My Calendar

Week of Nov 27th

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
27/11/2023
28/11/2023
29/11/2023(1 event)

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People


29/11/2023

This day was established way back in 1977 when the UN declared that Israel's occupation of Arab territories was illegal and that peace could only come about in the region if Israel withdrew from these places.   No such withdrawal has taken place.

In 2018, Maria Fernanda Espinosa (the President of the General Assembly of the UN) reported that:

  • 43% of the Palestinian population were refugees - and half of them were below the age of 18
  • 47% of the population of the Gaza strip were living with food insecurity
  • the average water consumption of the Palestinian populations in Gaza was 66 litres per day - well below the recommended ration of 100 litres per day.

 

The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, said on this day in 2018:

"Today, in particular, our hearts are heavy with the suffering of the people in Gaza.

Approximately two million Palestinians remain blocked in increasing poverty and unemployment, with limited access to adequate health, education, water and electricity.

Young people see little prospect of a better future.

I urge Israel to lift restrictions on the movement of people and goods, which also hamper the efforts of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, without jeopardizing legitimate security concerns.

I call on Hamas and other militant groups to halt their military build-up in Gaza, including the indiscriminate launching of rockets and incendiary devices directed at Israel. "

 

There seems to be little progress and, all the while, people suffer!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

O Lord, You are the peace and peace emanates from You.

O God of Glory and Majesty grant us security and safety,

and alleviate the suffering of your people.

O Lord, bring comprehensive and just peace to our country and region

so that our people and the peoples of the Middle East and the whole world

would enjoy the fruit of peace, stability and coexistence.

We want peace for us and for our neighbours.

We seek prosperity and peace of mind for ourselves and for others alike.

O Lord, answer our prayers and make successful our endeavors

for you are most just, most merciful, Lord of the Worlds.

This prayer was offered by the Muslim President Abbas of Palestine in Rome when he met Pope Francis and Shimon Peres, the Israeli President in June 2014.

 

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

30/11/2023(1 event)

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare


30/11/2023

Chemical weapons have been used for centuries.  In the 17th century, France and Germany signed an agreement NOT to use poison bullets!   In 1899, countries at the Hague Peace Conference declared they would not use projectiles which contained "asphyxiating or deleterious gases".

However, during the First World War, over 100,000 humans died and more than 1 million were wounded by the use of gas.

In the Second World War, gas was not used in combat but was used in the Holocaust Concentration Camps.

In 1997, the Chemical Weapons Convention (proposed in 1993) came into force on 29 April.  Its purpose was, “for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons.”

And so, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was set up to monitor this happening.  There have undoubtedly been huge successes and OPCW Member States represent about 98% of the global population and landmass, as well as 98% of the worldwide chemical industry.   The OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for what it has done to eliminate chemical weapons.  OPCW claim to have eliminated 97% of all chemical weapons.

However, throughout the Syrian Civil War (which started in 2011) - and as recently as 2017 - chemical weapons have been used.

 

A PRAYER FOR TODAY (available as a 1 minute video by clicking HERE)

Loving God,

we give thanks for the progress made in eliminating chemical weapons.

We pray for those who have suffered death or injury because of them.

We pray for those who order their use

that their hearts might be transformed

to seek ways of peace.

 

We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. AMEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

01/12/2023(1 event)

World AIDS Day


01/12/2023

Here's a 2 minute video of useful information!

 

A PRAYER FOR THIS DAY  (available HERE as 1 minute video)

Loving God,

we are mindful this day of our sisters and brothers living with HIV and AIDS.

We ask for your healing presence on them especially the children around the world who have been left vulnerable.

We stand with those who have been rejected, abandoned or stigmatised by their condition.

And we pray for a just distribution of resources in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

 

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

 

 

 

World AIDS Day

02/12/2023(1 event)

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery


02/12/2023

"Slavery - that finished ages ago, didn't it?"

Well, actually no!

DID YOU KNOW?

  • An estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
  • There are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
  • 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
  • Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million people in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
  • Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Loving God,

who sees the unseen and notices the unnoticed,

help each of us to hear the Hidden Voices of those

who pray for release from slavery.

We pray for those who work to end exploitation and trafficking

that they (and we) be strengthened in resolve to free your people.

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

 

(Adapted from prayer by The Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Chair of The Clewer Initiative.)

03/12/2023(1 event)

International Day of Persons with Disabilities


03/12/2023

A 3 minute video celebrating different abilities!

Loving God,

We pray that throughout the world, people with disabilities may be seen as people with different abilities.

May all experience dignity, acceptance of equality and self-sufficiency in their lives.

We ask that all be empowered to live free from prejudice, persecution or discrimination of any kind.

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, may we work together to do whatever we can to achieve this.

AMEN