1. Please remember
in prayer ...
- As, with depressing frequency, we hear about awful events occurring within our towns and streets (e.g. the murderous attacks on both young people and families), we earnestly ask God to give strength and support to the victims and to their loved ones; and we pray that we may find the means within our society of understanding and negating the underlying causes that drive certain individuals to such crimes; and that those responsible will come themselves to recognise and repent the wrongness, futility and evil of causing so much hurt and suffering - and to take the right actions accordingly. We pray also that those responsible for both the ongoing disappearances of children and the recent street-murders will be successfully identified so that the unrelenting agony of uncertainty can be removed for the families.
- We continue to pray for all of those who have lost their lives, loved ones and homes in the ongoing hostilities and war-fare in Iraq and Afghanistan and in other parts of the world. We pray that the motivating hatred and fear may be progressively diminished through the establishment of constructive, persevering and sincere dialogue centred on gaining genuine understanding and recognition of each others legitimate needs and rights. We remember all the victims of these conflicts, including all of their families, and pray that they experience, in practical and saving ways, the ministering of God's love through the supply of the compassion, support and aid which they so desperately need. We pray that all peoples may come to recognise and accept the power of God's love in their lives, and thereby to vanquish all hatred, violence, cruelty and greed, and the destructive cycle of evil which feeds upon these.
- We ask God to comfort those families known to us who are presently mourning the loss of a loved one - we pray that God's peace will surround them all, and that they will experience the love, comfort and support that they so much need at this time as they strive to come to terms with their situations. Help them to cope - help them to find the ways forward in their lives which will act to heal the present burdens of pain and despair.
- We pray for those in our church-family who are privately facing all kinds of difficulties, health concerns, personal worries, relationship and family problems, loneliness and stress, etc.: that they all may know God's presence day by day, and receive the strength, insights, support, wisdom and encouragement that they need. We pray for the healing of those who are presently ill, who are awaiting, or recovering from, operations: also, for those having to accept declining health and increasing disability. We include in our prayers their families, and we pray also for our pastoral visitors as they seek to bring your love and care to those whom they visit.
- We give heart-felt thanks for all the good things which we witness and experience as God works amongst us - for the recoveries to health, for the strength and support given to combat trials and difficulties. We also give thanks for new unions in marriage,and for new births.
- We pray and give thanks for those who work tirelessly behind the scenes of our Church to fulfill the many administrative tasks week by week and month by month which create and enable the vibrant worship and supportive fellowship environment that we so much enjoy.
- We remember all those working abroad in dangerous situations: our armed services and many workers in care agencies. We also pray for those in the caring professions, and we ask for God's wisdom and strength as they carry out their work among the population of our area.
- We pray for our young people, both at home and away on courses of further education. We give thanks for how God is changing and moulding them. We pray that they may be protected from any disruptive and damaging peer-group pressures, and that they continue to receive the support, encouragement and teaching that they need for the continued growth of their Christian lives. We give thanks for the commitment of our young people who are presently away at Universities and who are active in the Christian Unions there. We pray that their efforts will bring new people into active Christian faith. We pray for the continuing work of our Junior Church, for the members and teachers as they interact together to build the foundations of our young people's Christian faith.
- We continue to uphold in prayer our minister, Paul, and his wife, Karen and family, Tim, Matt and Beckie. We pray also for our other ministers in the Circuit:- Richard & Becca (& baby Elizabeth Rose), and Rev Ben Clowes (Catherine, Sam & Joel) who joined in August 07; for our local preachers; and for Mike Fisher (and his family), our manager at The 'Welcome', and his team of volunteers there; also for our lay-worker, Alison (and her husband, Neil); and (as from September 07) both our new children's lay-worker , Gill Morrison, and our youth and young-adult lay-worker, Ruth Parker; and finally, for our church stewards, that they all will receive God's guidance as they serve in His name. We also remember Rev Cris Acher as he works in Manchester to encourage awareness of God's love and care within the many-facetted life of the City Centre.
- We give thanks that the expansion project at The 'Welcome' has now been largely completed, and we pray that the extended facilities thus provided will enable more of the local community to come to know God, and God's love for them.
- We pray for our housebound members, and those in residential care - that they may they know God's presence with them, and experience the love and care of their families and friends so that all their needs may be met in body, mind and spirit. Also, our love, prayers and greetings go to all our friends in many parts of the country and abroad who like to maintain contact and receive our news.
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2. Christian Concerns - Competing for the next generation in Russia.
After many years of persecution of Christianity and all other religions during the Soviet era, Russia experienced a great spiritual revival in the l990's. Hundreds of thousands of Russian people turned to God. However, partly as a result of many negative articles in mass media about "sects", as well as the government's policy to support the "four traditional religions" - the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (MP ROC), Islam, Buddhism and Judaism - there is a growing spiritual alienation in Russian society and mistrust of religious organisations and workers.
For some ten years the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (MP ROC) has sought to promote its "Foundations of Russian Orthodox Culture" as a compulsory school-subject, to try to win children and young people. This divides children by religion and has led to the persecution of "sectarians" (including Protestants) even in schools. The MP ROC also wants to stop children's ministry in Protestant churches, including Sunday School.
In March this year a Methodist church in Smolensk was liquidated by a court order after a complaint by a Russian Orthodox Bishop. The church was found guilty of giving religious education without an educational licence - in a Sunday School with a membership of just four children. This may threaten all "sectarian" churches and has worrying implications for religious freedom.
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Please pray, thanking God for the whole generation of committed Christians in Russia who, as children and teenagers, have grown up to become the main missionary force of the Church - and for the next generation that the children may grow in faith and receive instruction in the word of God and become the future "salt and light" of Russia.
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Nearer to home we too need to be concerned greatly about any laws or policies that limit our religious liberty, and in these days of "political correctness" there seems to be a deliberate twisting of what "religious liberty" actually means. It is not only the liberty to believe certain things in our head, but also the liberty to ACT according to those beliefs. For example, the liberty to gather with like-minded people to form associations with those who share our faith, to tell other people about our faith and to speak out against what we believe to be wrong.
It is this liberty to act on our beliefs that is under attack today. Part of this stems from the growing chasm between Christian values and the values of those in public life. A recent case relates to the Christian Registrar who was bullied and threatened with the sack because of her religious beliefs on same-sex unions She had asked to be allowed not to perform civil partnership registrations. The judgement found that Islington Council had "disregarded and displayed no respect for Miss Ladele's genuinely held religious belief". The Council is appealing against the judgement.
At the same time, Hazel Blears (Communities Secretary) has written in a White Paper that 'christian groups should be used in providing public services as long as they promise not to share the gospel……'
Teen Challenge UK, an organisation in Wales that helps drug addicts, had £700,000 of funding withdrawn. During a debate in the House of Commons, Bob Spink, MP, said, "The organisation's grant was removed essentially because it has Christian roots and is run by Christians". The Welsh Assembly denies that this was the reason.
Recently University Christian Unions have faced hostility from university bodies and student unions, and in some cases have been denied the benefits available to other officially recognised societies, because of the CUs' religious beliefs.
It behoves us all to stand up for religious freedom by writing to our MP (in our case, to George Osborne), or supporting the Christian Institute as God leads us.
(Christian institute email:- info@christian.org.uk)
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Pray for governing authorities - as Paul says (1 Timothy 2: 1-4), "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth".
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Daphne B
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3. Miracle Working - Help Wanted
How much do you think it costs for retroviral treatment to prevent a mother passing on HIV to her unborn child? A thousand pounds? Maybe £500? Perhaps even as little as £100?
Here's something that really stopped me in my tracks. For less than the price of a daily newspaper over a 4-week period, you could pay for counselling, testing and vital medicine for a mother and baby. That's around £25 per month.
This surprising fact is behind the 'Work A Miracle' project started by TearFund, and which is well on its way to raising £2m by the end of 2007. Its aim? Simple - to reverse the spread of AIDS, by 2015! Impossible, you say? In the 40 or so of the poorest communities where TearFund works, this is indeed a big challenge, but one that they hope to achieve over the next 9 years.
How will it happen? As with all TearFund's projects, it happens in small ways, in small communities, touching the lives of individuals. Working largely through church partners, the giving of education and treatment is releasing people from the fear of AIDS and its social stigmatism - it is enabling pregnant mothers to have HIV testing, and is giving access to retroviral drugs before and after birth. It is also teaching ways to prevent infection, and how to care for those who are HIV positive.
Where is the money coming from? So far, the money raised has come in small but steady amounts - from mums and toddlers' groups, from teenagers at college, from church parties - and from a commitment from over 2,500 supporters to give regularly towards AIDS treatment and education. Over 3,000 churches in the UK and Ireland are involved.
What about you? Do you want to be part of the miracle? There is still £58 million needed by 2015! Pick up a leaflet from the back of church, talk to Liz H (via the Church Office, Knutsford 652251) or go on-line (www.tearfund.org/miracle) to see a short film and read in more detail about what's going on. The miracle is working. Please be part of it.
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4. Helping the World's Poorest Countries
3.1. Jar of Grace Appeal
Every year, churches throughout the UK support the UNICEF Jar of Grace Appeal. It continues to be a huge success, raising over £100,000 each year for the world's most disadvantaged children. In 2005, churches of all denominations generously raised money to ensure the immunisation of children against the six main killer-diseases, enabling UNICEF to immunise nearly 7,000 children against these killer-diseases, including the costs of training; also of the transporting and delivery of vaccines.
This year, they are appealing to us to help UNICEF ensure that ALL children have access to an education. Even though education is everybody's human right, a massive 121 million children are missing out on primary school.
- Just £12 will provide an entire school with pencils.
- £19 will provide 150 exercise-books to last children an entire year.
Many members and friends of Knutsford Methodist Church have faithfully taken part in the Jar of Grace Appeal for many years but, if you would like to join the Jar of Grace scheme, all you need is an empty jam-jar! At every meal-time between Harvest and the end of January you put a coin in the jar. The total collected will then be sent to UNICEF as our Church's donation to this work.
If you would like to help, please ask me (or phone me via the Church Office) for a leaflet - or take one from the Church porch. The leaflets explain a little more about the ways UNICEF is helping fulfil every child's right to an education, and gives more examples of how our money might be spent. They also include the sticky label to turn your old jam-jar into a Jar of Grace.
Brenda W
3.1. Recycling Taken to the Limits
Did you know, recycling doesn't stop at paper and bottles, but that you can recycle your specs and unwanted tools as well? As your eyesight changes and you need new glasses, don't shove 'em in a drawer (the glasses, that is!) but pass them on to Vision Aid Overseas www.vao.org.uk, who collect them (over a million pairs each year) sort them, parcel them up and send them on to people in the developing world who've never heard of Vision Express or prescription specs.
And what about those extra screwdrivers and pliers you no longer need? Why not let 'Tools for Self Reliance' refurbish them and then send them on to those in Africa who can make good use of them for their livelihood? Have a look at www.tfsr.org.uk - they are a bit particular about the type of tools required, but you just might have something they want and you don't. If you need to use me as a depository for specs and useful tools, so we can do a bulk-send, contact me via the Church Office (01565 652251) and/or bring them round to my house, and I'll find temporary space to store them.
Liz H
3.2. TearFund Good News to the Poor
Many years ago, I thought long and hard before I gave the very first tithe of my very first pay-packet away to charity. I was so impressed by the way they operated - the charity I chose was, and still is, TearFund. For those of you who don't know, TearFund is a Christian relief and development organisation working with partners in over 70 of the world's poorest countries. TearFund works at grass-roots level, usually through local churches, meeting the material and spiritual needs of those who are economically powerless. Projects are often long-term and aim to be sustainable, with provision to train local people where necessary. They are also involved with providing funds for disasters and emergencies. Many years later, I am still impressed that, with an income of over £50 million for the last two years, they still spend less than 10p in the £ on fundraising and administration - so they still get my tithe!
TearFund does not solicit funds from the general public, but relies on support from individuals, families and churches. They do produce a free magazine, Tear Times, which gives details of some of their projects, and there is also a local prayer meeting for their work on the last Friday of each month, as well as speaker-events and activities. If you are interested, a special edition of Tear Times, outlining their work, resources and finances, is available from me, or I can sign you up to receive your own Tear Times four times a year. If you are interested please contact me via the Church Office (01565 652251).
Liz H
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5. Will you be a Friend of the 'Welcome'?
The 'Welcome' has experienced considerable change and growth in the recent years. The weekday activities have helped forge many links within the community, and the 'Welcome' has gained much respect from residents as well as community organisations. Furthermore, Café Church, together with the Tuesday and Wednesday mornings' prayer & Bible-study sessions, are providing opportunities for people to worship and to grow in their faith.
The Welcome Café is open from Monday to Thursday each week from 9.00am to 3.00pm. If you would like to know more, why not pop in, meet us and perhaps enjoy a cuppa or a meal (we are at the far end of the row of shops facing the car-park beside the Falcon Bearer Pub on the main Longridge Road, Knutsford). We would be delighted to see you.
The 'Welcome' is blessed with many friends already, but there are some things you cannot have enough of! Friends are one of them!
You can become a Friend of the 'Welcome' in various ways:-
- By being a volunteer-helper, perhaps at one of the clubs.
- By providing food for the Community Café,
- or Coffee and Tea, which are free to all who drop in.
- By donating towards the annual running costs for rent, gas, electricity, insurance, telephone and salaries, etc.
- AND by praying for God's will and love to prosper there (costs you nothing, achieves a lot).
Look out for the "Friends Leaflet" - and why not pass one on to a friend, or to your employer (companies get tax relief too on financial help to charities), or to any grant-making bodies you know.
Please be a Friend to our Neighbours in Over Ward.
Ruth P
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6. Prayer-Chains
Do you feel called to pray for others? If so, read on!! This is a new pastoral prayer-ministry which is open to all who feel called to pray, including those who already attend prayer-meetings. It is also an excellent opportunity for those who are unable to attend prayer-meetings, but would like to be involved. All you need is a heart for God and for others, and access to a telephone. It would be helpful if you can also be contacted on a mobile phone, but it is not essential. The prayer-chain is not, however, meant to replace our prayer-meetings, but to work alongside them. Corporate prayer is very powerful and will always be important in the life of any church.
However, situations often do arise which warrant an immediate call to prayer, and therefore can't wait until the next prayer-meeting. Then prayer-chains are called into action. We will need one person to act as coordinator, and perhaps there is someone who will feel God calling them to do this. All prayer requests should be made known to the coordinator, who will have a list of prayer contacts. He/she will telephone the first person on the list, and if that person can't be contacted, then will try the next person on the list, and so on until someone answers the phone. No messages should be left on answer-phones, and prayer-requests should be given directly to the named person only, not passed on through another person. The first contact then prays for the situation in need, before telephoning the next person, and so on. But don't forget to carry on praying!!
If you would be interested in joining this ministry at Knutsford Methodist Church
please contact Elizabeth M or Anne M via the Church Office (Knu. 652251). You may alternatively wish to set up your own prayer-chain, elsewhere....
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7. The Persecuted Church and Release International
We have been recently accepted as church and area volunteer-representatives for Release International. This is the U.K. branch of Voice of the Martyrs, an international organisation which seeks to create awareness of present-day persecution of Christians, and provide support for them.
The movement was founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand after their escape to the West in 1966, following years of imprisonment and torture in Romania. Many know Richard's story from his book, 'Tortured for Christ'. Some are aware that persecution continues in some countries. Fewer are aware that the twentieth century produced more Christian martyrs than all previous nineteen centuries put together, and fewer still know just how widespread persecution is in these early years of the twenty-first century.
We will be seeking to create greater awareness, and showing ways to support our persecuted Christian brethren. Since becoming representatives for R.I. we have been receiving posters, information, DVD's, prayer-alerts and more. You may spot 'Release International' on notice boards around our church (Knutsford Methodist Church). John has already used their material in a Service here and we have led a Prayer and Praise. We hope to widen our field beyond Knutsford.
Release International asks primarily for prayer. Whenever persecuted Christians are asked, "How can we help you?", the first answer is always, "Pray for us". This is closely followed by, "Tell others about us" and "Send us Bibles and literature". R.I. seeks to do these things and more, such as supporting families whose breadwinner is in prison for his faith, paying bills and school fees, paying hospital bills for torture victims, supporting Bible schools and colleges (often 'illegal' and 'underground'), smuggling in Bibles and Christian teaching materials, and much more.
Are you finding this hard to believe? We receive a short DVD every month. Some of the stories are extremely horrifying. Prayer alerts appear on Christian websites. If you have access to the internet, you can find out for yourself.
How widespread is persecution of Christians? We have placed a small map on the wall in the our prayer room (Room 3 at church). Here are just a few examples:-
- LAOS
Christian prisoners sit with their feel in stocks, in stinking cells without sanitation. Beatings are frequent. All these Christians have to do to get out of this hell-hole is to sign a piece of paper denying Christ. But they refuse.
- BURMA
Christians say the military regime has denied them relief and aid since the cyclone. Some fear it may be used as a cover to step up 'ethnic cleansing' of Christian minorities.
- NORTH KOREA
North Koreans, who own a Bible, risk execution, yet are desperate for Bibles to be smuggled in. Ten students were arrested for reading the Bible and watching a Christian DVD. Their whereabouts and circumstances are unknown. For more on North Korea, please click HERE.
- CHINA
Wusiman Yiming is serving two years 're-education through labour' for 'divulging state secrets'. He is suffering from malnutrition and a serious hand injury.
- NIGERIA
Muslim leaders in northern states are calling for national blasphemy laws. Christians fear such laws would be abused to legitimise attacks on them
- PAKISTAN
Pakistan blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute religious minorities, including Christians.
We could fill this magazine and more with stories of suffering individuals and minority groups. But still the Church grows in lands of persecution, even where it has to be an 'underground' church. Please pray....
If you would like to know more, or to receive literature or other information, please contact us via the church office (Tel. 01565 652251, or email to kmc.office@zen.co.uk). We are also available if any group would like us to speak or show a DVD, and would be pleased to help by loaning DVD's to house groups, etc.
John & Lesley P
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8. Christian Concerns - Violent, non-Christian children's films
I would like to draw attention to the rather worrying number of presently-showing (2008) films purporting to be for children but which have an anti-Christian stance and, in the case of "The Dark Knight", extremely violent imagery.
The first is "The Golden Compass" - the film adaptation of Philip Pullman's first book in the trilogy "His Dark Materials". Pullman is a crusading atheist who sees his stories as the antithesis of the Narnia novels by C.S.Lewis, and says his books are about undermining Christianity. He openly admits that he is "saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry (Potter) has said. My books are about killing God".
The Association of Christian Teachers' Chief Executive, Rupert Kaye, says that the fictional deity in Pullman's novels is given biblical titles including "Almighty", "Yahweh" and "Ancient of Days", yet is "malevolent, deceitful and powerless".
The film's director, Chris Weitz, says that the religious themes in the next two films in the trilogy, "The Subtle Knife" and "the Amber Spyglass," will not be toned down - as was the case with "The Golden Compass", which he said "had to be introduced to the public carefully to safeguard box- office takings……" Unsuspecting parents may find children enjoy the film and want the books. No one doubts the quality of Pullman's writing (for which he has received the Carnegie Medal) but the books and film have drawn fire from concerned Christians who feel that he is "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief".
Secondly, we have the terror- filled suspense of "The Dark Knight", which has been heavily promoted as a "Batman" film but is very far from the original family-friendly 1989 film of that name. Surprisingly, considering the graphic violence, it has a PG rating of 13! Murder, kidnapping, bank robbery and torture……. A critic reported that the film "was extremely disturbing and should have had a higher rating". One of the main characters, The Joker, is motivated by chaos and anarchy and sets his sights on destroying all bastions of morality, public or private. As one Daily Telegraph reporter wrote recently "Why should I want to terrorise my children and give them nightmares by watching this film?"
What a difference to "Chariots of Fire"!!
Let us pray for peace and healing for children who have been traumatised and deeply upset by these films. Pray that violent pictures and videos will not threaten children's innocence and that they will be taught the difference between good and evil and choose to turn to their loving Saviour, Jesus Christ.
On a more positive note hundreds of children and teenagers enjoyed their programmes at the Keswick Convention this July. Many good seeds were sown - may they bring forth good fruit.
Would you be willing to volunteer next year? If you would like more information speak to Marion B (via the Church Office: Knutsford 652251) or look at the website - www.keswickministries.org
We are fortunate in the UK to have so many excellent Christian conferences during the Easter and summer holidays.
Give thanks for all the organisers, speakers, young leaders and musicians who give up their holidays to share the Good News.
Daphne B
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