Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

And he said, 'Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise'.

Luke 23 v 42-43

"Jesus says: Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives give I unto you."

"Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28 verse 20

"I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

C.S. Lewis

Headline News in the Anglican Church Worldwide

"Father of all we give you thanks and praise that while we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home.."

An extract from the prayers used after we have recieved Holy Communion together.

"...what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8

Download a copy of John's Gospel using this link

Living God, your Son made himself known in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in all his redeeming work; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Christian Solidarity World Wide

Watching the news these days you could not help but be aware that there is ethnic tension throughout the world. Recent tragic events in Bali only serve to underline the threat posed by armed militant groups prepared to commit murder to further their “cause”. In many predominantly Islamic countries Christian minorities live under the shadow of daily threat.

I spoke recently with a Presbyterian minister visiting Northern Ireland from the Indian state of Gudjarat. In his situation Christians find themselves caught between extremist Hindus and Muslims. As he told me of the tensions that arise when one or other of these groups have “religious parades” it all had a certain air of the familiar! We are not alone in the challenges we face as a community and as a church.

But it is true to say that many Christians are in far more difficult situations than we are. Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a charitable organisation seeking to highlight the plight of Christians suffering persecution for their faith. This last year has seen them being particularly busy.

Christians in Pakistan and India have been particularly vulnerable with attacks on churches and hospitals as well as on individuals. With the rise of Islamic militancy in Nigeria the Anglican Church there finds itself under extreme pressure.  Nigerian Bishop of Jos, Benjamin Kwashi has said; “we are praying for protection. Only God can help now.”  Burma and Vietnam are other countries were persecution of Christians goes on routinely.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide seeks to highlight the cases of abuse that through its investigations it is able to verify. The organisation is chaired by Baroness Cox and has serving on its’ Board of reference the Reverend Martin Smyth M.P. If you would like to know more of this kind of work and how you might want to get involved in it write and ask for more information to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3YF or have a look at their website at www.csw.org.uk 

Michael