Current Actions and Events

Use natural soaps

Commercial soaps often contain the strong degreasing agent sodium laurel sulphate or sodium laureth sulphate, a potent chemical that can destroy delicate tissue in he eye and skin. Not to mention all the artificial fragrances and colours.

www.simplysoaps.com

Peace in Palestine & Israel

International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008. A joint advocacy initiative convened by the World Council of Churches

Please read the Jerusalem Prayer on Sunday, June 8 in your church

THE HEADS OF CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM INVITE CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD TO PRAY

Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks and praise for your gift to us of your only Son, Jesus -- His birth in Bethlehem, His ministry throughout the Holy Land, His death on the Cross and His Resurrection and Ascension. He came to redeem this land and the world. He came as the Prince of Peace.

We give thanks to you for every church and parish around the world that is praying with us this day for peace. Our Holy City and our land are much in need of peace.

In your unfathomable mystery and love for all, let the power of your Redemption and your Peace transcend all barriers of cultures and religions and fill the hearts of all who serve you here, of both peoples - Israeli and Palestinian - and of all religions.

Send us political leaders ready to dedicate their lives to a just peace for their peoples. Make them courageous enough to sign a treaty of peace that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear. Give us leaders who understand the holiness of your city and will open it to all its inhabitants - Palestinian and Israeli - and to the world.

In the land you made holy, free all of us from the sin of hatred and killing. Free the souls and hearts of Israelis and Palestinians from this sin. Give liberation to the people of Gaza who live under unending trials and threats.

We trust in you, Heavenly Father. We believe you are good and we believe that your goodness will prevail over the evils of war and hatred in our land.

We seek your blessing especially on the children and young people, that their fear and the anxiety of conflict may be replaced with the joy and happiness of peace. We pray too for the elderly and the handicapped, for their well-being and for the contribution they can make to the future of this land.

We pray, finally, for the refugees scattered across the world because of this conflict.
God give the politicians and governments responsible for them the wisdom and courage to find suitable and just solutions.

All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Use 'It's Time for Palestine' as an education and advocacy resource. Find the poem at
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2008/action-week-message.html

Please let us know if you use either the prayer or the poems so we can record our support. gill.hillman@urc.org.uk

may prayer

May – Christian Aid Week

Lord of all,
You gave your life for us,
broken on a tree.
We could ask for no more
that we might live.
Now you ask us to see
those who need our help:
to give our commitment,
our time, for them.
You demand our action,
by knocking on doors,
collecting envelopes,
praying for life.
If this is all you ask,
I count myself blest.
Others have given all
for injustice.

© Commitment for Life

Christian Aid

The World Development Movement

The World Development Movement (WDM) tackles the underlying causes of poverty. We lobby decision makers to change the policies that keep people poor. We research and promote positive alternatives. We work alongside people in the developing world who are standing up to injustice. We campaign on Dirty Aid, Dirty Water, Debt and Trade Justice issues

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