C of E’s General Synod to debate ‘reconciliation’ for nation that is divided

Amid the sometimes toxic mood of the public debate around Britain leaving the EU, the archbishops have led a last-minute change to the agenda of the Church of England’s General Synod in London next month.

It means a special debate, titled The State of the Nation, has been inserted into the schedule on the request of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York John Sentamu.

The motion states: “That this Synod, knowing through the experiences of parishes across the country that social divisions feel more entrenched and intractable than for many years, and concerned at the divisions within the major political parties which are stifling the emergence of a hopeful and viable vision for the common good in our communities.”

It includes a call to see “the voices of the poor and marginalised at the heart of the nation’s concerns” and asks “the nation’s leaders, drawing on Christian hope and reconciliation, to work together for that common good at this time of division”.

There is also a call for every diocese and parish regularly to “hold in prayer” their local MPs, politicians, the Government and civil servants, so they can seek God’s “strength and wisdom for the responsibilities they bear”.

The benefits of working with refugees and asylum seekers who are qualified in medicine, teaching, law or other professions, environmental programmes, evangelism,…

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Movie Trailer: Little Boy

In theaters 2/27/15 – LITTLE BOY is the inspirational story of a 7-year old boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II so he can bring his father home. The story reveals the indescribable love a father has for his little boy and the love a son has for his father.

Deadly Shooting Near Penn State University Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Critically Injured

Deadly Shooting Near Penn State University Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Critically Injured



Three are dead and two critically injured after a gunman opened fire first in a bar and then a home near Penn State University, Thursday night.


According to ABC 6, 21-year-old Jordan Witmer shot and killed Dean Beachy, 62, and injured two others – one man and one woman – at around 10:30 pm inside a P.J. Harrigan’s Bar & Grill which is located inside of the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in State College, PA. The hotel is located about two miles away from Penn State’s main campus.


After opening fire in the hotel bar, Witmer quickly left, but seemingly he did not reach his destination. Authorities located the suspect’s car which had been in an accident. 


According to ABC 6, after crashing his car, Witmer broke into a Happy Valley home where he killed 83-year-old homeowner George McCormick before turning the gun on himself. 


McCormick’s wife, who had locked herself in the bathroom, was able to call 911, State College Authorities report.


Police are currently investigating the shooting, but at this time no clear motive or connection has been established between the shooter and his victims.


State College Police Chief John Gardner said in a statement, “We’re still trying to piece together this tragedy and try to make sense of it, but the more I think about it, there’s no sense to it.”


The two victims wounded in the hotel bar are still in…

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Almost 200 Christians are facing blasphemy charges in Pakistan

It concluded there are 187 live cases involving believers accused of insulting religion. Suspects face execution or life imprisonment if found guilty.

Human rights activists have previously warned that blasphemy accusations have been made to settle personal vendettas and persecute Christians in the country.

 

Fr James Channon from the Peace Centre in Lahore – a group which promotes inter-faith relations – told the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need: “The blasphemy law destroys the lives of those who have been accused, even if they avoid being executed.

“Any time Christians are accused of supposed blasphemy, all Christians in the region are indicted with them. This often leads to acts of violence against Christians.”

 

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have drawn international attention during recent years, in light of the lengthy legal case involving Asia Bibi.

The Christian mother-of-five sent eight years on death row after being accused of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She always denied any wrongdoing.

 

She was acquitted by the Pakistan’s Supreme Court in October last year; however,…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Reconsidering Worship Service Alternatives Beyond Sunday Morning

Podcast Episode #505

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We are starting to see more and more churches offer alternative worship service times. Today we discuss the when, where, and how of this trend.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Sunday has become less and less sacred in our culture. To many, it’s just another day of the week with no significance.
  • Duplicating your Sunday morning service on Sunday evening is often the easiest way to add another worship service option for those in the community.
  • Many of our scheduling norms in churches is a holdover from times when U.S. was an agrarian society.
  • Alternative worship gatherings allow you to train up more leaders in your church.

The nine points we discuss are:

  1. The number of Americans working on Sunday is growing
  2. Theological issues must be settled
  3. Re-purpose Sunday night
  4. Do a community survey
  5. Try at test service of six months
  6. Use alternative services as equipping stations for leaders
  7. Keep it simple
  8. “Multi” is they key word today: multi-site; multi-venue; multi-days
  9. Staff these services wisely

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast


Episode Sponsors

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Plans for new £8M Norwich church put to council

The city council will consider whether to give the green-light to plans by Soul Church – formerly known as the Norwich Family Life Church – for their site on Heartease Lane.

The growing congregation has been reliant on temporary locations since a fire – started by lightning – tore through its old premises in February 2006.

 

Pastor Jon Norman told Eastern Daily Press: “What we want to be moving into is a purpose-built building which is not just for where we are today, but where we will be in the future.

“We want to serve our congregation and our community.”

Feilden+Mawson

 

If Norwich City Council grants planning permission, it is hopes Soul Church could move into its new home by Easter 2021.

Blueprints also include facilities for children and youth groups, a cafe, a nursery and almost 250 car park spaces.

Feilden+Mawson

Updated images created by architects Feilden and Mawson give an impression of what the proposed church would look like.

Soul Church is part of the Hillsong Family group of congregations. It currently holds three services each Sunday and is outgrowing its current home on Mason Road.

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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NY abortion ruling: How to move from success to significance

Let’s begin with this shocking headline: “America’s favorite Valentine’s Day candy is unavailable this year.” Necco, the original producer of Sweethearts candy, went out of business last July. The candy’s new owner promises to have the candy back on shelves next year.

I wish this were the only bad news in the news.

New York legislators approved a bill this week protecting abortion in case the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. There was loud cheering in the New York State Senate chamber when the bill passed.

The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, allows non-physicians such as licensed midwives, physician assistants, and licensed nurse practitioners to perform abortions. It expands late-term abortions and could compel doctors to perform abortions or risk losing their license to practice.

Meanwhile, details are emerging about Zephen Xaver, the man who allegedly killed five people inside a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida, two days ago. His ex-girlfriend has told reporters that Xaver had an obsession with guns and death. “He was pretty open about the fact that he wanted everybody to die. All he talked about was killing people,” she said.

When you read stories like these, don’t you feel an urge to do something to help? Something to protect unborn children and victims of senseless crime? Something to make the world better than we found it?

“What counts in life”

Nelson Mandela: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

How do we make such a “difference”?

There is a God-given quest for significance in every human heart. But this is a hunger no food on earth can satisfy. That’s because significance is not the result of success.

In Genesis 24, an unnamed servant of Abraham found Rebekah and introduced her to Isaac. She would become the mother of Jacob, who would become…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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London congregation joins alternative Anglican denomination, questions C of E’s ‘theological trajectory’

Andy Palmer, who also announced that Christ Church Balham is joining an alternative Anglican denomination, described a “dominance of theological liberalism in the Diocese of Southwark.

The senior minister said: “We have made the decision to join the Free Church of England (FCE) denomination, which we believe will help us secure the gospel ministry here in Balham for generations to come…”

 

Similarly to the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), the FCE is an evangelical Anglican denomination. It is a supporter of GAFCON – a global movement of conservative evangelical Anglicans.

Rev Palmer continued: “Given the theological trajectory of the Church of England, many churches like us across the country are now looking elsewhere for alternative oversight from evangelical bishops.”

 

In a statement, the FCE’s Southern Diocese offered its congratulations to Christ Church Balham for “being bold in making a stand for the gospel”.

The congregation shall remain part of the regional church-planting Co-Mission network.

 

During an interview with Premier published on Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged there were deep divisions within conservative and liberal elements of the C of E over issues concerning sexuality.

Premier has contact the Diocese of Southwark for a comment.

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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London congregation quits Church of England over ‘theological trajectory’

Andy Palmer, who also announced that Christ Church Balham is joining an alternative Anglican denomination, described a “dominance of theological liberalism in the Diocese of Southwark.

The senior minister said: “We have made the decision to join the Free Church of England (FCE) denomination, which we believe will help us secure the gospel ministry here in Balham for generations to come…”

 

Similarly to the Anglican Mission in England (AME), the FCE is an evangelical Anglican denomination. It is a supporter of GAFCOM – a global movement of conservative evangelical Anglicans.

Rev Palmer continued: “Given the theological trajectory of the Church of England, many churches like us across the country are now looking elsewhere for alternative oversight from evangelical bishops.”

 

In a statement, the FCE’s Southern Diocese offered its congratulations to Christ Church Balham for “being bold in making a stand for the gospel”.

The congregation shall remain part of the regional church-planting Co-Mission network.

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During an interview with Premier published on Thursday, the…

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DCLM Daily Manna 25 January 2019 – A Veil For Protection

Topic: A Veil For Protection [DCLM Daily Manna 25 January 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Exodus 26:31-37 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework” (Exodus 26:36).

MESSAGE:

A soldier who was left behind by his retreating colleagues dashed into a little cave for safety. He soon heard voices and footsteps of enemy forces approaching. Fearing for his life, he closed his eyes in the open cave and prayed for God’s protection. Presently, a little spider soon set to work its cobwebs across the entrance of the cave. The first enemy soldier approached the entrance of the cave, broke the cobwebs and turned back. “Men, let’s go!” He said. “He can’t be here. Nobody has been here for a long time. There are cobwebs all over the entrance”. Thus, the Lord delivered the poor soldier with the aid of cobwebs.

From our text, a veil or curtain, separated the holy place from the most holy place. It was hung upon four pillars. This veil was for a partition between the holy place and the most holy place. Another covering was for the outer door of the tabernacle. This was the defence the tabernacle had. God takes care of His Church on earth. A curtain shall be, if God please to make it so, as strong a defence to his house, as gates of brass and bars of iron.

With the abundant wealth in the tabernacle, and leaving it thus exposed, one would think it might be a temptation for thieves; but God is mighty enough to defend His house.

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength” (Psalm 33:16). God led the Israelites through the wilderness; there were neither physical walls nor iron and concrete bars to protect them. God was their security. As believers, we should not put absolute trust in the security arrangement in our neighbourhoods; we should not trust in the arm of flesh but wholly lean on Jesus’ blood.

Thought For The Day: Don’t be like the ostrich which thinks security is burying its head in the sand.

Bible Reading In One Year: Exodus 30-32

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

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