British church attendance turns a corner
For years now, the words ‘church attendance’ have rarely been read apart from the rather gloomy utterance of ‘in decline’. But it seems there may be more to smile about than any of us realised as the latest figures out from Christian Research show that attendance in the Catholic Church and Church of England have stabilised, while the Baptist Union has seen sizable growth. The statistical evidence coming from Christian Research in recent years has all pointed to long-term decline. The last five years have seen a halt in the decline, however, with average weekly attendance in Catholic churches remaining steady at around 900,000 since 2004, welcome news just days before the Pope's visit to Britain. The same trend can be seen in the Church of England, where average weekly attendance has hovered at around 1.2 million year on year since 2001, whereas the Baptists have also seen an increase. Praise: the Lord for this trend and growth in His Church in our nation. (Ps.135:1-2) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/british.church.attendance.turns.a.corner/26699.htm
Fantastic month in UK
This month we are delighted to report that three new Houses of Prayer are being launched. We welcome Glasgow House of Prayer, Sheffield House of Prayer and European House of Prayer. International House of Prayer Kansas is sending a team in November 2010 to the UK for three meetings in Newcastle on Tyne, Manchester and London (see the website). Houses of Prayer are a phenomenon. Prior to any outpouring of revival God has always called his people to pray, to intercede for a hurting world. Behind each House of Prayer there is a unique story of a God who loves His created world and is preparing to claim it for Himself. He has called individuals and groups to build for Him Houses of Prayer. Praise: Praise be to God for the prayerful initiatives shown by these Houses of Prayer. (2Sa. 22:47)
Fantastic month in UK
This month we are delighted to report that three new Houses of Prayer are being launched. We welcome Glasgow House of Prayer, Sheffield House of Prayer and European House of Prayer. International House of Prayer Kansas is sending a team in November 2010 to the UK for three meetings in Newcastle on Tyne, Manchester and London (see the website). Houses of Prayer are a phenomenon. Prior to any outpouring of revival God has always called his people to pray, to intercede for a hurting world. Behind each House of Prayer there is a unique story of a God who loves His created world and is preparing to claim it for Himself. He has called individuals and groups to build for Him Houses of Prayer. Praise: Praise be to God for the prayerful initiatives shown by these Houses of Prayer. (2Sa. 22:47)
More on the Pope’s visit
During his weekly general audience at the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI declared: ‘I can't wait to undertake my trip to the United Kingdom’. He said he was aware that preparation for the controversial visit had required ‘a vast amount of work by Catholics, the British Government and local authorities in Scotland, Birmingham and London. The Pope said it would be ‘a particular joy’ to beatify the Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman. ‘This truly great Englishman lived an exemplary clerical life and through his many writings made a fundamental contribution to the Church and society,’ Pope Benedict said. The Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on Sunday Sept. 19, bringing the 19th century clergyman a step closer to sainthood. The Pope begins his visit in Edinburgh where he will be received by the Queen before celebrating mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. Pray: that the Pope’s visit will raise the spiritual awareness of the UK population. (2Sa.22:26)
Call for overhaul of Gift Aid system
The public policy think tank ResPublica has called for a ‘radical’ overhaul of the Gift Aid system to bring it up to speed with the digital age. It said the system was ‘antiquated’ and ‘bureaucratic’ and that it was ‘an anomaly in this day and age’ that charities are still unable to claim Gift Aid online. A new report warned that charities were losing out on as much as £750 million each year because of the current paper-based system. It claims that the current system places unnecessary burdens on HMRC and individual charities and is so inefficient that the cost to the taxpayer of processing each claim amounts to around £5. The think tank said that the high administrative costs had created a ‘perverse disincentive’ for the Treasury to encourage more people to use Gift Aid on their donations. It wants the current system to be digitised to make it easier for charities to claim Gift Aid. Pray: for more efficient systems to ensure a greater part of donations being effectively used. (2Cor.8:20-21)
Archbishop of York on sex trafficking
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has spoken out on the issue of sex trafficking, criticising the Government for opting out of an EU directive on the issue. Speaking in the Yorkshire Post he said: ‘According to the International Labour Organisation there are at least 2.45 million people in forced labour globally as a result of people trafficking. A large proportion (43%) is trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, and an overwhelming majority of those sold into this sex trade (98%) are women or girls. Sex trafficking is nothing more than modern day slavery. This is women being exploited, degraded and subjected to horrific risks solely for the gratification and economic greed of others. I am therefore stunned to learn that the Government are ‘opting out’ of an EU directive designed to tackle sex trafficking. We need to join with our European brothers and sisters and put an end to this evil trade.’ Pray: for the Government to take a more pro-active role with Europe to stamp out this vile trade. (Isa.1:4)
Broadcasting a Back to Church welcome
The Church of England is advertising Back to Church Sunday 2010, September 26, on the radio stations Classic FM and Heart FM, to deliver a message of welcome into the homes of 1.3 million people. The adverts will support 400,000 personal invitations that members of over 4,000 churches will send to their friends, when the friend-inviting-a-friend initiative enters its seventh successive year of allowing people to rediscover and explore churchgoing with a very warm welcome. The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge, whose diocese is one of those investing in the advertising, said: ‘We’ve chosen these two stations as they get to places we can’t and talk to some of those we’ve lost touch with via the unique relationship people have with radio. Some three million people said they would go back to church if invited - and the adverts are helping us give the people we’re missing that warm invitation.’ Pray: for those who receive or hear this invitation that they will be greatly encouraged to return to church. (Isa.44:22)
God no longer male, Scottish Episcopal Church rules
A new form of worship, removing words such as ‘Lord, he, his, him’ and ‘mankind’ from services, has been written by the church in an attempt to acknowledge that God is ‘beyond human gender’. Episcopalian bishops have approved the introduction of more ‘inclusive’ language, which deliberately removes references suggesting that God is of male gender. The controversial changes were discussed at the Church's General Synod recently. The minutes of the Synod reveal that female priests had asked why God was still referred to as a man. ‘It is political correctness,’ said Rev Stuart Hall of the Scottish Prayer Book Society. ‘It is quite unnecessary. The word man in English - especially among scientists - is inclusive of both sexes. Those who try to minimise references to God as the Father and Christ as his Son have great difficulties, because the New Testament is shot through with these references.’ Pray: that the import of God’s Word is not minimised by shallow linguistic arguments. (Jn.1:1)
Jealousies ‘ruining’ Welsh nonconformism
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales made a desperate plea on 7 September to nonconformist Christians in Wales. Addressing the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales in Lampeter, Rev Gwenda Richards said that selfishness has resulted in jealousy and strife among Welsh Christians and churches. ‘The great tragedy of Nonconformism in Wales is the unhealthy competitive approach that has thrived between denominations, between churches and even between members. Since the beginning of last century we’ve lived off competition – and I daresay that jealousy and stubbornness arising out of competition will be the death of us. Nonconformists need to find their unity in God.’ The Presbyterian Church of Wales has around 30,000 members in more than 700 churches. Its General Assembly is currently meeting at Trinity Saint David University, Lampeter. Pray: that a united vision may be granted to the Church in Wales. (Ge.11:9)
Sex shop opposed by locals
Hundreds of people turned out at a public meeting against plans for a sex shop near a small English village. Sex shop company Cocktails Limited wants to open a store close to Sawtry, which has a population of just 6,000. Local MP Shailesh Vara gave his support to locals who say a sex shop would ‘cast a shadow’ over Sawtry. Ward Councillor Darren Tysoe, who chaired the public meeting, said a ‘unanimous and strong message’ had been delivered that ‘we don’t want a sex shop in Sawtry’. The sex shop is planned for a former Little Chef building just off the A1. Keith Walters, a former councillor, said: ‘Sawtry is a quiet, rural, family-friendly village. ‘It’s not big enough to have a bank or building society and can’t have cable TV. But apparently, someone can impose a branch of the largest sex shops in Europe against our will.’ Pray: for the District Council to heed and respond positively to the views of the local people of Sawtry. (Ep.5:3) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/sex-shop-close-to-village-opposed-by-locals/