‘Together for Uyghurs – a Holocaust memorial event’

“I speak out for the Uyghur people because God loves everyone indiscriminately so there is no one we shouldn’t care for, especially those suffering such terrible injustice and discrimination.” The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mountstephen.
Thank you for speaking out for justice for the Uyghur people.I want to invite you to ‘Together for Uyghurs – a Holocaust memorial event’ on Monday 25 January at 6:30pm (UK time).
Four prominent leaders of different beliefs, including former Archbishop Lord Rowan Williams, will share ‘How my beliefs inspire me to action for the Uyghur people’. This online event is jointly hosted by CSW and Rene Cassin (a Jewish human rights organisation).
Aim of this event
We want to encourage and resource people of all faiths and none to advocate on behalf of the Uyghurs, and to inspire action and prayer within their respective communities.Between one and three million Uyghurs and other members of predominantly Muslim ethnic groups are currently being detained in so-called ‘re-education’ camps in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
In the face of oppression on a mass scale by a superpower, we can only hope to prevail by coming together. 
The event will coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day, a time which reminds us we must continue to resist genocides today.
Sign up now
You can sign up for this event now on Eventbrite.Please share this invitation with your friends – this is a chance to draw in those who may not share your faith, but who want to act for the Uyghur people.Thanks again for joining us in this important and urgent cause.The CSW Events team  CSW is a human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion or belief, and as Christians we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief. CSW, PO BOX 99, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3YF. Registered Charity No. 281836View this email in your browserUnsubscribe
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SharePlan 2021

Dear St Botolph’s Friends
Organising things like our annual SharePlan project is difficult in the present circumstances, but we really mustn’t let SharePlan 2021 suffer because of Covid 19.  So I ask you to open and respond to the attached leaflet about this year’s scheme. 

SharePlan is an annual scheme whereby individuals can, if they so wish, contribute towards a financial gift to one of our Link Workers.  The intention is that this is a love-gift to the Link Worker personally (rather than their sponsoring organisation), for them to use  as they see fit, to help with either their domestic lives or their ministry.  It is a tangible way of saying to them, “We are right behind you in your work.”

 SharePlan 2020, which has just concluded, has enabled us to send over £2000 to our Link Worker in South Africa, Nerena Neathercoat.  An amazing total!  Very many thanks to all those of you who participated.

SharePlan works by individuals committing themselves to “purchasing” one or more “shares”, each share being £1 per month for one year.  After that, the commitment ceases unless the individual wishes to renew it for the following year.  Each year the gift is sent to one or other of our Link Workers, in rotation.

SharePlan contributions in 2021 are designated for our Link Workers in Israel, Pedro and Annu Santos. 

I warmly recommend this to your consideration. 

Every blessing Derek Wade

shareplan-santos-2021-pdfDownload

From Northants Police

Please Read and pass on

Trading standards have advised us of a scam in relation to the Covid 19 vaccine.

People are being sent a text message claiming to be from the NHS which informs the recipient “we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine”. The message ends with a link to a website mocked up to look like a legitimate NHS platform. The website requests personal details, including name, address and banking details. The NHS will never ask for bank details, passwords or pin numbers and these requests should serve as instant red flags.

The vaccine brings us hope for an end to the pandemic and lockdowns, but there are some out there that only want to create even further misery by seeking to defraud.

China Prayer Diary December & January

Prayer Points
December 2020
January 2021

1 As Covid-19 has stabilized in China, many activities have resumed. However, the official churches nationwide are still closed, waiting for further notice from the government before they can reopen. Pray that church services can resume as soon as possible.

2 As official churches have not yet resumed, house gatherings are becoming more common. These gatherings are facing attacks from officials because they are illegal. Pray that Christians will be able to meet regularly and safely.

3 Pray for L, a church worker. When he tried to return to his home town, hoping to resume service at the church, he found it was closed down for inspection. He and his family were told to leave. They were forced to move to a nearby small town, but faced expulsion there too. May God prepare a suitable place to live for this family of four.

4 Pray for W who serves at a house church. His church has been part of the official church system, and was able to enjoy much autonomy during the past few years. However, it is now difficult to function under the current administrative order of “no private gatherings”. The church leader is in a dilemma, as the church members are hoping that gatherings will resume as soon as possible. Pray that God will give W wisdom.

5 In recent years, it has been difficult for churches to run youth ministries because there is a ban on religious activities for those under 18. But some church workers have been able to reach out through counseling or tutoring. Pray for church workers who focus on youth ministries.

6 Although it is illegal to run children’s Sunday school programs, there are still ongoing informal children ministries in different areas. Those involved in children’s ministries are under a lot of pressure. For example, any government employee found to be involved in these activities will be dismissed. Pray for these faithful brothers and sisters.

To see the full content, please click on the link below

gcm_12_2020_english_on_screenDownload

Saturday Hour of Prayer

Our next Saturday morning hour of prayer will be held by Zoom this week, 9th January 2021 at 9:00am.

Please join us to pray to our loving Father for the needs of our world, church, community and each other in these difficult times. We have a God who loves to hear us when we pray in faith!

Zoom joining details are available by emailing Victoria at vicsjh@outlook.com

News from Beit Immanuel in Tel Aviv

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
In the same way we would like to use the words of Samuel. We have entered another decade and so many things happened in just one year but indeed God has been with us.
The knowledge of GOD being with us has been carrying us through highs and lows over the past years and especially 2020. How wonderful and comforting is to know that He is here, no matter how we feel or what is happening around us.

To read the full content, please click on the link below

santos-2020_finalDownload

We’ll meet again…don’t know when…

I hope you have all enjoyed Christmas and New Year in some way.

We were all so grateful that this Christmas we were able to have some ‘in -person’ services at St Botolph’s and St Edmund’s alongside our online services and even able to sing carols outdoors!

With the good news of the vaccine rollout underway we eagerly look forward to the day when our services will be able to return to a more familiar format.

We are assured by Boris that the newly authorised Oxford vaccine has brought that day somewhat closer. Let’s hope and pray that is true.

For now, however, we are urged to be patient. Tier 4 restrictions and news of increased transmissibility are not what we had hoped for as we enter 2021.

Although the tier 4 rules do allow us to continue to worship, the news that tier 4 is unlikely to be sufficient to contain the new variant of COVID-19 lead me to consider it not to be advisable, at least for now.

So there won’t be any services ‘in person’ either at St.Botolph’s or St.Edmund’s until further notice. Private prayer on Wednesday’s will also be suspended.

This is difficult news but we must prioritise our responsibility to one another and to our community.

“Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should”

In the meantime, online services continue as usual and we will be reviewing the situation regularly. Let us all pray for a swift end to this pandemic.

We will meet again, we just don’t know when!

May God bless us all in 2021,

Your friend and Rector,

Mark

 

 

 

 


 

Carols by Candlelight … tonight?

The full version recording of the Carol service is now on YouTube. It comes over really well from the church building.

As there isn’t an evening service tonight, how about cosying up and watching it later?

Why not send the link to friends and family who may not have enjoyed a Carol service. For many, today will be a somewhat bleurr day.

God bless everyone today.

Click here to go to YouTube link