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Events in October 2019

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30/09/2019(1 event)
01/10/2019(1 event)

International Day of Older Persons


01/10/2019

International Day of Older Persons 

Between 2017 and 2030, the number of persons aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 46 per cent (from 962 million to 1.4 billion) globally outnumbering youth, as well as children under the age of 10. Moreover, this increase will be the greatest and most rapid in the developing world. Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century.

Older people have always played a significant role in society as leaders, caretakers and custodians of tradition. Yet they are also highly vulnerable, with many falling into poverty, becoming disabled or facing discrimination. As health care improves, the population of older people is growing. Their needs are also growing, as are their contributions to the world.

The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world.

Here is a beautiful video (4:14) about the mutual benefits of relationships between old and young:

A 2:15 reflection on the day in video form.

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY   (available here in video - 2:38)

God of all creation, you are timeless and beyond all ages.

We who are growing old give thanks for the years you have given us –
for family, friends and all those who have enriched our lives.
We who are not yet old give thanks for the older people in our lives:
for grandparents, loved ones, friends and all who use their wisdom to guide us.

We who are growing old pray that we may be patient with our ageing limbs
and difficulties in everyday tasks we once did much more easily.
We who are not yet old pray for patience and kindness
towards those who do not move as quickly as we would sometimes like.

We who are growing old pray for good health in our later years,
and forbearance when our health fails us.
We who are not yet old pray for good health for those we love
and compassion towards those who suffer ill health.

We who are growing old pray for prudence and sweet timing, in offering our wisdom to the next generation, while respecting their energy and creativity.
We who are not yet old pray for openness and kindness in the advice and guidance of our elders.

We who are growing old pray that we may face our death with serenity and dignity.
We who are not yet old pray that we affirm the value and sacredness of each person’s life
and accompany those who are dying with gentleness and respect.

God of the old and young, help us to understand that we share a common life journey,
to live life in all its fullness and to appreciate each other all life long.

We pray this in your Holy Name. AMEN
02/10/2019
03/10/2019
04/10/2019
05/10/2019(1 event)
06/10/2019
07/10/2019
08/10/2019
09/10/2019(1 event)
10/10/2019(1 event)

World Mental Health Day


10/10/2019

Here's a 75 second prayer for today.

It's good to know the facts!   (Note - there's no sound with this clip!)

You're invited to pray for those who are feeling fragile using THIS VIDEO.

Here's another short prayer (1:15) for Mental Health.

A powerful reflection (devised and performed by some of our wonderful students) on asking: Are you OK?

This is a 12 minute video especially for our staff - who are just amazing but who still need to look our for and after themselves in order to look out for and after their students!

 
11/10/2019(1 event)

International Day of the Girl Child


11/10/2019

International Day of the Girl Child

Here's a terrific video (2:02) from 2018:

And this is from 2019:

 

BUT DID YOU KNOW?

  • Worldwide, nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 years is neither employed nor in education or training compared to 1 in 10 boys of the same age. By 2021 around 435 million women and girls will be living on less than $1.90 a day — including 47 million pushed into poverty as a result of COVID-19.
  • 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. Emerging data shows that since the outbreak of COVID-19, violence against women and girls (VAWG), and particularly domestic violence, has INTENSIFIED.
  • At least 60% of countries still discriminate against daughters’ rights to inherit land and non-land assets in either law or practice.

 

As adolescent girls worldwide assert their power as change-makers, International Day of the Girl 2020 will focus on their demands to:

  • Live free from gender-based violence, harmful practices, and HIV and AIDS
  • Learn new skills towards the futures they choose
  • Lead as a generation of activists accelerating social change

So, why is education for girls so important around the world?

Here's what the World Bank says:

“Investing in girls’ education may well be the highest return investment in the developing world.”

TODAY - you are particularly invited to pray:

that, across all faiths and cultures, women and girls would be seen as made in the image of God, with equal worth and value as men and boys;

for protection of the girl child -whether that be in terms of gender selective abortion, female genital mutilation and forced marriages;

for decision makers - in churches, institutions and governments - to smash the glass ceilings that prevent girls from enjoying full equality.

And we ask our smiling saint - that champion of girls' education and well-being - 

St. Julie: pray for us, protect us and bless us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12/10/2019(1 event)

World Arthritis Day


12/10/2019

A short introduction (1:05) on the impact of arthritis:

 

Here's a link to the Versus Arthritis YouTube channel which has lots of short and informative films about this condition.      VERSUS ARTHRITIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Arthritis is not a condition faced just by older people.  This LINK takes you to an excellent resource about young people living with arthritis! 

 

A PRAYER FOR THIS DAY (available here as a 1:00 video)

Loving God,

we place before you all who are living with arthritis:

we ask for your comfort when times are hard; when the pain is intense;  when everyday activities are impossible;

 

we pray for all who care for those with arthritis;

that their compassion will be a source of strength;

 

we pray for all who encounter people living with arthritis;

that they will seek to develop their understanding and respond kindly and justly;

 

we pray for medical professionals - especially those researching treatments and cures;

that they will be relentless in their quest to make life better for others.

 

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  AMEN

St. Julie: pray for us, protect us and bless.  
13/10/2019(1 event)

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction


13/10/2019

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 

A 43 second intro to this topic:

10 Things You Should Know:

A PRAYER FOR TODAY  (available here as 1:30 video)

Loving God, we pray for all who have suffered because of natural disasters:

for those who have lost their lives so suddenly;

for families changed forever by the loss of loved ones.

Lord, who wept at the death of your friend, Lazarus,

give them consolation and comfort.

Give them strength and courage to face the challenges ahead.

 

Lord who walked the way of the cross,

walk with those who have survived,

carry their burden with them and heal traumatic memories. 

 

Lord who fed the 5000,

we ask your provision for those who have lost:

their homes, livelihoods, security and hope.

 

Give relief agencies, decision makers and all supporting them

both wisdom and timely access to the resources needed.

 

Help us to respond generously in prayer and practical help.

We pray this in your Holy Name.  AMEN
14/10/2019
15/10/2019(1 event)

International Day of Rural Women


15/10/2019

International Day of Rural Women

This day recognizes the role of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

Rural women and girls play a significant role in agriculture, food security and nutrition, land and natural resource management and unpaid and domestic care work.

Women also collect firewood, process foodstuffs by hand, and collect water; 80% of households without piped water rely on women and girls for water collection. Rural women are at the front of the battle lines when natural resources and agriculture are threatened.

 

Just imagine not being able to go to school because you have to walk 5 miles to collect water for your family.

Just imagine being late every day for school because you have to scavenge for firewood in increasingly far distant places.

Just imagine not being able to do your homework because there is no lighting in your village.

Just imagine facing the prospect as a young girl of being denied education because you have to marry someone much older than you.

 

AN INVITATION TO PRAYER

You are invited to pray:

for rural women and girls - that helpful technology and infrastructure will help them in the daily tasks they undertake for their families;

for access to education where this is denied for whatever reason;

for attitudes towards equality to spread and develop that all people might benefit from the riches of this world.

 

We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

St. Julie: pray for us, protect us and bless us.

 
16/10/2019(1 event)

World Food Day


16/10/2019

World Food Day

Food - the very stuff of life!  Give us this day our daily bread!  You are what you eat!

 

Here's what the Pope tweeted on 16th October 2019!

It's World Food Day and it's always uncomfortable to be reminded that children will go to sleep hungry to night!

Here are just a few statistics from the Food Aid Foundation:

  • Some 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life.
  • The vast majority of the world's hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished.
  • Asia is the continent with the most hungry people - two thirds of the total. The percentage in southern Asia has fallen in recent years but in western Asia it has increased slightly.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence (percentage of population) of hunger. One person in four there is undernourished.
  • Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five - 3.1 million children each year.
  • One out of six children -- roughly 100 million -- in developing countries is underweight.
  •  One in four of the world's children are stunted. In developing countries the proportion can rise to one in three.
  •  If women farmers had the same access to resources as men, the number of hungry in the world could be reduced by up to 150 million.
  • 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.

Have a look at this 30 second clip:

It seems so big but we can do stuff.  We can contribute to charities that work overseas.  CAFOD springs to mind.

  • Maybe, we could consider buying one of their World Gifts for someone this year - https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/
  • Maybe we need to consider how much food we waste and re-align our behaviour.
  • Maybe we could eat more healthily ourselves in appreciation of how fortunate we are.

 

Don't forget too that we can contribute to the local Micah Foodbank for our local people who go hungry - often unnoticed.   You might think it's all too big a  problem to make a difference but change starts with the individual and it's never a bad time to do a good thing!!!

God bless!

 

HERE'S A PRAYER VIDEO (1:15) FOR TODAY

Creator God,

We give thanks today for all who produce, prepare and serve food. 

We give thanks for their diligence in ensuring that what we eat is safe to eat.

May they be rewarded fairly and feel appreciated for their efforts and expertise.

 

Guide us all in our food choices. 

Help us to consider sustainability, animal welfare and the elimination of wasteful practices.

 

God who provided manna from heaven,

where there are hunger emergencies help us respond generously;

guide decision-makers in leading just and compassionate societies where all are looked after and no-one goes hungry.

We ask this in your Holy Name. AMEN

 

 
17/10/2019(1 event)
18/10/2019
19/10/2019
20/10/2019
21/10/2019
22/10/2019
23/10/2019
24/10/2019(1 event)

United Nations Day


24/10/2019

 

Here's a prayer video (0:45) for United Nations Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what do the United Nations do?   CLICK HERE for a 1:41 video answering that very question!

  • Do you think the United Nations is working well?
  • Why do you think this?
  • What are the challenges facing the UN at the moment?
  • What can each of us do, as individuals, to support the work of the UN?
  • Can you think about how the world would be different without the UN?

In 1948, the UN passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.   CLICK HERE for a 1:41 video outlining these!

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

We reflect on our fellow citizens of the world;

each with amazing potential;

each with emotions;

each with the same basic needs.

We pray for all of them and resolve to work towards that day when all people of all nations will indeed be united in working for the common good.

AMEN

 

United Nations Day
25/10/2019
26/10/2019
27/10/2019(1 event)
28/10/2019
29/10/2019
30/10/2019
31/10/2019(1 event)
01/11/2019
02/11/2019(1 event)

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists


02/11/2019

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 

A brief introduction:

Did you know?

  • 495 journalists were killed between 2014 and 2018, an 18% increase over the previous 5-years.
  • Only 131 cases of journalists’ killings are reported as being resolved since 2006, representing an overall impunity rate of 88%.
  • Beyond fatal attacks, journalists endured other violations such as physical attack, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, imprisonment and torture.
  • Harassment and other harmful acts are increasingly prevalent in the online sphere, and are especially dire for women journalists.
  • Syria was the most dangerous country for journalists, followed by Mexico and Afghanistan.
  • The Arab States region, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific account for more than three quarters of killings.      Source: UNESCO 2019

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

God of truth,

we give thanks this day for those who work in the media,

investigating, communicating, holding people in power to account.

We ask you to bless them with wisdom and strength -

showering them with the sense of satisfaction that comes from a job well done!

Give those who investigate crimes against journalists the courage and determination to bring perpetrators to account.

We ask this in your holy name. AMEN

 

 

 

 

 
03/11/2019