Lancashire: ‘Nobody wants to pay tax, but the taxes are used to pay for the likes of hospitals and education. If tax is avoided where that need is great, then all that does is keep those countries poorer than they are today.’

Pray: for a more morally positive attitude to tax payments by all companies. (Ro.13:6)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13360191

There is no place in British law for Christian beliefs, despite this country’s long history of religious observance and the traditions of the established Church, two High Court judges said on Monday. Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson made the remarks when ruling on the case of a Christian couple who were told that they could not be foster carers because of their view that homosexuality is wrong. The judges underlined that, in the case of fostering arrangements at least, the right of homosexuals to equality ‘should take precedence’ over the right of Christians to manifest their beliefs and moral values. Eunice and Owen Johns went to court after a social worker expressed concerns when they said they could not tell a child a ‘homosexual lifestyle’ was acceptable. They asked judges to rule that their faith should not be a bar to them becoming carers, and that the law should protect their Christian values. The Johns said ‘the judges have suggested that our views might harm children’.

Pray: for the Johns and all those who have to defend their faith's beliefs in an increasingly secular society. (Lk.21:13-15)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/

The Co-operative has given so-called lads' mags six weeks to cover up their front pages with sealed ‘modesty bags’ or be taken off sale in its stores. The 4,000-outlet retailer said it was responding to concerns by its members, customers and colleagues about images of scantily-clad women on covers. Titles such as Front, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo have been given a deadline of 9 September by the Co-op. An industry body said the titles showed the ‘diverse interests of young men’. The Co-op, which is owned and run by its more than seven million members, introduced opaque screens for lads' magazines on some shelves earlier this month. Steve Murrells, retail chief executive for the Co-operative Group, said: ‘As a community-based retailer, we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores.’

Pray: for the success of this initiative and pray that other retailers will also take up the cause. (Ps.118:25)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23486027

A Dutch Church of Scotland minister has been appointed to one of Britain’s most prominent chaplaincy posts. The Rev Martin Grashoff will take over as chaplain to the oil and gas industry on 1 March 2011. His predecessor, the Rev Andrew Jolly MBE, died last year at age 54 from cancer. Rev Grashoff will be a pastor to workers on the British oil and gas rigs and installations, as well as to their families, and also will connect with the industry onshore and with churches. ‘I will have to go out and meet them where they work and live. For me it is a strong and positive challenge to find God out in the world and be led from there. It may seem odd to enjoy going to a 'parish' with over 32,000 people, stretching from the Shetlands to the South of England, but I really do enjoy the prospect. I'll be kind of a Flying Dutchman,’ he said.

Pray: that as he pastors workers and their families in such a diverse environment God’s kingdom will be revealed. (Mt.22:37-39).

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/13992

The newly formed Centre for Living Christianity, dubbed CLiC for short, was launched in Edinburgh last weekend with an informal social event reflecting what it calls its ‘relaxed but thoughtful’ approach to exploring religious faith in a sceptical age. Those attending heard about the vision and plans for the new initiative, which describes itself as ‘exploring faith at the crossroads.’ The event's name is a counterpoint to the famous 'Last Supper' that Jesus Christ shared with his friends and followers the night before he faced trial and death, and the meal Christians share to participate in his risen life. ‘CLiC is for those interested in exploring how to live out Christianity in the modern world, in a way which is thoughtful and faithful,’ says the Rev Donald Reid. ‘It is about how to understand Christianity from the margins of a society which is both diversely spiritual and secular.’

Pray: for the CLiC initiative and that it may encourage and support many as they seek to live a Christian life. (Lk.9:23)

More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17109

The Archbishop of York reflected on Sting's lyrics 'They Dance Alone' on BBC Radio 2 last week. He explained that during the Pinochet rule Chilean women pinned, on their dresses or blouses, photographs of disappeared loved ones. Sting’s lyrics and music of the song, ‘They Dance Alone’, captured their pain vividly. He went on to talk about how he spoke to Kate, the mother of Madeleine McCann, recently at a vigil in York Minster for another ‘disappeared’ daughter, Claudia Lawrence. She told me that it was only after Madeleine was taken from them that she and her husband Gerry learned how many children go missing each year from all around the world. The scale of the problem is so huge; it’s surprising we don’t hear more about it. The Bishop said, ‘For four years I have prayed regularly for Madeleine McCann, and for all other missing children that they may be safe, free from fear and anxiety.’

Pray: on this fourth anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction, for her and all missing children in our global village. (Je.23:4)

More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2020/pause-for-thought-on-dancing-with-the-missing

Bertolt Meyer, the academic known as "the bionic man", said yesterday that scientists and engineers should not be allowed to launch some technological advances on the open market without a prior ethical debate. Meyer, a key speaker at the first FutureFest event last weekend, has had a cutting-edge £40,000 artificial lower arm and hand since 2009. He queried whether the public ought to let the laws of supply and demand decide how the human race moves towards a probable "bionic" future; a time where the bodies of those with access and money can be enhanced and augmented. "We are reaching the point where people with artificial limbs may have an advantage. It they start to appeal to everyone, a mass market will develop," he said. Engineers on the frontline of research are not always prepared to think through the impact of their work and the ethical dilemmas involved, he argued.

Pray: for a considered international debate about the ethics and availability of developments in human bionics. (1Cor.6:19-20)

More: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/29/bionic-man-ethical-debate-futurefest

Ann Widdecombe has called on Christians to put pressure on the UK government to take action against persecution of Christians overseas – and to stop it developing here. Speaking at an event held last week in south London, the former government minister and media personality warned that today's ‘small scale persecution’ of UK Christians could dramatically worsen unless people began to ‘fight back’. Her message calling on Christians to ‘be extremely vigilant’ was delivered at an event organised by Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians. The former MP, who was speaking on the 20th anniversary of her conversion to Catholicism, said: ‘It's very easy to look at extreme cases abroad, to say thank God we don't have that here and then to overlook what we do have here, which is an increasing intolerance and marginalisation towards, and of, Christians.’

Pray: that Christians everywhere will be vigilant and seek God’s wisdom. (Pr.4:6)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/be.vigilant.ann.widdecombe.tells.uk.christians/32240.htm