Denmark: 'Muhammad cartoon plotters' held
Five men have been arrested in Denmark and Sweden for planning to attack a newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, police say. Security officials said four suspects - including three Swedish residents - were held in Denmark, and another was detained in Sweden. Danish media reported that a pistol fitted with a silencer was found on the group held in Denmark. Publication of the Muhammad cartoons in 2005 outraged Muslims worldwide. Security officials said the four men held in Denmark had been planning to enter the building housing the Jyllands-Posten - the newspaper that originally published the cartoons. They had wanted ‘to kill as many of the people present as possible’, according to Jakob Scharf, the head of Denmark's intelligence and security agency, Pet. He said an ‘imminent Mumbai-type terror attack’ had been foiled and described some of the suspects as ‘militant Islamists’.
Pray: against militant activists everywhere that continue to promote their evil ideas at every opportunity. (Ps.36:3-4)
Christian health worker faces sack
In a new case of shocking intolerance a Christian mental health worker has been effectively suspended by her employers because she expressed her opinion in a private conversation with colleagues and showed them a booklet containing stories of women and the devastating impact of abortion on their lives. Margaret Forrester has worked for Central North West London Mental Health Trust for over two years and the NHS for over 7 years. Earlier in November she was on a temporary secondment and sat next to two health workers whose job is to advise women on abortions. She felt that women seeking abortions were not given all of the alternatives available to help them make an informed decision, so she gave a small booklet to her co-workers which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. She faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for ‘distributing materials some people may find offensive’ and may well be sacked.
Pray: for all Christians in the workplace as they face challenges over their faith that God will guide them. (Ps.20:6)
Religious Christmas cards disappear from shops
Nativity scenes or references to the Bible story feature on fewer than one in 25 cards, according to a survey by The Sunday Telegraph. Christian groups said the findings were ‘disappointing’ and blamed the situation on 'political correctness'. The survey of more than 2,100 card designs in four stores – WHSmith, Marks & Spencer, Clinton Cards and Paperchase – found only 82 featured any religious reference. Most instead depicted Christmas trees, Father Christmas or non-religious messages such as 'Season's Greetings'. The baby Jesus was shown on only 13 cards – less than one per cent of the total. Other cards reflected changes in modern family relationships. One said: ‘For a special son and partner sending you love and happy wishes at Christmas time.’ Stephen Green, national director of the evangelical organisation Christian Voice, said: ‘This is another sign of the impact of political correctness and how Christ is being split from Christmas’.
Pray: that God would use His people to speak up for our faith in the marketplace. (2Cor.1:21-22)
Shopping centre says no to Christian 'flash mob'
Sheffield shopping centre believes that allowing a Christian 'flash mob' at Christmas would compromise its impartiality. Shops across the country may be bedecked with seasonal decorations and Christmas greetings, but one of Europe’s largest shopping centres says it cannot allow a Christian ‘flash mob’ because of concerns over impartiality. According to Julian Mann, aka Anglican blogger Cranmer’s Curate, the Meadhowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield has refused permission for a choir to sing ‘the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever’ in its food court. Local Christians were inspired to attempt a Christmas flash mob in the shopping centre after a choir did something similar in the Seaway Mall in Welland, Ontario, Canada. Last week a flash mob choir surprised commuters in Sheffield train station when they emerged from the crowds to sing a medley of Christmas carols on the main concourse.
Pray: that God will continue to stimulate His people to use different activities to promote our faith. (Heb.4:12)
Alone at Christmas concern
With a new study predicting that more than a 10th of Britain’s over-65-year-olds will be spending Christmas alone, Christians are being advised to ensure that older people in their communities are cared for this festive season. Research published last week by the public theology think tank Theos has revealed that people who are aged 65 years or above are most likely to be without the company of family or friends this Christmas. According to the study, 11 per cent of those in this age range will be on their own during next week’s celebration, compared to just six per cent of the population as a whole. As a consequence, the director of Theos, Paul Woolley, is now warning that people ‘should be concerned’ at these findings. At the same time, church members have been reminded of the need to befriend and look after elderly people in their communities.
Pray: that the Church will reach out to the lonely this Christmas and that God will bless them with His presence. (Pro.18:16)
Christmas trees 'make non-Christians feel excluded'
Christmas trees should be removed from public places to avoid making non-Christians feel ‘excluded’, scientists have suggested. The scientists conducted the study using 77 Christians and 57 non-believers, including Buddhists and Sikhs. The participants did not know the survey was about Christmas, and were asked to fill in questions about themselves both when a 12-inch Christmas tree was in the room and when it was not. ‘Non-celebrators’ reported fewer positive feelings and less self-assurance in the Christmas room. Christians were mostly cheered by the tree. Michael Schmitt, a social psychologist behind the research, said: ‘Simply having this 12-inch Christmas tree in the room with non-Christians made them feel less included in the university as a whole. ‘We're not suggesting 'no Christmas' or 'no Christmas displays at all,' but in contexts where we really do value respecting and including diversity in terms of religion, the safest option is not to have these kinds of displays.
Pray: that such spurious research will never undermine public displays of Christmas celebration. (1Co.15:33)
Churches offer homeless rolling night shelter
Twelve churches in Tower Hamlets have clubbed together to open a rolling night shelter for homeless people in the East London borough. The GrowTH project is offering homeless people a safe and warm place to sleep seven days a week until the end of February. Participating churches are taking it in turns to open their doors to guests from 7.30pm and provide a hot dinner in the evening and breakfast the following morning. Tony Uddin, of Tower Hamlets Community Church, is one of the project organisers. He said the churches were inspired to set up GrowTH because of the gap in service provision for local homeless people in their area. ‘Our volunteers’ generosity means that we can make a real difference this Christmas and throughout the winter,’ he said. ‘It is important for churches to be involved in the local community and our initiative is proof that we can make a real difference and implement the much publicised Big Society ethos.’
Pray: for this and similar initiatives across the country and that the Gospel message will be lived out in practice. (Pr.28:27)
Boris Johnson launches FareShare depot
On Tuesday the Mayor of London Boris Johnson opened a new food depot in London that will distribute more than 300 tonnes of surplus food a year - the equivalent of 800,000 meals - to charities, instead of clogging up landfill sites. The FareShare depot was made possible by a £362,000 grant from the London Waste and Recycling Board. It will focus on rescuing surplus and still perfectly edible food from organisations within London and redistributing it to support some of city’s most disadvantaged people, helping to reduce the amount of food being sent to landfill. The Mayor Boris Johnson said: This inspiring project will have a genuine impact helping vulnerable people.
Pray: that the Government will adopt policies that will not lead to people losing their homes. (Mt.25:37)
Christmas omitted on EU school diary
The European Commission has come under fire for producing more than three million copies of an EU diary for secondary schools which contains no reference to Christmas. More than 330,000 copies of the diaries, accompanied by 51 pages of glossy information about the EU, have been delivered to British schools as a ‘sought after’ Christmas gift to pupils from the commission. But Christians have been angered because the diary section for December 25 is blank and the bottom of the page with Christmas Day is marked only with the secular message. While the euro calendar marks Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Chinese festivities as well as Europe Day and other key EU anniversaries, there are no Christian festivals marked. If the commission does not mark Christmas as a feast in its diaries then it should be working as normal on December 25.
Pray: against the authorities that keep undermining the Christian faith. (Ps.28:18)
Christmas omitted on EU school diary
The European Commission has come under fire for producing more than three million copies of an EU diary for secondary schools which contains no reference to Christmas. More than 330,000 copies of the diaries, accompanied by 51 pages of glossy information about the EU, have been delivered to British schools as a ‘sought after’ Christmas gift to pupils from the commission. But Christians have been angered because the diary section for December 25 is blank and the bottom of the page with Christmas Day is marked only with the secular message. While the euro calendar marks Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Chinese festivities as well as Europe Day and other key EU anniversaries, there are no Christian festivals marked. If the commission does not mark Christmas as a feast in its diaries then it should be working as normal on December 25.
Pray: against the authorities that keep undermining the Christian faith. (Ps.28:18)