Faith and Society Update - August 2024

Dear Friends

We have arrived at summer!  Maybe even some welcome sunshine lies ahead of us this August.  We are aware this is a busy time for so many churches as you share God’s love with your community. Holiday clubs for children and ‘holiday of home’ for those who are unable to go away are amongst some of the things we know you will be focused on. We are praying for you as you seek to bless this summer and we hope you are able to find some valuable time of refreshment in the midst of the busyness.
 
This summer might also feel a little different. There is disquiet in our communities. We might taste fear lurking as we read the national news, follow local Facebook groups and other social media, as we talk with our community. Fear comes in all guises and takes root as the disruptor of communities. Fear brings disruption and pain and we have seen this worked out in the riots in our towns and cities; fear turns gentleness to shouting and destruction.
 
And yet…  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.   1 John 4:18-19
 
John has so much to say about love in his letter to the early Church, it is difficult to pick one small passage!    The message of Jesus is indeed so radically different to the shouting and fear we see and feel in our communities; what a privilege we have to hold and offer this for others. We believe and have come to know that God’s love changes everything and we have the privilege of praying for peace to replace fear and for love to overcome all fear. This summer we stand together in prayer and in love. We pray that all will know the peace that passes understanding as we bow our knee before the One who is love.
 
We have no doubt there will be many stories of churches loving and bringing peace, please do share these with us. Our President, Steve Finamore, offers us a reflection on the riots and our churches’ responses, which can be found here, together with a prayer for us to use more widely. You will also find a statement from the Presidents of Churches Together in England on this webpage.
 
This summer may God bless you with peace and a deeper knowledge of the love revealed in Christ.    

Every blessing

Diane, Hilary, Jane, Mary, Mat, Mike, Paul, Sharon, Steve and Wale
Faith and Society Team

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