E-News March 2009

Churches criticise Government for gambling with lives

fruitless logo The Government is proposing to double the amount of money that can be staked and won on the kind of fruit machines found in pubs and amusement arcades. If this goes through, the minimum stake will rise to £1 and the jackpot will rise to £70. This means that the prize limit on fruit machines will be higher than weekly benefit levels, at a time when many families will be struggling to make ends meet.

The change comes despite Government promises to protect vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Christian groups (including The Methodist Church) are accusing the Government of gambling with lives in a country where there are already about 250,000 problem gamblers.

They have launched Fruitless – a campaign challenging the proposals and calling on the Government not to implement the measures.

Supporters are being encouraged to sign up to an online petition.

The Fruitless website features personal stories of gambling addiction, as well as tips for getting involved in the campaign and in-depth information on the issues.

Put people first

Come to London on Saturday 28 March to send the message to world leaders that they should put people first.

The world has been living beyond its means, financially and environmentally, while the most vulnerable suffer the consequences. At the beginning of April, leaders of the world's largest economies meet at the G20 summit in London to discuss the deepening financial crisis. Here is a unique opportunity to send them a message.

The day begins with an ecumenical service at Westminster Central Hall at 11.00 am before joining a march of thousands to Hyde Park for a rally at 2.30 pm, where there will be speakers, entertainment and music.

If you are coming then let the Methodist Relief and Development Fund know so that Methodist people can pray and march together.

Visit www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk for more information about the day.

Methodists in war-torn Sri Lanka appeal for help

sri lanka countryside As fighting in Sri Lanka continues, the Methodist Church is urging people to pray for hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.

President of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, The Revd Ebenezer Joseph said that 95% of the 7 congregations in the Wanni region had been trapped in an area now under control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

“We appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka to take all measures to prevent civilian causalities in the present military campaign. We appeal to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to allow free movement of civilians to safer areas without forcibly detaining them or using them as human shields,” said The Revd Joseph.

The Revd Joseph continued, “The conditions for the ordinary civilians are very, very difficult. We also extend relief to those families who have managed to come out of the Wanni and who are now in various camps in the Mannar and Vavuniya areas and the Jaffna Peninsula.

“We also need to be ready to reconstruct the churches and help with settlement of the people once the people are allowed to return back to their dwellings in the cleaned areas.”

Further aid from the Fund for World Mission, which gave £20,000 in October, will be sent out to the Church to help people rebuild their homes and their lives.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Fund For World Mission’s aid relief to Sri Lanka can do so online or by contacting Steve Pearce, tel: 020 7467 5161.

Your prayers wanted

sunrise The Methodist Prayer Handbook is looking for prayers of up to 100 words. The title of next year’s handbook is Each Returning Day, which covers times of day, times of life, the seasons, birth and death, youth and maturity and life’s pilgrimage. Each Returning Day comes from John Keble’s hymn, New every morning (Hymns & Psalms 636).

Please send contributions to the editor by 31 March 2009. Any submissions up until Easter will be considered, but the earlier ones stand a better chance of being included. In particular prayers for specific countries are more likely to be published!

If you have photos or illustrations (your own copyright) to enhance your prayer, send these too.

For more information (including terms and conditions) click here or contact the editor.

Back to Church Sunday - 27 September 2009

back to church logo Back to Church Sunday is entering its fifth year with most denominations now involved. The increased attendances in participating churches nationally have surprised many – 36,000 last year. A small minority have continued to attend and a few churches have reported significant growth.

The emphasis is on individual Christians giving personal invitations to appropriate people in their circle of contacts. Evidence shows that this is the most effective way of encouraging people to come along. It offers a chance for those who have got out of the habit of going to church, or for those who have thought it is something they should look into, to find an entry point.

Back to Church Sunday is about offering a normal service on the day, and being especially welcoming and user-friendly to returnees and newcomers.

To make the most of the day, start planning early. Back to Church Sunday packs and information leaflets are available from Methodist Church House. From more information check the Methodist Church website or www.backtochurch.co.uk.