Anglicans and Methodists tackle dividing issues
The Anglican Communion and the Methodist Church say they must address the areas that continue to divide. Representatives of the two churches were in Cape Town, South Africa, this week for the Third Annual Meeting of the Anglican-Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission. The Commission was set up in 2007 to advance the full visible communion of Anglicans and Methodists at every level. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said there was a ‘much clearer awareness of the need for the Commission to identify and begin to tackle some of the issues that are at the heart of our present denominational divisions’. The Commission went on to acknowledge the bilateral conversations taking place between the two communions particularly in the UK, Ireland, US and New Zealand. Pray: for the unity of God’s church in all its diversity. (Jn.17:23)
Jesus-themed Easter eggs
Launched by the Church of England, The Real Easter Egg, a milk chocolate egg to celebrate the real meaning of Easter, is said to be the first and only Fairtrade egg to mention Jesus on the box. Telling consumers that Easter is not all about cute bunnies, fluffy chicks, and eating too much chocolate. The packaging reveals the true message that Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday, then rose again three days later on Easter Sunday. Many believe that chocolate eggs represent the boulder that sealed Jesus’ tomb and with eggs being widely thought of as a symbol of hope and new life, the custom grew where people exchanged gifts of chocolate eggs at Easter. Each sale made will benefit two charities, Baby Lifeline and Traidcraft Exchange, with proceeds going to purchase everything from medical equipment for new mothers in the UK to chickens for small-scale farmers in Africa. Pray: that this initiative will prove popular and will be a successful outreach opportunity. (Ac.5:20) More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/jesus-themed-easter-eggs-fill-supermarket-shelves-in-uk-49062/
Coalition must not lose 'moral imperative'
The Coalition Government must not lose sight of its ‘moral imperative’ for caring for society’s most vulnerable and those in need of assistance, the Archbishop of Westminster will urge in his annual Mass for the Sick address. The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols will say that Christian generosity towards care of the elderly and the vulnerable ‘stands in contrast to some apparent prevailing attitudes in our society’. Archbishop Nichols, will urge the Government to provide extra support for those who care for elderly relatives amid claims they are being unfairly targeted by public sector cuts. He will say that the general public are ‘deeply anxious’ about forthcoming cuts in public expenditure that are ‘seeming to fall, too easily and too quickly, on services due to the vulnerable and elderly’. In his homily to be delivered at Westminster Cathedral later on Saturday, Archbishop Nichols will instead urge that ‘special attention’ should be ‘given to the sick and vulnerable’. Pray: for the Government to ensure that such vulnerable members of the community are properly cared for. (Ps.72:13) More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8334397/Archbishop-of-Westminster-Coalition-must-not-to-lose-moral-imperative-over-elder-care.html
Don’t mangle definition of marriage
A senior Conservative MP has slammed the coalition Government’s proposal ‘to do away with traditional marriage’. On Thursday the Equalities Office revealed that it will ‘formally look’ at redefining marriage so that homosexual couples can get the same certificate as married people. The Government will also consult on plans to allow civil partnerships to be registered in churches for the first time. But Edward Leigh MP has questioned why the Government is trying to ‘mangle’ marriage, warning that it could have devastating consequences for those who adhere to the traditional definition. Mr Leigh, a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, described the move as ‘mangling the language of marriage so that, for the sake of the tiny number of gay people who prefer marriage to civil partnership, everyone else in society must have the definition of their own marriage altered forever. Pray: that the Government will not abandon widely held views of marriage to favour a small minority. (Ro.7:22) More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/dont-mangle-definition-of-marriage-warns-senior
