Category: Prayer & Discipleship

28 Oct 20

It is with great sadness that we record that Rev Robbie  Bowen, Superintendent Minister of the Falmouth & Gwennap Methodist Circuit and Chair of Falmouth & Penryn Churches Together 2018-20, died peacefully after a long illness on Sunday 25 October, surrounded by his family. Our love and prayers go to Ruth, Hannah, Dan and Marilyn, and the rest of their family.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

The Methodist Ministry Team have recorded a special service  giving thanks for Robbie’s life, available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/IJrTN0YdKyY
Further details of Robbie’s funeral will follow in due course.
Rev Andrew Mumford, Falmouth & Gwennap Methodist Circuit

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Good News this week:

• A major new trial; manure to be made into fuel. Arla a large dairy products company in the UK, is changing manure from its farms into clean usable fuel. This makes Arla the first UK business to use waste from its own farms to generate power for its fleet.
• Tanzania is voting in National elections today (28/10/20). The incumbent President has declared the pandemic over in Tanzania – with only 509 cases recorded. At the onset of Covid-19, the President called for three days of national prayer.
• Gifts designed to share the good news of the Gospel  and support Fairtrade.

Tesco has produced ‘The Real Advent Calendar’. These can be bought at their larger stores or online at: www.realadvent.co.uk or by calling: 01948831043.

For Prayer and reflection

CAFOD: Cancelling Developing Countries debt. CAFOD is urging campaigners to put pressure on G20 governments to compel private creditors to cancel debts that developing countries owe them. Almost half of foreign debt of low and lower -middle income countries is owed to private creditors, which include corporations like HSBC and Goldman Sachs. Dario Kenner, CAFOD’s sustainable Economic Development Analyst said: “Private creditors are profiteering off the backs of the world’s poorest people. Any debt relief that developing countries might receive from donor governments is only snatched away again by private creditors who continue to demand repayments”

United States of America. Prayer for the United States presidential election, November 3^rd 2020

Covid-19 Tier 3 restrictions. Prayer for all those affected by the most severe restrictions of Covid-19

Emergency Funding for Falmouth. Falmouth is to get emergency funding from government grants to Cornwall County Council for those who are homeless. However, those on our streets are being provided with ‘pods’ only, as the night shelters are still not running. With winter approaching, ‘pods’ are little protection in severe weather conditions

Princess Pavilion. Prayer needed regarding the future of one of Falmouth’s cultural centres. The Princess Pavilion and its restaurant has been closed throughout lockdown and its future is in jeopardy.

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21 Oct 20

a prayer for Anti-Slavery Day from Truro Diocese. To find out more about modern slavery and what you can do to help, check out our new Toolkit:

Good News this week

• How to find joy (even in 2020) source
• Ikea embraced circular economics with the launch of its ‘buy back’ scheme source
• Mass extinction could be prevented by rewilding, a report found source
• UK supermarkets ditch Christmas glitter source

Matters of Primary Concern this week for reflection and prayer

• Effects of coronavirus: Pray that we might bring peace and joy to those who are depressed, fearful, worried and suffering  due to the effects of Covid19 by praying, listening, keeping in touch, and thoughtful acts of kindness, especially for those living on their own
• Cancel the Debt campaign: pray that the government will  work with other governments to Cancel the Debt of poor countries at this time. A large proportion, even 50% of their GNP is taken up in debt repayments, money that is needed to bring good infrastructures, health care and food security for their peoples.
• Domestic abuse: Strained relationships, exacerbated by the Corona virus and falling incomes  have led to a rise in domestic abuse cases, so much so that many of the women who have fled their homes found refuges were too full to take them in.
• Immigrants and asylum seekers: pray for all those who have no security in life at present
• Persecution: this week we pray for persecuted Christians in Pakistan, where religious intolerance is widespread, religious minorities are being targeted with hate speech and blasphemy, and children face discrimination at school. Hindu and Christian girls are being abducted, forcibly converted and married.

14 Oct 20

Good News this week

• Cornwall campaign group The Final Straw celebrated a victory this week, after a ban on single use plastic stirrers, straws and cotton buds. source – read more
• Fourlanesend Community  Primary School in Torpoint have persuaded the charity Children in Need to stop using plastic noses for Red Nose Day source – read more
• Northern England is to lead a transport revolution as a global centre for developing hydrogen powered trains. The first hydrogen transport hub is to open in the Tees Valley, accelerating Britain’s ambition for low carbon commuting source – read more

Matters of Primary Concern this week for reflection and prayer

• The Covid19 pandemic. So many individuals, communities and countries have been affected in so may ways.
• Our local foodbanks. Centres have now opened in Constantine and Stithians. We pray for those who suffer the indignity of not being able to feed themselves or their families. May they continued to be welcomed, listened to, supported and fed by our local Foodbank. We pray for the dedicated staff and  volunteers. May we be generous in donating items of food when we visit the local supermarkets. Most now  collect food for the foodbanks.
• A Report from the World Bank this week on Global Extreme Poverty highlights a marked increase in global Extreme Poverty rates this year, due to the major challenges  faced by the poorest people in Africa and Asia due to  Covid-19.
• Climate change and natural  disasters  
• The escalation of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. May we pray for successful peace talks and for all those on both sides caught up in this major conflict.

Any comments or items for inclusion may be sent to Mary Bradley  mary@corisande.plus.com

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07 Oct 20

A prayer for Homeless Sunday – 11 October

Heavenly Father – Thank you for who you are and for giving us hope. Also, we thank you for everyone who is here commemorating Homeless Sunday, but help us not to forget that people are homeless every day across our nation.

We pray for those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways or bus stations.

For those who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.

For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.

For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.

For those who have no place to keep possessions.

For those who are afraid and feel hopeless.

For all people affected by homelessness, we pray that you will help us to provide shelter, security, comfort and hope.

Jesus, help us to see your face in the eyes of every homeless person we meet so that we may be empowered through word and deed, and through all the means we have, to bring justice and peace in their time of need. Stir our hearts to move more deeply in our walk with you, so that we can be active to share your love with our neighbours and the community.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

(from Housing Justice)

30 Sep 20

The FPCT Justice and Peace Action Group reflects, prays and takes appropriate action on matters pertaining to issues of Justice and Peace on behalf of the FPCT Forum.  We also have for the last few years met monthly to pray for our Christian Brothers and Sisters persecuted in so many countries of the world.

We would like to invite you to share and support the work of the group and so will be having a brief slot in the CTC Weekly News each week.

We also like to share the good news , especially now when most of what is broadcast is depressing, violent or unsettling.

• This week we thank God for the Good News that the churches’ voice is now being heard in secular organisations across Cornwall and many have ecumenical representatives who are appreciated, welcomed and listened to.
• We ask you to pray especially for Christians in China whose churches have been demolished or repurposed and symbols of faith removed.
• We pray for a speedy appointment of a new Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, following the resignation of the previous envoy, Rehman Chishti MP.

Any comments or items for inclusion may be sent to Mary Bradley  mary@corisande.plus.com

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02 Dec 20

Good News

• Sail boats are being increasingly used by climate conscious companies to transport goods.
• Indigenous leadership, advocacy and a return to protect the country  through fire and land management practices of the Aborigines,  are the key to minimising future fire devastation in Australia where temperatures are set to rise to the 40’s.
• Berlin’s second hand craze is turning it into a zero waste city. One large departmental store has a large part of its floorspace exclusively for second hand goods.

For Reflection and Prayer

• The reduction in the UK Overseas Aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5%of our GNP (Gross National Product.) Many are protesting against this. (Due to the Corona virus it is estimated that over 150 million people are being forced into poverty worldwide).
• For ethical and fair outcomes to the UK’s Brexit and Overseas Trade negotiations
• That we may support our own local Cornish Shops and Crafts Outlets when Christmas Shopping rather than buying  gifts and food in the big supermarkets .
• That the richest and wealthiest of our world will use their financial assets ethically and fairly  to support their large business concerns with their thousands of employees.
• For those affected by the collapse of Arcadia and Debenhams, with the potential loss of 25,000 jobs.

Prayer needed for Christians in the Tigray region of Ethiopia

Christians all over the world are invited to pray for peace in troubled regions this month, particularly in Ethiopia where conflict is escalating in the Tigray region.

The population in the region live in a situation of great instability between reprisals of armed groups and the intervention of the national army. This conflict risks spreading to the entire region of the Horn of Africa, as some other nations take advantage of the confusion, fanning the flames of the conflict, making it even more destructive. Hundreds are believed to have been killed in the conflict and several hundred thousand Ethiopians have fled for their lives into neighbouring Sudan.

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25 Nov 20

Good News

• The UK government is to subsidise electric bikes making them a third cheaper, part of their plan to  double the number of bike journeys by 2025.
• The United Arab Emirates has reformed its legal system to make tough  punishments for the harassment of women and to put an end to lenient sentences for honour killings. Alcohol is also to be decriminalised.
• More than half the energy needed for the square mile of London’s finanical heart is to be supplied by a solar farm in Dorset.
• The Covid vaccine from Oxford, reliable, cheaper than the others, soon to be rolled out
• Churches to be open for worship for Christmas

For Reflection and Prayer

• For our Government that they will make wise decisions with regard to the Coronavirus and that people will adhere to them for the good of all
• The necessity of and logistics of providing the Covid vaccine for all the world’s poorest people.
• The financial cost of this and who will fund it.  ( e.g. One of the slums in Lagos. Nigeria has an estimated one million inhabitants lacking the basic utilities of sanitation, food, water)
• The #ResetTheDebt campaign is inviting church leaders to sign an open letter to the Chancellor, asking him to take action in order to protect millions of UK families at risk of being swept into homelessness and hardship this winter. read more
• Send a Christmas message to the brave: Every day, human rights defenders and environmental activists across the world are risking everything to defend our brothers and sisters and protect our common home. Let’s not forget them this Christmas – send a card of solidarity to the brave.   read more

Today is  RED WEDNESDAY, when we remember and pray for those undergoing persecution and harassment for their religious beliefs. Join us for a service of prayer and reflection for Red Wednesday at 7pm today (25 November) online

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18 Nov 20

GOOD NEWS

• The Corona virus vaccine trials have  performed better than expected raising hope that the world may soon be protected from the pandemic which has killed 1.3 million people and destroyed  many livelihoods.
• New Zealand’s new Prime Minister has a diverse Cabinet, a quarter of whom are indigenous Maori ministers.
• Climate Change risk assessments are to be obligatory for UK, the first country in the world to do this.
• The Woodland Trust has pledged to plant 5 million trees in the next five years.
• This year’s Christmas stamps show a beautiful Nativity scene depicting the true meaning of Christmas.

FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION

• Indigenous tribes are calling on Joe Biden to stop Amazon destruction. Both Trump and the Brazilian President have downplayed climate threats and said publicly said they doubt the science.
• There is need for cohesion and harmony in our Government and Cabinet so that politicians may make wise decisions and work for the common good.
• Persecuted Christians: In Nigeria this year over 1000 Christians have been killed, churches destroyed, villages decimated and many thousands of Christians internally displaced, unable to return to their homes.  During recent attacks, pastor and many men have been executed, and women and children abducted.
• We do believe that prayer brings about change.
• We pray that  the Corona vaccine will be available to ALL peoples throughout the world.

Creation Care

Millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people are losing their livlihoods and homes because of Climate Change. The UK government is required by law to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, to net zero to play our part in limiting global temperature rises and enabe the Earth to continue to sustain life. However, the UK’s export credit agency has recently financed to the tune of £1billion a fossil fuel gas project in Mozabique, following similar investments in thee last four years. You may like to join CAFOD to demand that the Prime Minister shows true global leadership by ending all UK support for fossilfuels overseas, by signing our petition at https://e-activist.com/page/53571/petition/1 

11 Nov 20

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04 Nov 20

Good News this week:

• 17 of the Recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s report to the Government  on Persecution of Christians,  have been already been or are being  implemented. This shows that the government is acting swiftly in this regard.
• The future of one of Falmouth’s cultural centres has been secured. Falmouth Town Council will be taking over the running of the Princess Pavilion from the County Council
• May we count our blessings and appreciate the beauty of our county, always not far from countryside and sea, when so many live in dismal surroundings
• May we be thankful and supportive of Cornwall Faith Forum as this week we celebrate Interfaith Week.
• The National Centre for Social Research reports a major shift  towards Immigration as both culturally enriching and good for the country.

For Prayer and reflection

• The Media informs us so much in the huge amount of time and space devoted to the Corona virus, very depressing for those who spend much time taking it all in. May the media provide material that is uplifting, beautiful and true.
• May we pray especially for Christians in China. There is a great surge in  destruction of churches, violations of religious freedom, use of technology to detect and  to monitor Christian meeting and discriminations in public life for Christians.
• May we pray for the USA at this time , that its government and peoples may harness their energies in working for the common good of all.

Interfaith Week

Hans Kung, a Catholic theologian. Wrote “There will be no peace among nations if there is not peace among the great faiths.”

In his latest encyclical letter; Pope Francis sends out a clarion call to discover new ways of engaging in politics, society, and religion, that are grounded in a culture of encounter and friendship rather than self-interest.

In Fratelli Tutti 281, he writes; “A journey of peace is possible between religions. It’s point of departure must be God’s way of seeing things. God does not see with his eyes; God sees with his heart. And God’s love is the same for everyone, regardless of religion. When the last days comes, and there is sufficient light to see things as they really are, we are going to see ourselves”

• Let us reflect upon and pray for positive interfaith dialogue and understanding of the need for people of all faiths to work together for the good of all peoples.

Any comments or items for inclusion may be sent to Mary Bradley  mary@corisande.plus.com

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