5th ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR
Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation are calling the Christian community to a time of remembrance, prayer and action as we approach the 5th anniversary of the war with Iraq on 20 March. We encourage you to use the resource leaflet, ‘Christian Peace Witness in Iraq’, in worship on Palm Sunday, 16 March or in your prayers on 19 March, the eve of the war. Copies are available at www.paxchristi.org.uk/ME.HTML. A vigil will be held in London on Wednesday 19 March opposite Downing Street in Whitehall between 5.00-6.30 pm with times of prayer and silence. Please wear black. or from Pax Christi London office (020 8203 4884 ; info@paxchristi.org.uk). 

If you are planning events in other parts of the country, please let Pax Christi know and they will publicise the details on their website.   

 

 

Migration matters to us all. Whether we live in multicultural or monoethnic neighbourhoods, the impact of immigrants on our economic, political, social and cultural life is now more significant than ever. Churches need to consider how they respond to the opportunities and challenges this poses for society. Migration Matters is a new resource from the Joint Public Issues Team, exploring some of these issues and responses in more detail. Copies will be available shortly at www.jointpublicissues.org.uk or call 020 7467 5248.

Churches’ Refugee Network Annual Conference - Saturday 17 May, 11.00 am - 4.15pm at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham. With speakers including the Rt Revd Gordon Mursell, Bishop of Stafford and Douglas Board, Chair of the Refugee Council; report on the findings of the Independent Asylum Commission; workshops, asylum stories, worship and live music. For a flyer/booking form, go to www.jointpublicissues.org.uk or contact Wendy Cooper (wendy.cooper@urc.org.uk ; 020 7916 8632).

3. Migration Enquiry

Churches Together in England, in partnership with CTBI, is inviting contributions to an enquiry on migration and the challenges it presents to the churches, with a view to creating a network to resource and support those involved in addressing common issues and concerns. There are four areas of enquiry: church life, social concern, theology, and evangelisation. For further information, including details on how to respond, go to www.churches-together.net and follow the link on the front page.

 

Sunday 18 May in Birmingham - marking the 10th anniversary of the human chain. Journey to Justice will be an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the past ten years, discover the impact of debt cancellation so far and demand a lasting solution to the debt crisis. Please note that tickets (£10; £5 concessions) are required for the main event of the day, comprising speakers, interviews, music and film, at the International Convention Centre (in the city centre) from 2.30 pm (activities from 12.30 pm). For further details and bookings, see www.journeytojustice.org or ring 05601 507359. There will be other related events in Birmingham during the day and details of these will be added to the website. Revd John Marsh, Moderator-Elect of the United Reformed Church, will be preaching at an ecumenical service for Journey to Justice, 10.30 am at Carrs Lane URC.

 

Screening of the new film by Mohammed Alatar, director of the acclaimed documentary, ‘The Iron

Wall’; Tuesday 18 March, 6.30 pm reception for 7.00 pm start, at the Curzon Soho Cinema, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5DY - followed by a question and answer session with the director. Tickets £12 from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (020 7700 6192). www.eastsidestory.ps www.curzoncinemas.com/venues/curzon_soho/

 

Easter 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the first march to the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, near Reading.  To commemorate the past 50 years of campaign action, and to protest at the decision to replace the UK's trident nuclear weapons, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is inviting people to attend a protest at Aldermaston on Easter Monday, 24 March from 12 noon. 

Each of the site gates will be linked with a different decade, and you're asked to dress up according to your favourite decade, or some other unique theme to contribute to a lively and colourful event.  There will be speakers and entertainment. For more information see www.cnduk.org/aldermaston (mellcndeast@cnduk.org ; 0845 337 0282).

 

7-11 April at Cornerstone Christian Centre, 21A The Mall, Bromley BR1 1TR.

Enabling Christians in Serving Refugees (ECSR) is offering this practical and biblical course for church leaders and others with pastoral responsibility for those who have experienced major trauma. First used in DR Congo in 2001, it has been held in many war torn or post conflict regions of Africa. Free priority places will be given to church leaders with a significant congregation who have fled conflict. Voluntary contribution: £30 for the week to cover refreshments. A children’s holiday club will be run alongside the conference for the children of delegates and staff. For further information/ booking form see www.ecsr.org.uk (admin@ecsr.org.uk ; 020 8778 7788).

 

2008 is the fifth year of the conflict in Dafur, a lifetime for the many children who are the focus of the Global Day. Please remember the people of Dafur in your worship on 13 April. Go to www.jointpublicissues.org.uk for a prayer specially written for use on the day.

It is hoped that several thousand people will join a rally and demonstration in central London, convening at 12.00 pm at the Sudanese Embassy, 3 Cleveland Row, London SW1A 1DD, happening simultaneously with other protests on the issue around the world. Further details will be available at www.globefordafur.org .

 

See www.notforsalesunday.org for a wide range of worship resources including liturgy, stories, Bible studies, music/songs, meditation. The main focus this year includes encouraging people to write to local papers about the sex advertisements they publish asking what sort of community they want to create, and to MPs about the need to implement legislation criminalising the demand side of ‘pay as you go’ sex. Postcards to send to MPs are available from CHASTE(0845 456 9335) and the website (www.chaste.org.uk/takeaction) includes letter templates.