Salvation Army “greatly concerned” at government’s Rwanda policy
The Salvation Army says it is “greatly concerned” about the government’s latest plans to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda. In a statement, it says that tackling illegal immigration “must never be at the detriment to those who have fled conflict and seek sanctuary in the UK and victims of modern slavery.” It is concerned that the combination of the proposed Rwanda legislation and the recent Illegal Migration Act, will mean that victims of modern slavery who entered the UK irregularly will be detained, possibly removed to Rwanda. It is urging the government to improve and speed up the asylum decision making process in the UK rather than removing people to Rwanda.
German Chancellor first in history to light public menorah candle for Hannukah
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, helped to light Berlin’s Hannukah menorah at the Brandenburg Gate where Nazi propaganda events were held, saying that he was proud to stand in solidarity with the Jewish commnunity. Chabad News reports that this was the first time in history that a German chancellor has attended a public menorah lighting ceremony. Some families of the 240 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October, attended the ceremony, alongside politicians and ambassadors. The menorah, a nine-branched candelabra, is the largest in Europe at 10 metres high, and is one of 50 erected across the city, a number maintained this year despite security fears.
Bethlehem musicians “hear the angels cry” in their beleaguered city
Bethlehem is without a Christmas tree or many bright lights this year, in response to the darkness of the conflict in Israel / Gaza surrounding the city, which lies in the West Bank. Father Francesco Patton of the Custody of the Holy Land church group said: “We will celebrate in sobriety. That means without the fanfare and without too many lights, in the most spiritual way”. Instead the focus in the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square in Bethlehem will be on praying for peace. And from the city, a student and singer, Youstina Safar, has produced a single about the birth of Jesus, saying that hope is born. “Hear Angels Cry” was recorded in collaboration with the London-based band Ooberfuse and John Handal, a music producer from Bethlehem, and owner of RJ Music. He said the song aims to “shine a light on the indomitable spirit of Bethlehem and support those affected by the conflicts in the Holy Land”. The Pope has drawn attention to it, saying he hoped it would inspire people to reconciliation to hear music from the city where the “Prince of Peace” was born. Proceeds from the sale of the song will go to The Friends of The Holy Land. You can watch “Hear Angels Cry” on YouTube and hear it on Spotify and Apple Music.
Lights bathing cathedrals this Advent mesmerising vistors
The lights that are shining onto English cathedrals this Advent, are part of an arts movement towards a more spiritual community, according to one of the artists behind many of the creations. Peter Walker of Luxmuralis, told us: “What we are doing is unprecedented. This is more than a son et lumière. We use fine art like Renaissance painters to create modern, contemporary ways of talking about the world”. As well as light, artists use the canvas of these vast buildings to portray science, renaissance, life and space, with images of volcanoes, galaxies, skies and mythology evoking a spiritual response. He says: “We have had people sitting on the floor of the nave for 30 to 40 minutes at a time watching. People are mesmerised by the light”. Read Angela Youngman’s interview with Peter Walker on our website here
83 per cent of US adults believe there is a soul or spirit separate to the body
The latest Pew Research indicates that 83 per cent of US adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body and 81 per cent think there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even though we cannot see it. The findings are from a survey of 11,000 people, said to be a nationally representative sample. Pew says 70 per cent of US adults can be considered “spiritual” in some way, because they think of themselves as spiritual people or say spirituality is very important in their lives. This is against a wider picture of a decline in traditional religious beliefs and practices, a decline in those who believe in God, attend services regularly or consider religion to be very important in their lives.
Denmark votes to ban burning of holy scriptures
The Guardian reports that the Danish parliament has voted to ban the burning of religious scriptures after a number of such incidents in Denmark and Sweden sparked international protests. A bill making it illegal to burn, soil, trample on or cut recognised religious scriptures including the Qur’an, the Bible or the Torah was passed with 94 votes in favour and 77 against. The argument was that desecrating scriptures risks the security of Danes at home and abroad.
Online ecumenical carol service in sign language broadcast this weekend
Five Christian denominations, the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church in Wales, the Methodist Church of Great Britain, and the Baptist Union of Great Britain, will broadcast an ecumenical carol service in British Sign Language this weekend. It is being organised in partnership with ChristianBSL.com, which makes Christian content accessible through interpreters, translators, and signers, with hymns, songs, prayers, reflections, and readings in BSL. The service will be broadcast at 0900 on Sunday 10 December 10 on the Church of England’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Methodists in Shropshire take to the road
Methodists in rural parts of Shropshire and the Marches are taking a mobile trailer out to isolated communities, offering a Christmas exhibition, stories of Christmas for children – and coffee. It is providing a Methodist presence in an area which has seen six churches close in one circuit. The MeMO, Methodist Mobile Outreach, is an initiative started by the Rev Julia and Deacon Carys Woodley, who arrived in the circuit in 2021. Carys told the Methodist church news service: “We wanted to be able to park up, on say a village green, and offer a pop-up coffee morning. Coming back regularly helps to create community”. The MeMO, painted in distinctive blue and green, is run by a lay worker and its only requirement is somewhere to park.
