'First Supper' to launch new Centre for Living Christianity
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
Married couples 'will be in the minority by 2050’
Married couples will be in the minority in little more than a generation, a new report has claimed. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found marriage was increasingly the preserve of the middle and upper classes, while only about 50 per cent of new parents on low incomes were married this rose to nearly 80 per cent for couples earning £21,000 By 2050, families headed by married couples will be in the minority, according to the think tank set up by Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary. The CSJ criticised the Government’s ‘failure’ to do more to tackle family breakdown, saying it was ‘deeply dismayed by the lack of progress’ since the Coalition was formed in 2010. Tim Loughton, until recently Minister for Children, said ‘the Government needs to get family policy back on track and ‘rediscover’ its commitment to family stability. ‘We fail to do so at our peril, socially and economically.’
Pray: for the ‘family’ as a unit and for the Government to provide much stronger support for families. (Pr.18:22)
More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9593369/Married-couples-will-be-in-the-minority-by-2050.html
Yorkshire churches enter groundbreaking partnership
Anglican and Methodist churches in Yorkshire have entered into a groundbreaking regional partnership.
The Church of England and Methodist Church nationally have been committed to greater cooperation since signing a national covenant in 2003, but this is the first time a covenant has been signed between the two Churches at regional level in Britain. The Covenant Area Partnership, between the Leeds Methodist District and the Ripon and Leeds Anglican Diocese was inaugurated at a special celebration at Trinity Methodist Church in Harrogate last Saturday. The partnership covers 85 Anglican parishes and 65 Methodist churches who will work together in mission and ministry, and consult each other on the deployment of staff and resources throughout the region. ‘The lives of both Churches have already been greatly enriched by our determination to work, worship and grow together,’ said the Rev Julian Pursehouse, ‘It is a fantastic opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to one another and to live out our calling to serve our communities in a more dynamic and coherent way.’
Pray: for this new partnership and for those tasked with making it work. (Heb.10:25 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/yorkshire.churches.enter.groundbreaking.partnership/30752.htm
Colombia: Pastors being assassinated
20-30 Church leaders are assassinated each year in Columbia. The most recent murder was of pastor Henry Rodriguez, 44, who was shot dead as he left United Pentecostal Church in Bogota’s afternoon service on September 16th .The reasons behind the murder are unknown but it was carried out by what appeared to be professional hit men using a moped, a method commonly used in professional hits in Colombia. While the assassination of a pastor is extremely unusual in Bogota, countrywide church leaders are frequently targeted by illegal armed groups. The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches Peace said leaders are targeted because of their refusal to cooperate or support the objectives of the illegal armed groups; however, the reasons behind the murder of Pastor Rodriguez are unclear, as he had not reported receiving any threats prior to Sunday. Rodriguez, who was on course to graduate from seminary in October, is survived by his wife and three children. CSW is calling for a full investigation.
Pray: that the Colombian authorities would carry out a full investigation into this and similar assassinations and for those responsible to be brought to justice. (Ps.45:3-5)
More: http://blog.godreports.com/2012/09/pastor-shot-dead-in-colombia-where-20-30-are-assassinated-each-year/#more-2209
