worldchurch

A taster of the I Love Taiwan Mission experience for young people in The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

2011-08-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

New Eyes website from Taiwan

2011-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Please link your church websites from our North Western Synod with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) New Eyes english website Taiwanese New Eyes church website. There are regular updates and we are currently exploring ways for our local United Reformed Churches across the synod to receive Taiwanese bible studies by email translated in the UK into English.
Please contact me if you are interested to know more - leave a message with your name and church name below on this blog.

Update on Taiwanese things in our synod

2011-03-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

Since November 2010 this is what has happened with our synod Global Partners programme:
Angela Bogg from South Area of North Western Synod is representing us from the Global Partners Programme in relation to The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. It is a meeting with others linked with the Global Partners laypeoples programme of the United Reformed Church across the UK.
She will make a report about what has happened and it will be posted here for your use in local United Reformed Churches in NWSynod.
Currently a review of our Global Partners programme is underway where I have contacted all people in our synod who have a link with Taiwan and the programme and/or have visited Taiwan.

If you would like to have input about the future of the programme - its shape, focus, future visits, exchanges, youth involvement, budget or have any concerns or questions please contact me by email as soon as possible and by one week after Easter. Your church minister or secretary has contact details for all ministers in the URC.
I have also met several times with Revd Shou-Hui Chung Taiwanese chaplain to mandarin speaking students in Manchester and London. I am part of her management committee. We have identified areas of growth and opportunity for her ministry and that of extending the work in Manchester and London and across the synod including through the visits of the mandarin-speaking choir to local churches, the hospitality scheme operating in South and Central Areas of our synod.
I have also met with two senior staff from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan regarding the review, Shou-Hui's role, Chiayi Presbytery's hopes for the future of our partnership and more!
If you would like to be more involved in our partnership programme with our Taiwanese brothers and sisters please dont hesitate to get in touch with me! I'd love to hear from you about your ideas and suggestions for improving our relationships, communication across our churches about the partnership and with news and prayers.
kind regards and blessings, Revd Kate Gray

Welcome to new Taiwanese Group for visit 2010!

2010-11-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

Please pray as we receive our incoming guests from Taiwan this week for our Synod partnership in mission.We are delighted to be welcoming our Global Partners for a visit into our Synod Nov.9-18th which will include:

Luther King House
Rainbow Haven project with people seeking asylum, Manchester
Chorlton Church meal with members & Moderator
Conversation with Inner Manchester Mission Network on worship
Visit to Taiwanese Chaplaincy Ministry and the ecumencial work of St. Peters Chaplaincy, Manchester
Eucharist with university students and chaplains
Visit to St. Andrew & St. George, Bolton, Outreach Group & Justicia Fairtrade Shop
Conversation about Retail Chaplaincy with Wendy White, Bolton
Visit to Levenshulme Inspire, Manchester
Hospitality at The Windermere Centre for 5 nights
Meeting with Director of Windermere Centre, Lawrence Moore, on national evangelism campaign in URC 2011
Visits to 4 Cumbrian churches with Revd Rachel Poolman
Social evening at Carver URC, Windermere open to all Fri 12th Nov 7pm. Bring & share meal & informal gathering
Attend Synod at Penrith & make a presentation on Evangelism in PCT
Share in worship with 4 churches in Cumbria & day with congregations sightseeing
Global Partners review meeting with Revd Kate Gray
Sightseeing & shopping
Meeting with General Assembly Co-Moderator Revd Dr Kirsty Thorpe
Meeting in London with Chaplain to university students & sightseeing

Synod group returns home from Taiwan visit

2009-10-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

In Taiwan our synod group have begun their homeward bound journey back to the UK.
They have shared almost 2 weeks in Chiayi and Taipei with our Global mission partners in The Presbyterian Church.
Whilst there there has been a very minor earthquake in Chiayi which happened after they had left for Taiwan. No major damage has been done to the area but the weather was rainy and stormier than usual. More info on that click: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/chiayi/2009/10/12/228346/Groups-on.htm

Some of the stories and reflections of the visit can be found on Kathryn Radcliffes blog and the group will be meeting to debrief and plan how they share their visit with the local churches and synod at the end of November supported by Revd Dr John Parry & Revd Shou-Hui Chung. But please do contact John or Shou-Hui or the group if you would like them to come and share about their visit in Sunday worship, a womens, youth or mens group at your church or community project. They would be really encouraged about this.
The group are:
Angela Bogg - St Peters Church & Chaplaincy
Kathryn Radcliffe - The Heatons URC, Stockport
Marion Heyes & Melanie Lloyd - St. Marks URC, Wythenshawe

People who have overseas visits sometimes feel that once they have shared in their local church & at synod then there is little interest from other local churches and struggle to create opportunities to share about our mission partners so please do all you can in your local United Reformed Churches (or others) to encourage the group to make new links and connections, perhaps to hold a coffee morning to share at, have a photo exhibition, invite them to share with your Pilots group or create a special Taiwanese event with food to share.
Blessings as you do - John & Shou-Hui are willing to support churches in different ways since I am now off on maternity leave until summer 2010!

Synod Group to Taiwan!

2009-10-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Follow the 4 participants from our synod in Taiwan
www.kathryn-onmytravels.blogspot.com

Olive Co-operative Education Tour 2010

2009-09-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday 24th to Sunday 31st May 2010 - 7 nights for £675

Olive Co-operative are pleased to announce our 2010 Education Tour to Palestine and Israel. The recent devastating assault on Gaza haspushed the seemingly intractable 'problems' of the Middle East furtherinto public consciousness, but the portrayal of the situation in theBritish media continues to be confusing, even misleading. Now morethan ever there is a need for propaganda and popular misconceptions tobe challenged with knowledge and understanding. Olive Co-operativeruns tours to Palestine and Israel because we believe that the bestway to understand the situation is to visit the area, to meet thepeople and to experience the physical impacts of the occupation: the Walls, settlements and checkpoints. Our Education Tour will allow thisunderstanding to be bought into educational institutions in the UK, togive British students a chance to grasp what is really happening inthe Middle East. This tour is an ideal opportunity for teachers of allage groups, university students and people with a general interest inthe area to gain invaluable first hand experience. The Israeli education system is a crucial element in the conditioningof a young population into accepting their role in an occupying army.In Palestine, the education system continues to function effectivelydespite the ever escalating problems that the institutions andindividuals within them have to deal with. Participants on this tourwill visit a variety of educational spaces in Jerusalem, Ramallah,Bethlehem and Nablus, including a school, university, communityeducation centre and grassroots information centre. The group willalso meet with refuseniks and a Trade Union activist.Designed for those with a particular interest in education, the tourwill also suit anyone wanting to gain a general understanding of thecurrent situation in Palestine and Israel, giving them the opportunityto see the Wall, visit refugee camps and meet inspiring Palestinianand Israeli individuals and organisations. Participants will benefit from the experience and personal contactsof our tour guide, who ran our successful Teacher's Tour in 2007 and has worked as a long term volunteer in the West Bank, including with the International Women's Peace Service. For a full itinerary and to discuss the tour, please contact leonie@olivecoop.com or 0161 2731970.

For Olive Co-operative guidance notes to travel in the region, please visit http://www.olivecoop.com/tours/guidance-notes/ To find out more about Olive Cooperative, please see our website at www.olivecoop.com.

Please note: Tour prices include your Olive tour guide, all local travel, accommodation, breakfasts, some dinners and donations to groups visited. Prices are exclusive of flights and airport transfers. Olive tour guides monitor the situation on the ground to assess localcircumstances. All itineraries are subject to change.

We ask our customers to read our Travel Guidance Notes before joining one of ourtours.Olive Cooperative has 5 years experience running tours to Palestineand Israel, and extensive knowledge of a broad spectrum of civilsociety organisations. Each tour is built around a theme or topic, butall are suitable for anyone with a general interest in the region. Thethemed nature of Olive tours is designed to facilitate lastinginternational linkages between individuals and groups of similarinterests. We also offer a service for those who would like a tailormade tour to suit their availability and interests, or for groups ofpeople or families who wish to experience this unique but troubledarea of the world together.

Sri Lanka - September update

2009-09-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

As you will know, the situation in Sri Lanka is still appalling. 280,000 men, women and children, IDPs are being forcibly kept, in horrendous conditions, in internment (actually extermination) camps - regularly people are being "disappeared", and the deaths are continuing from lack of food and medicine. Health and sanitation conditions are terrible, and the monsoon season is coming. Today the UNICEF country rep has been told by the SLG that he must leave the country. We reported on the World church blog about the channel 4 reporter being deported back in May, after his coverage of the camps.

At the end of August a video film of SL soldiers executing a naked and bound Tamil man was been released by Channel 4 news. This is a serious allegation of war crimes. (It was filmed in January 09 and it took eight months for it to come out of the island).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6809968.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8223437.stm
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=30081

ACTION NEEDED: Please Sign The Open Letter to President Barack Obama

2009-08-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

August 2009
Dear Friends,
In view of the pending meeting and talks on the US-China Relations between President Barack Obama and President Hu Jin-Tao, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) issued an Open Letter to President Barack Obama dated 17 July 2009. The PCT realizes that many individuals are also concerned about the current situation and future of Taiwan and therefore, invites those who feel so moved to write to President Obama individually. To assist you a second Open Letter to President Obama “from citizens, residents and friends of Taiwan” has been prepared; if you agree with the content, we cordially invite and encourage you to print and sign the attached English version.
Secondly, for your convenience, we welcome you to post/deliver your signed letter(s) to the PCT at your earliest but no later than 31 August, and we will ensure all letters collected will be forwarded to the Whitehouse. Please send to:
The General Secretary – (PBO)Presbyterian Church in Taiwan3, Lane 269, Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 3Taipei 10647 Taiwan
Alternatively, you send your personal letter to the White House, Washington DC if you prefer. For our records, we would appreciate knowing if you send a letter directly to USA. You may notify us via gs@mail.pct.org.tw
Further more please feel free to forward this message and disseminate these letters as widely as possible. Thank you for your concern, time and action for Taiwan
Sincerely yours,
Rev. Lin Tsung-Jeng (Leonard) Moderator, 54th General AssemblyPresbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)
Rev. Chang Te-Chien (Andrew) General SecretaryPresbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)

PLEASE COPY CUT & PASTE THIS LETTER FOR YOUR USE:

An Open Letter to President Barack Obama
44th President of the United States of America,
The Whitehouse, Washington, DC 20500 U.S.A

Dear Mr. President

Since the G20 Summit the people of Taiwan are following closely the various dialogues between the respective governments of USA and China. In the coming weeks you will personally meet President Hu Jin-Tao to discuss US-China Relations and it’s assumed our country Taiwan will be on your agenda.

As citizens, residents and friends of Taiwan we, therefore, write to voice our deep disquiet and grave concern for the present situation and the future of our nation; for our people’s hard earned democracy; and for stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific rim.

We strongly believe and fear President Ma’s concessions and collaboration with China’s government is destroying Taiwan’s democracy and sovereignty. The recent perceived easing of political tensions between Taiwan and China overshadows reality. Pre-election promises and postelection performance are not the same. The policies of Ma and the KMT dominated government do not reflect the viewpoint of all the people in Taiwan.

The Taiwanese people live under the shadow of military threat daily. While many world leaders welcome and applaud this so called easing of tension across the straits they conveniently ignore the fact that China still has well over a thousand missiles targeted at Taiwan - a number that ironically continues to increase and the PLA is prepared for action. That is not a foundation for peace in Asia.

The Taiwanese people are tired and weary of constantly being a pawn in the global arena. China continues to demean Taiwan’s international status, identity, selfhood and dignity. We are not products we are peace loving people, an independent nation, with dreams, hopes and aspirations; we are people who adhere to the UN charter and desire to contribute to the global community of nations as equal partners.

Last year (2008), as Senator Obama, you graciously wrote to Mr. Ma Ying-Jeou congratulating him on both his election and eventual inauguration as President of Taiwan. Among other things you stated (quote):

“March 22nd was a good day for the people of Taiwan, for the forces of democracy around the world, and for peace and stability in the western Pacific. I will do all I can to support Taiwan’s democracy in the years ahead.”

The ordinary people of Taiwan are concerned for more than “a good day” Mr. President. We sincerely hope Taiwan’s democracy, freedom and security will not be compromised for political and economic power. We urge you, your congress and world leaders to hear our voice so future generations may know many good days beyond the 21st Century not only in Taiwan but in Asia, and indeed the world. Thank you for your attention and consideration.

We pray you’ll be given strength and Godly wisdom to fulfill your responsibilities with justice.

Respectfully yours
____________________________________ (signature) ___________________ (date)

Print Name & Address: ___________________________________________________

Welcome to Revd. Jane Rowell!

2009-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Revd. Jane Rowell who has started as our new United Reformed Church Secretary for World Church Relations. Jane lived for 1 year in Taiwan whilst studying & worshipping with The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) so is keen to support our North Western Synod in our Covenant Partnership with PCT through laypeoples visits, youth exchanges and ongoing prayer for each other in mission together.

We look forward to welcoming her into the North West when she is able to visit and share with us in our Global Partners Programme.

Jane is very encouraging of the visit to Chiayi Presbytery in October 2009 and for a youth visit to take place in 2010.

If you are interested in either please contact Revd. Kate Gray, St. Marks URC, Wythenshawe in Manchester through your church minister or church secretary who will be pleased to share more with you about both!

INVITATION to meet Waldensians in Manchester 10th July

2009-06-30T02:12:00.000-07:00

Wilbraham St. Ninian’s United Reformed Church and the URC Waldensian Fellowship invite you to meet visiting members of the Waldensian Church (the long-surviving Protestant Church in Italy) for a meal on the evening of Friday 10 July 2009.

Fourteen members of the Waldensian Church are visiting England in July and staying in Sale and Manchester from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 July 2009. This is one of the regular exchange visits by members of the Waldensian Church to Britain and members of the United Reformed Church to Italy, organised by the United Reformed Church Waldensian Fellowship. The North Western Synod maintains the link with the Waldensian Church on behalf of the United Reformed Church.

Wilbraham St. Ninian’s United Reformed Church will be hosting a meal for the visitors on the evening of Friday 10 July. It is expected that the visitors will return from visits to Southport and Ormskirk at about 7.30 p.m. After a description of the work of the local churches in Chorlton by the Revd Ruth Dillon, the meal is expected to start about 8 p.m.

We would be delighted if you can join us, but please let us know as soon as possible so that the church can cater appropriately. Also, let us know if you have particular dietary requirements. Contact George Morton - details in URC Handbook & Yearbook in your church & synod office.

Wilbraham St. Ninian’s Church is in Egerton Road South, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, at the junction with Wilbraham Road. The post code is M21 0XJ.

Apply to go to Taiwan in October 2009!

2009-06-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

All United Reformed Churches in South & Central Areas of North Western Synod have had application forms emailed to them for laypeople to apply to visit our global mission partners in The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan in October. So far I have received 3 applications from members in South Area and none from Central Area and would like to encourage more people to apply!

You must be 18-70 years, willing to travel to Taiwan for 12 days in Octover, active in your local URC & not well travelled!

You'll be willing to keep a good record of your visit whilst away & share your learning with local churches, groups & our synod on return & be part of the planning for next mission group visits.

All main costs are covered including travel & health insurance. Spending money is optional!

Your church minister or secretary will have had the application form emailed to them in March this year but if they dont have it or you just want to contact me directly about it for more info then please ask your local URC secretary or minister for my contact details.

It is a great opportunity to share in life and witness with our sisters and brothers in Taiwan - hope you'll encourage people from your church to apply.

Sri Lanka Crisis - your action needed!

2009-05-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Please encourage those you know to email the Japanese Foreign Minister ASAP by clicking below:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_bloodbath/97.php?cl_tta_sign=ba76a5a7f7f72f5d8f44aeeb16413c8a

The current situation is desperate as you are aware, but today - Christian Aid Sunday - (and we know that Christian Aid has voiced concern over the situation in the NE....) I can also bring you the links to the Channel 4 coverage last Tuesday. For their part in arranging the news coverage, the journalist and his team have been deported from Sri Lanka. Please see the clips which are only a few minutes long. Maybe there is something of hope in the fact that news is eventually coming out..... and that some great difficulties in doing this have in this instance been overcome.. The important thing here, is that although they have not gone to the area which is under heavy bombardment by cluster bombs etc - they are managing to show the conditions of the internment camps the displaced people are being forced to live in.....
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/grim+scenes+at+sri+lankan+camps+/3126257

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/correspondent+expelled+from+sri+lanka/3136157
If possible could you show these clips in worship at church, in a prayer group or bring to peoples attention through your church website.

Since our March Synod I hope local churches are positively responding with actions as we agreed to do and to use our technology, power and democracy to do what we can to put pressure where it is needed so that brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka will know the world is listening and responding with prayerful action in the name of Jesus Christ and his justice.

Overseas Opportunity - Sept/Oct 09

2009-04-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

CWM A New FACE Programme – hosted in Guyana for the first time. September and October 2009

The aim of A New Face (A New Faith And Culture Exposure) programme will introduce clergy to a ministry context different to their own to stimulate theological reflection and to gain a cross-cultural perspective.

What’s involved? Ten people share one week of orientation, then four weeks of placements, finally one week of evaluation and report-writing. Orientation includes: Guyanese culture, history, mission influence, specific contextual theological themes and placement information. Placements will be in congregations throughout the country.

Costs involved? CWM will arrange and pay for the participant’s international travel, accommodation and food in Guyana. Participants are to provide their own spending money and arrange their own passports, visas and necessary inoculations.
To apply contact Helen Garton via URC Church House, London. Contact details available from your Church Secretary & Church Minister

A Quilt for Palestine

2009-03-26T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Commitment for Life programme of the United Reformed Church in partnership with Christian Aid offers a monthly e-newsletter. The following is from March copy of 'Moving Stories 111)

The Brighton and Hove Palestinian Solidarity Campaigners are hoping to start a quilt for Palestine. The purpose of the Quilt is to show solidarity with the Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination. They want to create a 'thing of beauty' out of a situation of dire tragedy.

People can create just one square or several squares. This may be an idea that churches may want to pursue. To see a previous quilt see www.brightonpalestinecampaign.org/quilt

Martyn Joseph:

Singer/ songwriter Martyn Joseph’s’ Five Sisters.’ is his response to the story he heard of five sisters killed in the recent Gaza crisis when their house collapsed following a rocket attack. To listen to the song and read the lyrics go to http://www.martynjoseph.com/listen1.php

New opportunities in Taiwan 2009

2009-03-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

There are several opportunties for adults and young people to go to share in the life of our Global Partner Church this year, The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, including volunteering at a young peoples residential centre in central Taiwan, teaching English to children aged 4-7years in Chiayi Presbytery and a young peoples visit in June-July.
In October this year there will be a group visit to Taiwan including Chiayi Presbytery for approx. 12days for lay people from South and Central Areas of NWSynod. The information about this will be available at the South and Central Area Meetings (only) of this coming Synod on Saturday 14th March.
The Global Partners programme of our synod is primarily focussed on creating opportunities for adults who would not financially be able to visit Taiwan, have little or no travel experience, are active members in their local United Reformed Church, have a broad view of the URC and are prepared to share their learning and visit actively with a variety of people on their return including at Synod and a debrief day.
Application forms will be available at NW Synod Area meetings.
There will be further opportunities for other interested adults to take part in a group visit at a later date - likely in 2010 when the NW Synod will also host a second visit from Chiayi Presbytery.

Morgan Tsvangirais wife dies suddenly in Zimbabwe

2009-03-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Dear friends

I have learnt with shock and horror of Susan Tsvangirai's death in a car crash. Details are still sketchy and suspicious, but this is a devastating reminder of Mrs Tsvangirai's unassuming and gracious inspiration in the fight for democracy, peace and justice in Zimbabwe. Her quiet demeanour and composure in the face of immense challenges including perpetual threats to her husband, family members, supporters and her own life clearly meant that Mrs Tsvangirai was an invaluable companion and steady rock for the PM on a dangerous journey that has seen Morgan Tsvangirai participate courageously in trade unionism, human rights, politics and government. Morgan Tsvangirai will be inconsolable and Susan will be painfully missed by all.

May her soul rest in peace

Death of Prof. Marcella Althaus Reid - Argentinian Theological Giant

2009-03-02T00:09:00.000-08:00

From Professor Lisa Isherwood

Professor Marcella Maria Althaus Reid
Theology lost an original voice on Friday, 20th February 2009, when Professor Marcella Althaus-Reid died at Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh, Scotland. We offer offer sympathy to her husband, family members and friends. Those who appreciate creative, bold theology are in her debt.Marcella was Argentinean by birth with a deep commitment to liberation theology. She studied at ISEDET, the Protestant theological faculty in Buenos Aires, and received her doctorate at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. She held the Chair of Contextual Theology in the School of Divinity, at the University of Edinburgh. In addition she worked with deprived communities in both Argentina and Scotland.
She insisted that issues of body and sexuality need to be interwoven with other liberation concerns. Feminist and queer commitments informed her unique and important work. She was the author of the widely acclaimed Indecent Theology and The Queer God. Her work in liberation and sexual theologies has been honest, brave and challenging. She wrote believing that only a radical theology, one that dared to go beyond the hitherto accepted edges, could show us the presence of God in our times. She challenged the oppressive powers of orthodoxy and found courage and inspirations in the margins. Indecent Theology reflects on the sexual experiences of the poor through the use of economic and political analysis and in so doing exposes the sexual ideology of systematic theology. The Queer God creates a concept of holiness that overcomes sexual and colonial prejudices and shows how queer theology is a search for God’s deliverance.
It was my great honour to work with her and to call her my friend and I am indebted because her integrity gave me the courage to ask the hard questions. Before she died she made me promise that if I wrote anything about her I would be sure to say that we were a theological team, companions who challenged one another, who laughed together, read together, discussed and who brought the gospel from the marginalised. This was a theological team, she said, working from intellectual and affectionate closeness, working from the heart and the head. I agree with my dear friend and thank her for the joy of the caminata we shared.
You will all be familiar with Marcella’s prolific academic output but perhaps like me you will be most affected by the passion with which she engaged with her subject and the profound insights she conveyed through lively wit and creative theological thinking. Marcella Althaus-Reid's work will echo for generations to come.

Lisa Isherwood
Professor of Feminist Liberation Theologies
University of Winchester, UK
A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Marcella will take place at St George's West Church, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh on Saturday 7 March 2009 at 12.00 noon to which all are inclusively invited. Sombre dress is not required.

Occupation by students in Manchester for Palestinian people

2009-02-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

At present there are 19 colleges and universities across the UK involved in sit-ins and occupations of university buildings in support and solidarity with Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza.
To find out more
http://manunioccupation.wordpress.com/ Manchester Uni
http://leedsunioccupation.blogspot.com/ Leeds Uni
http://kcloccupation.blogspot.com/ Kings College, London Uni

Each group calls for similar things - the disinvestment of university monies from any Isaeli government supported ventures, active support of Palestinian education for students including sharing of surplus educational materials, creation of scholarships at their universities for Palestinian applicants and statements of solidarity with peoples of Gaza and Palestine.
What have been responses of your church in relation to Gaza and Palestine this year? Leave a comment to share them!

Laments for Lent - Ash Wednesday

2009-02-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

This art is by Rachel Hollingsworth from Wythenshawe.
Interested to see more of her work with others from Wythenshawe - mark Fri. 3rd April 7pm in your diary to come to launch 'Picturing Jesus: work by people from Wythenshawe' at St. Marks United Reformed Church & Tree of Life Centre.
There work features a variety of media including paint, chalk, pastels, photography and more. Each artist is free to show any of their work and invited to offer one piece on the theme 'Picturing Jesus in Wythenshawe'.

The lament for me came several times today, Ash Wednesday, as I heard people 'confess' how the church had damaged them or others - through experiences of child abuse, violence, hurtful gossip and lack of support. As we marked ash crosses on our foreheads over 3 short services we talked about experiences of ours or those we know who are suffering and struggling in relation to these things. We also held these experiences alongside people in the UK losing their homes in debt and people overseas struggling to survive famine and hunger in Zimbabwe and violence in Sri Lanka. We read Psalm 51 aloud and lamented with broken hearts - unmasked and real before each other in the presence of God - and then we went home and I found this invitation from an organisation called V-Day calling people to respond to girls and women in Congo.
Click on it and give your voice in lament and support this Lent http://congowall.ning.com/

Resources for Lent - Ecumenical Water Network

2009-02-20T00:48:00.000-08:00

The Ecumenical Water Network suggests ideas for prayer and action during Lent http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/ecumenical-water-network-2.html

During the Seven Weeks for Water initiative, theologians and church activists from Africa, Europe, North and South America will share short biblical meditations for each week along with some campaigning ideas and resources.The first set of materials will be available on the EWN website http://water.oikoumene.org from 25 February - Ash Wednesday according to Western Christian tradition The Ecumenical Water Network has an email Newsletter and the first letter of 2009 has just come out. http://www.oikoumene.org/en/activities/ewn-home/resources-and-links/ewn-newsletter.html It includes articles on the Water crisis in Gaza, 9th AACC Assembly, World Water Forum, Ilisu dam.

An interesting book to help churches explore ecology and environment themes through the year is 'The Cosmic Circle: Jesus and Ecology, by Edward P. Echlin, Columba Press.'

The artwork in the photo above is my own.

2009-02-19T03:23:00.000-08:00

Taiwanese Chaplain to Mandarin students in Manchester Revd Shou-Hui Chung visits local churches with the mandarin choir in Greater Manchester once a month as part of bridge-building ministry between the United Reformed Church and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

Contact her at St. Peters Church and Chaplaincy to invite them to your church. Please email me photos of their visit to your church to share them across our synod!

Does Africa need God?

2009-02-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

An atheist suggests Africa needs God. See what you think - follow the link!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

2009-02-12T01:09:00.000-08:00

Below is a letter written recently by a coalition called the Save Zimbabwe Now Campaign. In the light of yesterdays move towards a so-called power-sharing government I wonder what it means to have a President and Prime Minister from two different political parties. Is it too stark to say one as the oppressor and one as the oppressed? Its not that simple but there are many more challenges ahead for the country of Zimbabwe as it collapses in relation to water, health, work and faith in the future.

Please read and share with your networks as appropriate.

6th February 2009, Parliament Cape Town, Honourable Members of Parliament:

We the people of South Africa and the Southern Africa region greet the Honourable members of the South African Parliament on this day of the official opening. We are a collaborative movement of activists, practitioners, academics and religious leaders, standing together in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe at this critical juncture in our regions history.

We are reminded that as we celebrate the advances of South Africa’s own democracy there are now officially over 68 000 confirmed cholera infections and over 3500 people spread across the SADC member states have died of this preventable and treatable disease. We need also to remember that in contrast to the relative freedoms enjoyed by our parliamentarians and those within their constituencies who are not forced by poverty into a prison of their own, the people of Zimbabwe are being violently repressed, even as their leaders sit and reach agreements.

The continued incarceration of opposition activists, the ongoing extra-judicial violence and terror carried out against rights defenders and pro-democracy activists and the systematic undermining of the legal system that has led to a de facto breakdown of the rule of law have demonstrated that the Zimbabwean state can no longer provide adequate protection to its people. A clamp down on the media and public expression masks the true extent of the countries plunge into military rule and economic profiteering.

A team of retired South African generals visited Zimbabwe in May 2008 to investigate the violence. The full report that was presented to then President Thabo Mbeki, who was leading the mediation process, has now been classified and its contents never shared with the rest of the SADC Heads of State.

We want to know why. Who in parliament will help us to find out?

On their return members of the delegation led by Lt-Gen Gilbert Lebeko Romano described the violence as shocking and horrific, with vivid descriptions of “scars, cuts, gashes, bruises, lacerations and broken limbs, and bodies of those killed." Frighteningly eye witnesses in Zimbabwe, and many who have fled in recent days, report that the violence is on the increase again, with the resurgence of familiar patterns of victimisation by state forces and militias and revenge attacks on suspected activists and their families. This in happening in spite of the signed agreement and we will be working to bring the facts surrounding these incidents to public attention.

An immediate end to this violence is at the heart of the call we are putting to the South African Parliament today. South Africa has a critical role to play in holding Zimbabwean political parties accountable to the letter and the spirit of the Global Political Agreement they helped to mediate. And it is you, the parliamentarians, who also have to hold our own government accountable if they fail to meet their constitutional obligations here at home, and their legal and humanitarian responsibilities as signatories to SADC, African Union and United Nations protocols. The very fact that the will of the majority of Zimbabweans has been ignored, manipulated and distorted has already been raised as a matter of concern by the Pan African Parliament. Now we are asking you too to stand up and speak out in a call for violence to end, for easy access to people who need help by those who can help them, and to speak truth to power in pointing out that however convenient the current agreement may be, it has not produced a legitimate outcome, and that it is only a free and fair election, under a peoples constitution that will ever achieve this. Those not committed to this should remove themselves from the process.Part of our people-to-people solidarity includes exposing the horrific conditions faced by Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa. The poverty of so many people in South Africa extends to vulnerable migrants and there are many who are hungry and cold at night, who have no shelter and no access to services, who are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. The constant threat of harassment, extortion or deportation from corrupt South African Police Service Officers, and the inhumane treatment often received from Home Affairs officials, is compounded by an undercurrent of violence and fear that still exists following the outbreaks of xenophobic violence in May last year. Here is an area of enormous need that the South African Parliament could begin to address today! Over the next few weeks we will be intensifying our efforts to highlight the violent repression and catastrophic humanitarian consequences of political mismanagement. In a symbolic action aimed at demonstrating solidarity and drawing attention to the great hunger that has swept across Zimbabwe our supporters are embarking on days of fasting and prayer. Kumi Naidoo and Nomboniso Gasa will both fast for a total of 21 days. As an indication of the growing popular support for our demands and the anger and frustration people are feeling already more than 40 000 people have signed up to participate in a hunger strike or fasting action. We appeal to each and every one of you to join our solidarity campaign and to use every opportunity, on the benches of parliament, in your organisations and places of worship and in your homes and communities to keep attention focused on Zimbabwe and the needs of the Zimbabwean people. A piece of signed paper does not bring freedom, but the collective actions of all of us will make a difference. The time to act is now!

Sincerely The Save Zimbabwe Now Campaign

Crisis in Sri Lanka continues - please share the news

2009-01-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

“Sri Lanka government’s attacks on the innocent Tamils in Vanni continue to kill hundreds while injuring many more according to the reports of ICRC, the only International humanitarian agency allowed to be present in Vanni,” said the report issued by Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Diocese of Jaffna (CJPCD) Thursday, the second day of the protest fast against the killing of Tamils in the Vanni observed in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said.
Hundreds of persons including the Bishop of Jaffna, priests, nuns, members of religious and social organizations, NGO representatives and the Chief Priest of Nalloor, Srilasiri Somachariya Suvamikal participated in the continuing protest fast calling the attention of the International Community and World Humanitarian Organizations, to the human disaster unfolding in Vanni.More than 300 were killed and more than 1400 were injured on Tuesday, 46 were killed and 76 were injured on Wednesday according to ICRC, the report said. “The few makeshift medical centres in Vanni lack medicine and staff to treat the injured in Vanni while the volunteers trying to help the victims themselves have been injured.Nearly 250,000 internally displaced people crowded into a shrinking area are unable to seek safer places due to the continuing artillery fire on them.Time is running out and firm decisions have to be made now,” the GJPCD Thursday report said.“The silence of the International Community and World Humanitarian Organizations continue to grieve us and we appeal them to urgently act to stop the war waged by Sri Lanka government on the Tamils Vanni,” the report further said.

Sri Lanka update for NW Synod churches

2009-01-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

The situation continues to be horrendous in the North. Unfortunately the media coverage is virtually non-existent as the government has barred local and international press from going there. The Tamil relief organisation has a section on You-Tube with commentary, which helps to give some real information, under appalling circumstances.

26 Jan 2009 update:
Over the last 24 hours over 300 civilians who were awaiting relief and medical assistance within the “Safety Zone” declared by the Government of Sri Lanka have been killed and several thousand injured in Udaiyaarkaddu, Suthanthirapuram, and Vallipuram in the Mullaitivu District by Sri Lanka Army multi-barrel artillery and mortar shelling by the Sri Lanka armed forces.

All of the hospitals in the Vanni, Kilinochchi Hospital and Mullaitivu Hospital, have been displaced and are functioning in schools or other public buildings. These displaced hospitals have been stretched to their limit due to the continuous bombing and shelling of the Vanni over the past few months. The injured have no access to medical supplies and there are not enough doctors and other medical staff available to treat the population.

Action: If you have not already done so please ask your church secretary, minister or synod rep to write to your MP regarding this situation and what the response of the UK government is. Trinity Church in Manchester have done so recently with the support of Revd Bob Day & Neil Cooper (Church Action on Poverty) with the Just Church programme. What will your church and community do to show support and solidarity with Sri Lankan tamil people?

2009-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Methodist and United Reformed Churches are to join Christians around the world in praying for Zimbabwe. Churches worldwide will come together on 25 January to pray for justice in Zimbabwe, where food remains scarce and at least 1,800 people have died in a cholera outbreak. The call to prayer and fasting was issued by the All Africa Conference of Churches'.
The Rev John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of The United Reformed Church, is calling on the denomination's member churches to take part by commencing their services on the prayer day with the lighting of a candle and a minute's silence in prayer in solidarity with the people and churches of Zimbabwe.
"With the eyes of the world's media now firmly fixed on the unfolding tragedy in Gaza, we need to be reminded of the immense pain and suffering that continues to haunt the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
The British Methodist Church's Secretary for External Relationships, Christine Elliott, was at the Ninth Assembly of the AACC in Maputo, Mozambique, last month. During the assembly, the AACC backed resolutions calling for an end to the violence and political freedom of expression in Zimbabwe.
Steve Hucklesby, Public Issues Policy Adviser for The Methodist Church, said Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe should relinquish power.
"We want a process that can bring about the longing of all Zimbabweans for a free and fair society," he said. "Robert Mugabe lost the Presidential election. Zanu PF came second in Parliamentary elections. Mr Mugabe must be prepared to relinquish power if Zimbabweans are to be free."
He continued, "The food and cholera crisis are symptoms of the meltdown of the economy and provision of essential services.
"Water is contaminated with human waste and health services are not functioning in many areas. The government's response is to increase security and suppress dissent. Some humanitarian aid is getting through but much more is needed."
The suggested reading for the day of prayer is Isaiah 58:6-9. The Churches have also compiled a special prayer:
God of power and truth,

May your peace rest with the restless of Zimbabwe.

May your love inspire the hearts of all those who long and work for justice.

May your healing touch the wounds of those suffering and bereaved.

May your truth be spoken in dangerous places.

May we not be idle in working, praying, longing and searching for your Kingdom in this broken world.

Amen

Gaza Crisis & UK government petition

2009-01-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

If you too are outraged by the atrocities being committed in Gaza then please join me and thousands of others in signing this petition.
Please go to the the petition page at 10 Downing Street at
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/gazaceasefire/
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to put increased pressure on Israel to cease its military campaign in Gaza and allow urgent humanitarian aid into the territory, and to support a UN Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Submitted by Ed Pertwee – Deadline to sign up by: 10 January 2009
Please pass it on. Many thanks.

Please email Gordon Brown through Christian Aid website:

http://act.christianaid.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=48&ea.campaign.id=2193

Here is a Christian Aid media update for you to pass on & pray through:

Today our partners in Gaza are telling us the lack of clean water and power is creating serious difficulties. Some children haven’t had a drink for over two days and many parts of Gaza have been in total darkness for three days now.

Christian Aid was deeply concerned about the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip even before the current wave of hostilities.
Israel’s 18-month blockade had already left Gazan hospitals desperately short of emergency medical supplies and spare parts for vital equipment.

Mr Abdalhadi Abu Khousa of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) told us PMRS are continuing to operate mobile health services, but are desperately short of medicine. There are particular restrictions in the north of Gaza and around Rafah which means they can’t provide services directly there. Permits for operating in Beit Hanoun have been denied.

Dr Abdalhadi is worried about the coming days as movement restrictions and lack of supplies get worse. There is also the shortage of electricity and water to contend with. They are able to work in the open area of Jabaylia, but where there are Israeli operations they are not even allowed to pick up injured people. It is impossible to send medications and other supplies between parts of the Strip as it has been divided into three by Israeli forces. Within each area ambulances are still being used, despite every journey being a grave risk to the drivers. He told us: “It’s very difficult for first aiders to move from one place to another. It’s war. All the time, everyone is under fire in all of Gaza. First we need pressure from outside to stop the Israeli war. We follow the marches and demonstrations in other countries and that gives us some hope. When the war stops, we will be able to cope.’” Mr Abu Khousa had to flee from his home after it was shelled, but he says he, like all of Gaza’s first-aiders, he “will continue to work and to help up the very last minute”.

Miri Weingarten of Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) - (a Christian Aid partner based in Jerusalem but operating on the ground in Gaza) said attacks on medical crews are making it extremely difficult to treat and evacuate the wounded. After calling yesterday for international intervention for an immediate ceasefire, PHR-Israel today sent two urgent requests to the Israeli Military Chief of staff regarding protection of medical teams, internal evacuation of the wounded, and evacuation of the wounded to external medical care.

They have also logged the following incidents.
December 31, 2008: Helicopter fires on medical crew evacuating wounded: in Jabal Kashif in northeast Gaza a crew set out to offer assistance. While approaching the bleeding victim on foot, they were hit by helicopter fire. Dr. Ihab Madhun, medic Muhammad Abu Hasireh, as well as the injured victim, were killed.

January 3, 2009: Second attack on a house after medical crews enter to evacuate the wounded: The house of the Dabbabish family in Sheikh Radwan had already been bombarded. As a crew of medics dressed in medical vests arrived on the scene to tend to the wounded the house was bombarded for a second time. One person was critically wounded: Ayyad Ahmad.

January 4, 2009: Ambulance belonging to the Al Awda Hospital in Beit Lahiya was hit by helicopter fire. Arfa Abd al Daim, a senior volunteer medic was killed and two other medical personnel were critically injured.
January 4, 2009: Tank fires on ambulance during attempts to evacuate a family in Tel Alhawa. Inass Fadil Naim, Yassir Shabir and Rifaat Abdel Al were killed.

The Near Council Of Churches (NECC) run drop-in primary care clinics supported by Christian Aid. During the crisis the clinics had been operating as emergency medical centres, but have had to suspend activities in the last 24 hours because staff can’t travel to work in safety and patients who need care can’t get to the health centres because they are situated in areas which have been evacuated due to Israeli operations. NECC say if the security situation changed - if the fighting stopped - the clinics could operate and provide essential medical care straight away.

One NECC staff member, who is available for interview, but doesn’t wish to be named for fear of reprisal, said:
“The weather is cold, and there has been no electricity for 3 days: 'All Gaza is dark'. No electricity, therefore no heating. It is the coldest time of year and after 4:30pm it is dark. It is frightening and it is not safe to walk outside. Can you imagine 1.5 million people living in the dark and cold?”

“You have to wait three hours to buy bread at the ovens in the shops. There are queues of 700 people for bread. I can't remember a time like this. We are human beings- children and women are under the bombing; we don't have any defences. We are in a hopeless situation; we need anyone to help us. “

“My family had a permit to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem. I had to return home on Friday so didn't make it to join my wife in the West Bank, and we are apart for Christmas and New Year for the first time ever. She is not able to join me now and I cannot leave Gaza, all because of the bombing.”

Ahmad Sourani, Gaza director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC) said: “Families are trapped in their houses. It is only possible to move outside in the dark; we expect an escalation in violence. There are no services operating; PARC- like other NGOs- cannot work properly because we cannot move around. It is a very frightening and frustrating situation. There has been no electricity for many days; the little food people have in fridges has gone bad.” Whether Palestinians or Israelis, we are all suffering. For people who are suffering, it is normal to search for hope, it is not normal to suffer violence continually.

Reem Al Naraib of the Women’s Affairs Centre (WAC) in north Gaza is six months pregnant. She had to leave her home after Israeli tanks began bombing the area. In the rush to escape her family left behind all their possessions and ID cards. They moved to another house in the middle of Gaza city but Reem says that Hamas have started firing rockets from this new area and she fears they will come under attack again. She or her other children haven’t had a drink of water in two days. She says her blood pressure is high and she has a constant headache caused by dehydration. She fears that she is going to loose her baby. Her 9 year old son is vomiting with fear, and is dehydrated but she has no water to give him.

Please do what you can to write or phone your MP, email or write to Gordon Brown and find out what their postition is on an immediate ceasfire in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis taking place.

Violence in Sri Lanka continues. Lets do what we can.

2009-01-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

May 2009 bring better signs of hope for all in conflict areas like Gaza and Eelam. Thank you for your solidarity and thoughtfulness around the situation of the Tamil people which you have expressed and taken action on during this past year - 2008. Your efforts are highly appreciated. (Current situation horrendous. Today and yesterday Kilinochi hospital was bombed - another serious contravention of Geneva Conventions /International Humanitarian Law. Today two women and two men killed - all civilians) Despite having been told - by the EU - that we would have a definite answer from the EU regarding the renewal of GSP trade benefits to Sri Lanka, we have been told that the result of their decision is not yet finlaised. They are going to do an investigation over the next year. But SL has refused to co-operate. So this does not add up. Please continue to do what you can and use the previous posts on Sri Lanka and the info from the Nov. synod bags to write letters in support of the Tamil peoples as soon as you can.

God asks us to do what we can - this we can do - write, pray, tell others and don't let up until there is change for all the Tamil people so they can share in a new year with hope and peace.

God bless us all for 2009.

Message from Karyn, Zimbabwe, Tearfund

2008-12-18T07:32:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

With Christmas just a week away and the year-end chaos that sets in, it’s been hard to find the time to stop and send an email about the state of things of Zimbabwe. But I have forced myself to concentrate on this because things have suddenly deteriorated in a direction I wasn’t expecting.As if cholera and severe food shortages are not enough, there has been a spate of abductions. Perhaps the most horrifying thing is that included in the first group to be abducted was a two year old child. None of these people have been seen or heard of since. The police have not been able to help.I can’t help thinking what it must be like for the families of these people.As you can imagine, this has spread fear and uncertainty for many. Those abducted include MDC activists, staff of a human rights organisation, a human rights lawyer, a journalist. It’s hard to know who might be next.Please pray for those who have been abducted – for protection and that they will be released unharmed. Pray also for their families who must be so worried.Pray for staff of NGOs and civil society organisations, for activists, human rights defenders and those who are potential targets. Please pray for wisdom and protection and peace for them and their families.Thank you for your prayers.

God bless, Karyn

Southern Africa Team, Tearfund
Please do what you can to share this news, contact Tearfun or Amnesty International for further info on what you can do to support the people of Zimbabwe.
In Wythenshawe we have a Zimbabwean Church and are collecting basic medical items to send soon. If you would like to donate paracetamol, bandages, antiseptic, vitamins and other basic items please drop them off very soon to St. Andrews House, St Andrews Methodist Church in Wythenshawe M22 for Revd Brenda Shaw to pass on.
Many thanks.

Sri Lanka letters - reminder!

2008-12-08T03:22:00.000-08:00

At our November Synod all the postal bags included detailed info about the crisis in Sri Lanka and what our local churches can do in support of the people there in such dire times. Trinity Community Church in Manchester have contacted me to say they have used the letter from Synod post bags for the congregation to sign and send off to Brussels and also sent copies to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, David Milleband & MPs Gerald Kaufman & Tony Lloyd too.

Please do contact me to let me know if your church has done something similar so we have an idea about how many local churches and Christians are responding from our Synod. If you haven't done so then please speak with your minister or Synod rep about this material to send off before Christmas.

many thanks.

2008-12-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

AN APPEAL BY PCT TO THE GLOBAL CHURCH FAMILY FOR PRAYERS CONCERNING THE ABUSE OF JUSTICE AND VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN TAIWAN

On behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and out of unyielding concern for the dignity and selfhood of the 23 million people of our nation, as well as for peace in the Asia region, we sincerely appeal to you our sisters and brothers in Christ to join us in expressing concern and offering prayers for Taiwan.

Ever since the Legislative Elections of January 2008 when the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang KMT) garnered the overwhelming majority of seats and later the KMT candidate, Ma Ying-Jeou, won the Presidential Election on 20 May 2008, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), along with many others in our land, have held deep concerns and reservations for the future of democracy and human rights in our country Taiwan.

Sadly, the performance of President Ma and his KMT administration the past six months has time and again underscored our fears. We in particular express our grave concern for recent events:

1) the detentions of both present and former government officials of the opposition party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accused of corruption. We understand one or two detainees have been charged but several accused are still held without being charged and incommunicado, this is a basic violation of due process of justice and rule of law. Furthermore, we are concerned the prosecutor’s office is seemingly leaking information to the press while the accused are unable to defend themselves. This “trial by press” also violates justice and the norm that any accused should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Since only members of the DPP opposition party are targeted this action implies the KMT is “using” the justice system to retaliate the former government under Chen’s administration.

2) the visit to Taiwan (3-7 Nov 2008) of Mr. Chen Yun-Lin, Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) from China; and the signing of the four cross-strait accords between the ARATS chairman Chen and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) represented by its Chairman, Chiang Pin-Kung. This action to develop direct aviation, shipping, market trade and economic relations with China accelerated fears that the methods used by the Ma Administration are costly in terms of the legal process, Taiwan’s dignity and sovereignty as well as being a real threat to democracy in Taiwan.

3) the violation of human rights, freedom of speech and expression, undergirded by the government’s action to deploy more than 10,000 police including riot police officers, to Taipei city to “guard” the visiting dignitary Chen and the sixty people who accompanied him. These measures to “guard and protect” the visiting envoy from China were excessive and disturbingly reminiscent of the dark years under Martial Law.

With this letter we add a brief overview of some of the events of last week that hopefully will help you further understand the reason for our concerns.

On behalf of the PCT and Taiwan, thank you for your support and we ask that you kindly share this prayer request with your church members.

Sincerely yours, in grace and peace

Rev. Chang Te-Chien (Andrew)
General Secretary

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan meets North Western Synod!

2008-11-21T03:55:00.000-08:00

Five guests from Chiayi Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan have completed their 2-week tour of the North Western Synod of The United Reformed Church. They visited all 4 Synod Areas beginning in Cumbria and finishing in South Area. They visited over 20 United Reformed Churches, Luther King House where our Northern College is based, The Windermere Centre, several community projects and also spent two days in London with URC staff at URC central offices.

In the photo above they are greeted by NWSynod Moderator Revd. Richard Church as he presents them with Worship from the URC. Our guests were hosted by many laypeople and ministers across the synod. For some this was the first time to meet people from Taiwan. For others they had met the Taiwanese choir members in 2006. Special thanks to all those hosts and host churches who warmly welcomed our guests and made special arrangements for them to share in the life of their local churches. This kind of home-stay hospitality was very special to our guests and they would like it to continue as part of our arrangements.

If you are a United Reformed layperson in North Western Synod perhaps you would like to twin your church with a Taiwanese church & keep in touch by emails & photos & weblinks? Perhaps you feel inspired to visit Taiwan to volunteer your time teaching English for 3-6 months or to take part in a young adults programme in June 2009? Please contact Revd Kate Gray, St. Marks URC, Wythenshawe to find out more about any of these opportunities or further ideas you have to enrich our partnership at a local church level.

Action: Stop Adela's Deportation from UK to Rwanda

2008-11-12T01:37:00.000-08:00

Please visit the George House Trust website to find out information for your church about the campaign against Adela's deportation back to Rwanda. Read her story and do what you can to respond. Please circulate in local churches including other kinds of churches you are working with.
http://www.ght.org.uk/news/article/38230/14/10/2008/Stop_Adela's_Deportation

Sri Lanka – Humanitarian Emergency

2008-11-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

This is the world church info flyer that will be in our North Western Synod bags to take home on Sat Nov 8th:

Take action to show you care! – a little love will go a long way!

Inescapable facts: Over the 60 years since independence, Sri Lanka has implemented constant waves of anti-Tamil legislation, resulting in systematic discrimination, persecution, torture, rape and extra-judicial killings. Over 80,000 Tamil civilians have been killed in the last 25 years.

In January 2008 the Sri Lankan government unilaterally abrogated the Ceasefire Agreement, (which had been signed by the government and the LTTE- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - in February 2002 with the mediation of Norway) and is pursuing a brutal military strategy of bombing Tamil civilians from land, air and sea.

According to the UN, Sri Lanka has the highest number of “disappearances” in the world. Nobel Laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel compared the situation in Sri Lanka to Latin America in the 70’s and 80’s. He, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and many others urged UN member states to vote Sri Lanka off the UN Human Rights Council- HRC in May.

Their action was successful! Sri Lanka is no longer a member of the Council.

Current situation: 500, 000 internally displaced Tamil people (IDPs) are refugees in their own land (where Tamils have lived for over 2,000 years). On September 6th 2008 the Sri Lankan government ordered the UN humanitarian organisations (eg UNICEF, UNHCR) to go, from the Vanni area, leaving the people unprotected and vulnerable to abuse by the Sri Lankan armed forces, who are occupying Tamil land. The people are being denied food and medicine. These, and many other actions by Sri Lanka, contravene the Geneva Conventions and are crimes against humanity.

The International Community must continue to keep up the pressure started by Archbishop Tutu and others. Join those who are insisting Sri Lanka should not receive the EU GSP+ financial privileges. The EU is considering whether Sri Lanka meets the Human Rights and Good Governance criteria required. These monies would effectively allow more to be spent on military hardware to continue to bomb and kill innocent Tamil people including women and children in their own homes, schools, hospitals, temples, churches, fields and market places.

We invite you to write a letter based on the adjacent one.

For further information contact: Deirdre McConnell,
Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR, PO Box 182, Manchester M16 8ED, tchrdip@tchr.net , tchrdip@hotmail.com www.tchr.net

Please use this letter as a template in your local churches to act soon:

Your Name and address
Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
EU Commissioner for External Relations,
B- 1049 Brussels, Belgium,
Fax: +32 – 2 – 298 8561.

Dear Ms Ferrero-Waldner,

I am deeply disturbed by Sri Lanka’s well documented contravention of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Many aid workers, journalists,Parliamentarians, Human Rights defenders, religious leaders and others who have defended human rights in non-violent ways, have been killed by Sri Lankan armed forces. Evidence of the genocide of Tamils has been unequivocally corroborated by numerous human rights organisations, and international legal experts.

Like us, you will be aware that the Government of Sri Lanka withdrew from the Ceasefire Agreement in January this year, choosing War not Peace – death not life.

We urge the European Commission to ensure that a firm be taken against the granting of the GSP+ trade privileges to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has reapplied for these, and the EU will respond by December 15 2008. These financial benefits would simply assist the government in pursuing its military onslaught of civilians in the North.

Church sources themselves have alerted us to the dire situation. We believe that the human rights argument must be robustly put forward by the European Commission.

Yours sincerely, (own name/church names here & signed)

Zimbabwe Petition to the United Nations

2008-10-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

Please visit this website and read the petition to the United Nations. If you agree with is please sign it. You can also lodge an objection to the petition too.

Please also encourage your local churches and community groups to petition the UN so there can be changes in favour of the people of Zimbabwe instead of favour for President Mugabe and the charade of government which now exists since the elections earlier this year.

http://www.helpsavezimbabwe.org/

CRIES FROM THE PALMYRA GROVE

2008-10-06T04:09:00.000-07:00

The following is an article about the dire situation in Sri Lanka forwarded from a URC member in South Area part of our Synod. It is written by a priest, Father Emmanuel, who spoke at Luther King House in 1996 about Sri Lanka. It is part of the ongoing work of The Commission for Justice and Peace in Jaffna Diocese. Please highlight this situation in prayer and with your MP if possible.

The most disturbing factor of the civilian life situation this week was the request by the Government to all the foreign NGOs to leave the Vanni area stating that the Government would no more be responsible for their safety. Except the ICRC, all others have effectively left in accordance with the conditions on which they commenced service here, except perhaps for a skeletal service to be rendered by their local staff.
This should raise a chain of questions in any rights concerned organization, group, or individual.
1. What conditions prompted these organizations to opt to serve there and how are those conditions now - rectified, eliminated or worse still, aggravated?
2. They did much more than feeding and sheltering in these trying times. They were a source of comfort and moral support to the masses that were looking to them as the watch-dogs of their rights and treatment.
3. They were links with the outside world serving the latter to know at least partly, the real situation there. Through the present order, doesn’t the Government want to silence that voice too and keep that area out of the vigilance by the world community?
4. Should the Government be concerned with the safety of only the foreigners and not that of the locals who are the citizens of SL.
5. If the Vanni people move to the Government controlled areas, where is the guarantee that thousands will not disappear just as was and is still happening in Jaffna?
6. In the backdrop of its past behaviour, is there any assurance of the masses being properly looked after by the Government?

In any civilized society, the Government is responsible for the lives and welfare of all its citizens without any discrimination. However, the behaviour of all the Colombo Governments has been to treat the Tamils as second class citizens whose rights can be denied or curtailed at will.

Another side of the same coin appears to be the indirect order for all Tamils ‘without compelling cause for staying in Colombo’ to leave Colombo immediately. Does this apply to the Sinhalese people too? Are all the Tamils being seen as terrorists? Is it that the Tamils can be driven out of their villages, homes and residences at the whims of the Government?

Daily 2-4 persons irrespective of gender and age are abducted, mostly from their homes in spite of protests by the other inmates and family members. Their corpses mostly shot or cut, are found thrown about after a day or two. The daily papers report on both events (abductions and the recovery of the bodies) quoting the victims’ names and other particulars. Official magisterial inquest is held and the bodies are handed over to the relatives after post-mortem examination. This has become a common occurrence. No proper investigations are held and the perpetrators are neither found nor brought before Justice. Is this how the civilians are looked after by the State?
Won’t this happen on a much larger scale if the Vanni people heed the enticing call of the Government to leave the Vanni and fall into its net?

If you would like further information about human rights in Sri Lanka and how your church can respond see www.tchr.net/ or contact the address below:

Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR
Deirdre McConnell
Director International Programme
P. O. Box : 182
Manchester M16 8ED
UNITED KINGDOM

Zimbabwe Update - Commitment for Life/Christian Aid

2008-10-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Political and economic instability continues to worsen in Zimbabwe, making the work of Christian Aid partners even more crucial. Though Government restrictions on this work has been damaging since March, the Dabane Trust managed to complete vital emergency work providing water points for drought-prone areas.

The United Nations estimates that by March 2009 - the height of Zimbabwe's dry season – approximately 45 per cent of the population will not have enough food to eat. Dabane Trust's work helping communities' access water to drink, grow crops and water livestock will save lives as the food and water crisis heightens.

The rural district of Gwanda was recently identified by Dabane Trust as one of the most in need. More than 3000 households there rely on unsafe water sources as much as 10km from their homes. Despite increasing difficulties importing cement and pipes, the Trust have restored twelve boreholes, and plan to continue this work through this year.

City dwellers are also experiencing a water crisis with running water provision failing. The Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA), the focus of our July materials, has criticised the government's decision to hand water supply management from city councils to ZINWA, an arm of the government who CHRA say 'does not have the financial and technical capacity to run and manage the water supply for the city of Harare'.

The humanitarian situation is particularly grave. Curbs on aid agencies imposed in June 2008 prior to the presidential election run-off mean that fewer than 20 per cent of the more than four million people in need have received help. 'It is a deeply serious situation, so many people desperately need food,' says Useni Sibanda, coordinator of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA), a Christian Aid partner organisation. Mr Sibanda said the deal could 'change the landscape in Zimbabwe'. While there are urgent economic and political measures which must be taken, he says the church also has a very important role to play.' We are keen that the process of national healing starts immediately. We need a framework for a truth telling process that will bring peace and reconciliation to Zimbabwe.' Mr Sibanda says the church in the community has a major role to play; the recent electoral violence has caused a significant population displacement which has resulted in a high degree of mistrust.

'We must start the process of restorative justice at the community level. So many of our communities are broken; people have been displaced by their neighbors. There is a lot trauma amongst our people. The make-up of the commission on the new constitution must also be transparent and inclusive. 'We have to start working on the framework for the new constitution, it is essential to ensuring we are truly on the road to recovery.'

Basic foodstuffs, including maize meal and bread, are often in short supply in Zimbabwe, which was once one of Africa's leading agricultural producers. About 80 per cent of the country's 12.3m people are unemployed and many depend on food aid. Prior to the food aid ban, many Zimbabweans were already suffering from food shortages and rampant inflation. Millions of dollars in western-donor aid is expected, if President Mugabe proves genuine about sharing power and beginning to end Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis.

2008-09-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

(photo from Taiwanese New Year celebrations at St. Peters House in Manchester earlier this year)

The British society in general and the local community in Manchester in particular are known for the hospitality they show to the foreign friends amongst them, and this positive interaction between people of various cultural heritages enriches the experiences and lives of all parties involved.
There are 200 students from Taiwan in Manchester every year. Most of these students are on some one-year postgraduate taught courses and the experience of coming to Manchester can be both an exciting and a nervous experience.
In the past few years, various activities designed to facilitate the interaction and foster the friendship between the local community and the Taiwanese students have been organised and these have been very enjoyable for everyone.
We would like to invite you and your family and friends to come to the Anglo-Taiwan Gathering, the first of the series of such events for this year to be held on Friday 14 November at 7 00 pm at St. Peters House, contact details of which are shown above.
In this gathering, there will be some Taiwanese dishes. Some simple Taiwanese recipes will also be shared. It would certainly enhance the programme if you could also share with us some local customs or recipes. With the approach of several local holidays and the festive season, many students from Taiwan would be very interested to know how these days are celebrated here.
We would also like to invite you and your family and friends to several parties in the coming year celebrating the main Taiwanese festivals such as the Lunar New Year (including the Lantern’s Day), the Dragon Boat’s Day, and the Mid-Autumn’s Day (the Moon Festival). We will inform you of the details later. There will also be opportunities to arrange other activities such as invitations for Taiwanese students to visit local families to celebrate Christmas together. We will run the host scheme which is the local British family meet one or two Taiwanese student s build up the friendship and share their lives each other. Please let us know by Monday 10 November if you are able to join the host scheme or come and how many of you there will be so we can plan accordingly. Please tell all your friends and church members about this event. You can telephone Revd. Shou hui Chung at St Peter’s House, Manchester to book.

Tuesdays at Two and other Taiwanese updates...

2008-09-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesdays at Two group, at Trinity Church in Cheadle, welcomed a visit to learn about the United Reformed Churches Global Partnership with The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

Around 50 men and women attended and shared together with Taiwanese music, pictures, Paiwan sacred beads and special waistcoats! We shared an afternoon together about Taiwanese life, food, faiths and language. The group were keen to buy several copies of the Taiwanese CD available by indigenous, aboriginal Taiwanese peoples who are Christian. The song cover also gives translations of the words sung and was a special way in which we as Christians of different denominations can share together through music and learning how our brothers and sisters in Christ live in Taiwan.

Earlier in the year a group from Heald Green URC and the church from Salford Central also invited me to share in their worship and groups about our Global Partnership.

This year two churches have also been able to partner with Presbyterian Churches in Chiayi Presbytery.

This coming autumn Lancashire Area will hold an event for local people in order to share more about our partnership and keep it alive through local friendship and involvement.

2009 will see new opportunities for Christians from United Reformed Churches including adults from South and Central Areas and young people from FURY able to participate in upcoming visits to Taiwanese Christians. News about serving overseas in Taiwan will also be available through the synod bags on Sat 8th Nov at Christ Church URC, Morecambe. These will be posted here soon too! Watch this space...

Sunday 7th September - to mark in our United Reformed churches!

2008-08-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder that Sunday 7th Sept. is the day set aside by our Global Partners The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Chiayi Presbytery, to mark ecumenical partnerships.

I would like to encourage all our North Western Synod churches to at least hold a time of prayer for Taiwan, PCT and Chiayi Presbytery during your main services of worship on that day.

To follow shortly I will be emailing, from our Taiwanese partners, a translated copy of the service prepared by them that all their local churches in Chiayi will be sharing in locally there.

You may want to share in some Taiwanese music, photos or Taiwanese tea or some delicious mango. The photo inserted is of special green mango being prepared in Taiwan. It is hard to find in the UK however you can easily now get fairtrade mango from supermarkets from other countries - which would give a lovely taster of something different to try in worship or after the service with tea!

I appreciate things are busy in September but Chiayi are delighted that we would like to share in marking a special day in their church calender so hope it will become a firm favourite in our church calenders too!

Zimbabwe

2008-07-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

Please share this about Zimbabwe in your local churches & through various media:
Emergency Resolution on Zimbabwe from The United Reformed Church General Assembly 2008

General Assembly reflecting on the continuing humanitarian and political crisis in Zimbabwe following the flawed presidential run-off held at the end of June:

1. Strongly condemns the violent tactics employed by the ruling party to intimidate, abuse and destroy the Zimbabwean people.

2. Commends our church partners in the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Evangelical Alliance of Zimbabwe and Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Zimbabwe and other regional and international agencies for condemning this brutality.

3. Adds the voice of the United Reformed Church to those calling for an immediate end to violence and human rights violations in Zimbabwe and for the establishment of a transitional government to negotiate a framework for political and economic recovery.

4. Calls on local churches to continue praying for justice and peace to be restored to Zimbabwe, and to offer hospitality and support to Zimbabweans living in their communities.

5. Calls on the Government of the UK to stop all deportations to Zimbabwe and to give urgent attention to the welfare of thousands of destitute Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom awaiting Appeal Court rulings.

6. Instructs the Mission Committee to send a delegation from the United Reformed Church including Zimbabwean nationals to raise these issues with the Foreign Secretary.

7th September 2008 to be adopted as special Sunday

2008-06-07T02:17:00.000-07:00

Chiayi Presbytery Ecumenical Committee set aside one Sunday per year, the first Sunday in September, as their dedicated day for the Ecumenical Committee. When I was there we discussed United Reformed Churches of the North Western Synod also adopting this Sunday so we can pray in solidarity together for The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan & churches & their related issues of Chiayi Presbytery.

This year Sunday 7th September 2008 is set aside as the special PCT day. Chiayi Presbytery will also hold a special worship service at Dong Ming Church where Revd James Ching Chang Pan is minister. It is the oldest church in the Presbytery. Chiayi Presbytery will prepare some worship material for that Sunday and we will hope to have it translated so that our churches can take part in it here in the North West. In their Presbytery CWM students are also invited to churches on that day.

Please contact me to let me know your church will mark this special day in 2008 and I will let Chiayi Presbytery know the total number of churches in our synod.

Chiayi road trip

2008-06-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

I made a recent last-minute visit to Taiwan to our partner church as part of a different URC-PCT program and had a short overnight visit to Chiayi Presbytery with whom our North Western Synod is linked. The Ecumenical Committee was convened for us to talk together about several issues of our partnership:

Twinning relationships between church to church. There are a very small number of churches who are trying to establish relationships with local PCT churches in Chiayi. Language is certainly a barrier from both sides of the partnership and it would help if local churches had one email and named person to enable smooth conversation. Young people across Chiayi are also willing to use MSN & social networking sites to have different communications but again language is a barrier. Something which has been suggested is a 2-week English language camp for Taiwanese and British people from the churches youth to get together and share with each other. Churches who have already made a link or contact through me will hear directly from me soon.
An invitation has been made to ministers of Chiayi to attend ministers summer school with North Western Synod for 4 days annually & also spend about 1 week with a local URC minister in their pastorates either before or after the summer school. The dates for 2008 & 2009 have been shared. Although this year it may be more difficult for 1-2 ministers to attend it will be strongly encouraged by the Ecumenical Committee that 2009 summer school be attended by 1-2 ministers from Chiayi and hosted by a local minister who is open to sharing with a Taiwanese minister. In our synod there are over 10 ministers who have met with Taiwanese ministers & it is hoped someone new will volunteer to host for 2009 for about 1 week. Contact Kate Gray if you're interested.
Young people - a separate youth link between nwsynod FURY young people & young people in Chiayi Presbytery is something which may be possible. Perhaps a group visit, mission trip to Chiayi or our synod, MSN online conversations and other suggestions were made. I'll contact Leo Roberts & the synod FURY group in due course.
Visit from Chiayi to NW Synod - there will be a small group visit of 6 people from Chiayi Presbytery in November 2008 including 4 ministers and 2 elders from the executive of the presbytery. They will be attending our NWSynod on Sat. 8th Nov. in Morecambe at Christ Church URC. The full details of their visit will be discussed & planned with our Taiwan synod planning group & posted here soon after. A schedule will be made available for local churches however at this stage offers of support with respect to finance, hosting and transport would be helpful. Please contact me, Kate Gray by telephone or email. Details from the URC Handbook or your minister.

Please share a little of this news in your churches. More news to follow in the next few days.

Pray for Asian Consultation in Taiwan

2008-05-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Bridgebuilders International is holding a consultation in Kaoshiung, Taiwan from May 29th to June 2nd on the theme 'The Role of Women Upholding the Dignity and Integrity of All God's Creation.' Please pray for the 150 women gathering at the consultation from around Asia and the world who will take part in worship,workshops, bible studies and hear speakers on this theme including a session on trafficking and slavery of women and children. Sunday 18th May is Not for Sale Sunday in the UK churches when all churches are encouraged to theme their services and use material from CHASTE http://www.chaste.org.uk/ It is hoped that churches of the North Western Synod will also download worship materials including prayers, poems, reflections and stories on this theme from the CHASTE website either Sunday 18th May or soon after. There are posters and prayer cards still available from the same website and this will enable us to connect further with our Taiwanese sisters and brothers in solidarity as they work on their theme at the conference later this month. Please also pray for Chinese people on the mainland after the devastating earthquake this week. The Disasters Emergency Committee is making aid available to the Chinese people. You can contribute if you are able via the Christian Aid website http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Please use this material in your churches and pray for the Chinese people, the Asian consultation and respond in worship and action in the UK as you are able with your gifts and resources.

If you need further support or advice please don't hesitate to contact Revd Kate Gray. Contact details through your minister or church secretary or via the nwsynod website http://www.nwsynod.org.uk/

The image above is a painting called Martha and Mary by He Qi, Chinese Christian artist.

Churches concern at Zimbabwe violence

2008-05-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Methodist and United Reformed Churches have together voiced their concern about increasing levels of violence and political intimidation, linked to the delay in announcing the result of Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

Commenting on the precarious situation, the Revd Dr Stephen Orchard, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church, said: ‘The Zimbabwe Election Commission owes it to the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe to announce the presidential result without further delay, to enable people to begin the urgent task of rebuilding their shattered lives and economy. We condemn the campaign of violence and intimidation that has been embarked upon by members of the ruling party, following the announcement of the parliamentary election results. We also believe that people who hold power in any country have a first duty to care for the poor and vulnerable rather than for themselves’.

Reflecting on the escalating humanitarian crisis, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Revd David Deeks, said ‘The impact on the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans has been immense. The people of Zimbabwe appear to have voted for change and the leaders of Southern African states bear a huge responsibility to ensure that the will of the people is respected. If that doesn’t happen, the crisis in Zimbabwe could have an increasingly devastating impact on the entire region’.

The two churches expressed their solidarity and support in prayer and action with their partner churches and agencies in Zimbabwe and pledged to continue working together to achieve peace, justice and prosperity there. They illustrated the plight of Zimbabweans with statistics, including:

INFLATION In 1987 inflation averaged 11.9 percent. It surged to an official record of 100,586 percent in January 2008, but economic experts say the real rate is much higher.

LIFE EXPECTANCY Average life expectancy dropped from 63 years in 1990 to 37.3 years in 2005, according to World Bank and U.N. figures.

UNEMPLOYMENT Estimated at about 80% of the working population.

Taiwanese Dance Group visit The Lowry in May 09!

2008-04-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

Taiwanese Cloud Gate Dance Theatre are visting The Lowry on Fri 2nd & Sat 3rd May 8pm. Perhaps your United Reformed Church would like to organise a visit together to see one of these special performances? Tickets are £12-20 and there may be some discounts for some people. On Fri 2nd May there is a free post show talk to learn more.

For more information: http://www.thelowry.com/WhatsOn/EventDetail.aspx?EventId=3200

Seventy minutes of pure reflection await you in this monochrome show choreographed by Lin Hwai-Min, the company’s founder and Artistic Director, and a two-time winner of the National Award for Arts in Taiwan. Ethereal wonder becomes elemental reality as the stage slowly becomes covered with a layer of water and the 24-strong troupe move with sublime fluidity to selections of music from Six Suites for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach. Moon Water is a study of real vs unreal, of effort vs effortlessness, of ying vs yang – with all elements remaining in a rare and elegant balance.

By the end of the performance the stage is flowing with water! This sounds like an interesting performance and an opportunity to learn more from Taiwanese dance, music and culture.

If you would like any further support in relation to this event at The Lowry as a church then please do contact Revd Kate Gray, St. Marks URC in Manchester. The minister or secretary of the church can give you my contact details.

He is Risen by He Qi

2008-03-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to all our world church friends and partners from North Western Synod of The United Reformed Church!

URC Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War

2008-03-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war on 19th March 2008, Mission Council of the United Reformed Church:
1. Expresses deep sorrow and regret at the devastating consequences of this war and occupation – for the people of Iraq and the families of the coalition forces, reflected in these tragic statistics:
· An estimated 1.2 million Iraqis have been killed directly and indirectly. As a result of the destruction of infrastructure, tens of thousands experience on-going malnutrition and disease.
· Since 2003 there has been a mass exodus of people fleeing from the on-going violence and occupation. More than 4.4 million Iraqis have been uprooted from their homes. Some 2.2 million are displaced internally and more than 2 million have fled to neighbouring countries – Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
· The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that one in five Iraqi refugees registered in Syria is a victim of violence. Many suffer from chronic illness which is exacerbated as their financial resources run out. Refugee children are falling behind in education, and one UNHCR survey in Syria found 10% of the children of refugee families were working for a living.
· The minority Christian community has suffered from targeted attacks on churches and Christian leaders. The Iraqi Christian community of 800,000 has been reduced to between 400,000 and 600,000 as a direct consequence of the war.
· 174 British, 3,923 US and 133 other military personnel have been killed in Iraq between March 2003 and 14 January 2008 and thousands more injured and maimed; returning home some are vilified for simply doing their duty.
· According to The Ministry of Defence the UK has spent £5 billion on the war in Iraq over and above the UK’s defence budget.

2. Reiterates that entering the War in Iraq in support of US forces before exhausting all other options in contravention of international law was an ill-conceived decision on the part of the British government; it has contributed to the immense human suffering and misery outlined above and was contrary to views of many people of faith in Britain.

3. Repeats its call for leaders to reflect on the root causes of the situation in Iraq and to address these based on the understanding that where conflict and tension abound, lasting peace and stability are more likely to emanate from a dismantling of structures that perpetrate injustice or division than from violence and aggression.

4. Mindful of the on-going humanitarian crisis, calls on all those with influence and authority to work with renewed urgency and vigour to bring an end to the occupation of Iraq by coalition forces based on the development of sustainable security and livelihoods for the people of this region.

5. Seeks commitment to resolution of conflict through diplomatic means and the use of multilateral institutions in compliance with international law, in order to achieve a lasting basis for peace, not only in Iraq but in the entire Middle East region.

6. Pays tribute to and supports in prayer the work of forces chaplains whose calling is to provide spiritual support and comfort to service women and men.

Please copy this & use in your church magazines, newsletters & on websites. You may also want to read it aloud in Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday services in order to pray and reflect together on the continuing violence in Iraq.

Revd Nathan Eddy to visit The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

2008-03-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Revd. Nathan Eddy, Free Church Chaplain to students at Manchester University and working under the banner of the United Reformed Church, is to go to visit The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, June 26 to July 12, as part of their churches I Love Taiwan Mission with his colleague Revd Chung Shou-hui who ministers to mandarin-speaking students at Manchester University as part of the Chaplaincy Team.

This is an exciting joint project as Nathan is South Area Racial Justice/Multicultural Ministry Advocate and will learn first-hand from Taiwanese and mandarin-speaking peoples in Taiwan and taste delicious Taiwanese food and warm hospitality our Taiwanese sisters and brothers are becoming well-known for. He is also willing to share with local united reformed churches on his return if you invite him!

Information on I Love Taiwan Mission 2008 for United Reformed Churches:

Aim:

Training in Mission - For young people to learn and live out their faith and challenge them to devote themselves to God through participation in mission, and construct a life of identification, devotion and growth.
Objectives:
1. To widen overseas youth’s knowledge and understanding about people and the church in Taiwan through mission involvement (e.g. teaching English in summer camp) in a cross cultural and multi-religious context alongside Taiwan’s young people.
2. Develop a network among overseas youth, Taiwanese youth and churches
3. Motivate ecumenical involvement in local churches.
4. Leadership training and nurturing through participation in community mission and evangelism.

Please pray for Nathan Eddy and Shou-hui as they finalise their preparations for the mission visit.

Please pray for all the young adults aged 16-35 who will go from around the world to Taiwan this summer to share in God's mission with The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan - particularly for those local churches who will offer hospitality and community ministry projects for young adults to take part in together with local people.

May God continue to nurture this mission partnership relationship our synod has with Chiayi Presbytery and between our two denominations.

Please do copy this for your church websites and magazines and contact Revds Kate Gray or Mike Walsh through your minister or church secretary (or URC yearbook) for any further support your church may want in relation to our partner church in Taiwan.

Taiwanese Visit

2008-03-03T04:52:00.000-08:00

Revd Dr John Parry & Revd Sarah Moore from North Western Synod are currently visiting Taiwan! John, a tutor at our Northern College within the synod, is visiting as part of his sabbatical time and is visiting theological colleges whilst there. Sarah is involved with a ministers exchange begun a couple of years ago for new ministers to share cross-cultural experiences together. John and Sarah have also visited Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, in the north of the country.

A minister from Wales synod, Revd Kate Gartside, is also visiting our Presbytery partners in Chiayi where she has been preaching at Revd Dr James Pan's East Gate church twice with Taiwanese translation too! James is currently the Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

It is hoped that all members of our churches in the North Western Synod will have seen the DVD given out at last synod and begun to pray regularly for our partner church in Taiwan. Here's what our synod's churches have been up to in addition to watching the DVD:

One Lancashire Area church in our synod is setting up a young peoples link with young people in a Taiwanese church in Chiayi.
One Cumbria Area church has written to their MP in relation to the earlier statement on the PCT Taiwanese Declaration. (see below on this blog)

One South Area church celebrated Taiwanese (& Chinese) New Year with lots of food & conversation.

What have Central Area been up to for us to share here?!

Several churches in South Area have invited speakers about Taiwan & Chiayi Presbytery including a Pilots group, women's groups, fellowship groups. Many of these have wanted to buy some of the special beads that were shown and/or the cd of Taiwanese music which is also available to all churches. The money for these has gone directly to those who supplied these products to us from Taiwan.

Are there suggestions about what local churches would like in order to help benefit our partnership or to offer to it? Please contact Revd Mike Walsh or Kate Gray by phone or email - (we're in the synod handbook - speak with your church secretary for details!)

New Delivery of Mozambique Stoles for 2008!

2008-01-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

We now have in the North Western Synod a new delivery of handmade fairtrade stoles from Mozambique. They are still at £35 (+P&P).
They are in a variety of colours including green, purple, blue and pink.
Contact Revd Kate Gray (URC Synod Directory) to order.
They will also be available at:
14-17 Jan 08 - Women in Ministries Network at Windermere Centre
Lancashire Area Synod in March 08 - via Revd Helga Cornell

Declaration of the Right for Taiwan to Join the United Nations

2007-12-19T01:19:00.000-08:00

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan held an International Conference during the days 3-6 December 2007 to mark the 30th Anniversary of the PCT Declaration on Human Rights. The conference was well attended by local delegates, several of our international partners, overseas guest speakers and friends, and members of the WATCC. At the conclusion of the conference the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) held a press conference on 7 December 2007 and issued a declaration.

Please copy this article for inclusion in your church newsletters & websites. Please continue to pray for the PCT.

Declaration of the Right for Taiwan to Join the United Nations

To the member states of the United Nations, the peoples and nations of the world who love justice and peace, and to all churches around the world.

On the eve of the fifty-ninth anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the spirit of our 1977 Declaration on Human Rights and our 1985 Confession of Faith, we declare:

Since the end of World War II in 1945, colonized peoples of the world have been exercising the basic human right of self-determination, thus becoming independent nations. The 23 million people of Taiwan remain the exception in that their inalienable right to statehood has been ignored or even actively opposed by member states of the United Nations. Clearly, the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has not been implemented worldwide. This overt neglect is an injustice and an outright violation of the human rights of the Taiwanese people.

Though the Taiwanese people had been successively ruled by foreign colonial powers, in 1996, they were able for the first time to directly elect a president in a democratic procedure that achieved a bloodless and peaceful revolution. Moreover they were even able to complete a peaceful transfer of power in 2000. A native Taiwanese administration led by the Democratic Progressive Party replaced the Chinese Nationalist (KMT) regime which had implemented their colonial rule over Taiwan for several decades by means of martial law. As a result of this change the Taiwanese people today express a strong demand to join the United Nations using the name “Taiwan”.

However, China, the superpower to the west of Taiwan, has repeatedly exerted its emerging influence on the international community to violate, suppress, and isolate Taiwan in a way that has brutally oppressed the Taiwanese people and their fundamental rights. Despite being grieved and incensed by this degradation, we stand on the belief that human rights are ordained by God and that Taiwan has the right to membership in the United Nations so that the dignity of the Taiwanese people will be upheld by the international community.

Therefore we solemnly make this appeal to the world. We urge all to courageously support the Taiwanese people, who have been left on the outside, and open the door to United Nations membership so that hand in hand together we can promote justice and peace throughout the world.

"The Lord has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

May God bless the United Nations, peoples and churches around the world. Amen.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
Moderator: Rev. Dr. James Kheng-chiong Phoann
General Secretary: Rev. Andrew Tek-khiam Tiunn
December 7, 2007

Taiwan Update - Nov. 2007

2007-11-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

During 2007 a handful of churches have shared in events relating to our Global Partners Programme with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan including speakers, presentations, worship, and more recently the Synod celebrated with Revd Chung Shou hui and the mandarin-speaking choir who are students at Manchester University where Shou hui is Chaplain.

Marie Trubic (Church Related Community Worker), South Manchester, is helping organise & host a group of Taiwanese people who are visiting the United Reformed Church to learn more about Church Related Community Work. It is a 12 day visit across various synods hosted by the national church office in London. It is one of the parallel & overlapping programme running in the United Reformed Church in addition to our Synod Global Partners Programme. The group will spend 3 days in and around Manchester visiting community projects. We pray for the safe journey & arrival of the group to the UK.

At our recent Synod a free DVD and leaflet was made available to all churches of the Synod. We made 150 copies and gave out about 120 so there are still some churches who'll not have seen the DVD. Please contact Revds Mike Walsh or Kate Gray for a copy. Our new Synod Moderator Revd Richard Church also has some to distribute.

The purpose of the DVD is that every URC member across the Synod including children and young people will be introduced to The Presbyterian CHurch in Taiwan through the DVD they have produced and kindly made available for each of us to share in. You are asked to do several things with the DVD & leaflet:

Show it in your worship services if possible
Gather in housegroups & homes to watch it together
In any case show the DVD before next March Synod when there will be another update
Pray for or Taiwanese partner church and partnership during Advent
Get your Sunday School, FURY, Pilots or young peoples group involved in making a display about Taiwan in a prominent place in your church building before next March
Colour photocopy the leaflet back to back and give to all church members in worship services so you can share, pray in small groups and discuss together similarities & differences between our churches & context
Contact us via the comments box below & let us know you have done some/all of these or something more creative!

More at a later date...

Manchester Aid for Children

2007-09-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Triangle Architects in Manchester has become a corporate sponsor of the group supporting Lesa Kutemwa called Manchester Aid for Children.

Check out the news update on their website for more info:
http://www.triangle-architects.ltd.uk/News.asp

Truku Presbytery and Taipei, Taiwan News

2007-09-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

TAIWAN – TRUKU PRESBYTRY AND TAIPEI

The following is a sharing from Bob Day who visited our partner church in Taiwan earlier this year. Please use this article in worship, on your church website or in your magazine.

The second half of our stay in Taiwan began at Ching-Chuan-Kang airport for a short domestic flight round to the eastern side of the island where we landed at Hualien Airport. You have to fly round the island as the mountains are too high to fly over! We were to be guests of the Truku Presbytery whose pastors visited the North Western Synod last year and who were members of a special male voice choir; their ministry being to a predominantly indigenous peoples. Here the visit was a mixture of visiting churches and of trips to enjoy areas of outstanding natural beauty.

It began in the late evening with a minibus trip up the mountain overlooking Hualien City to a restaurant for a delicious meal paid for by one of the local councillors who was a church member. Looking over the city and being reminded of the temptations of Jesus I asked him about his work and the difficulties of office before finally discovering that his patch was behind the restaurant in a more rural area! I stayed for the night with others in a flat owned by one of the pastors. This was on an estate quite a long way from town built particularly for indigenous people to enable them to access housing. I learned that several pastors were buying flats there but their churches and manses were in other areas; they were hoping to start a new church for the estate. The view from the 5th floor was stunning as we looked over paddy fields, forests and the mountains in the early morning light. My run round the local roads was stimulating but even at 7 am it was already starting to get quite hot.

Following breakfast all together at one of the pastor’s houses; he owned several which he was renovating as a way of showing his congregation that indigenous people could start up a business, we shared briefly in Bible Study and prayer. This was part of the PCT’s strategy to get everyone in the church studying scripture and praying together for local concerns.

Setting out in minibuses we arrived at the beach with the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean before us; America probably the next stop travelling east! Then to a local town set amid the sand dunes and nature reserve. Pastor Levi was proud that the Truku Presbytery Office was built on land owned by his family and yet hoping for a new office and church near by. On entering his office we were requested to take off our shoes; later on entering the church we could keep them on! This became an interesting reflection point later in the minibus.

As we travelled we discovered that these pastors had a real love of their land and sought to preserve what God had given to them. We stopped beside a church to look at a cave where Chi-Oang Iwal (1872-1946) preached the gospel everyday during the Japanese occupation in 1945. She was described as the Mother of the Mountain Church, being the first pastor among the Truku people, holding meetings and encouraging new believers despite fear of being arrested; for her and her supporters that imperative of fulfilling Jesus commission was paramount. The Taroko National Park Visitor Centre was very informative and the drive beside its deep rivers, though dark tunnels such as Nine Curve Cave and high precipitous gorges was amazing; we followed part of the road blasted by the Chinese Army through the mountains to the other side of the island. Imagine my surprise to see a picture of the Changchun Long Life Temple in a newspaper the week after I returned to England.

Hayu our driver, pastor and choir leader and his wife Fely took us to their church at Heng-Kang. Sadly there had been an unresolved split in the local church and they along with other members had set up a community based church with computer based learning and after school clubs, Bible study and singing. We were entertained to an impromptu male voice concert by the whole choir and then to songs with drums and guitar accompaniment.

In the evening we gathered at the Moderator’s house to drink tea and to socialise. Following this Malcolm and myself were challenged to 9 ball pool at the local snooker hall by the Mod and his predecessor. The competition was intense with an exciting come back; the result is too complicated to explain, even more so – the Taiwanese rules!

Next day there was a trip to Yu-Shan Theological Seminary, where many of the indigenous people study for ministry (Shou-hui, University Chaplain spent some time here). The setting overlooking Liyu Carp lake with a mountainous back ground was memorable. Students told us of their early morning walks round the lake and time spent in prayer and reflection. This was certainly a place where I could study! Linda and I enjoyed our swan shaped pedalo, serenely navigating the waters, while others toured the lake in a speed boat; this paid for by the past Mod of 9 ball pool fame who then sped off on his scooter wearing goggles!

Our route took us across narrow mountain roads with glorious scenery to Rainbow Bridge at Changhong just south of the Tropic of Cancer. We visited a local primary school where although the children were shy they could be encouraged to practice their English and to sing their tribal songs and dance. We learnt how their lessons, art and craft activity had an ecological theme and were very much rooted in exploring the land and the driftwood of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Lunch was interesting. It was almost finished when another dish arrived – a heap of roasted flying fish - wings intact; quite tasty but a little overcooked! There followed another visit to hot springs for bathing and then an evening concert at Ye-Hu-Nang church with tribal dancing and singing as well as Linda’s rendition of Classi, Classi, Yesu – sarhamore; thank you Jesus from my heart, learnt in traditional Truku language while travelling in the minibus. It brought the house down! I taught the children ‘Praise him on the trumpet, the psaltry and harp’ and rewarded the choir members with Fair Trade chocolate. This was very popular with the children in various villages as well with as the CRCW’s whose craving for delicious English style chocolate was never satisfied

On the last day, following breakfast at a local café, and Bible study and prayer outside on the street, we took the train all along the beautiful coastline to Taipei and a visit to the General Offices of the Presbyterian Church. Here we took time to reflect with the General Secretary Revd Andrew and other staff members on all that we had been privileged to experience and on the churches programme of faith and community development. Jeng-Ho, previous Chaplain at St.Peter’s, took the notes of the meeting but we didn’t really have time to talk as he had to leave straight away to lead student Bible study in his church.

The real challenge to me is of a church with God at the centre and a confidence to proclaim the faith in word and action. One of the foundational texts of their renewal programme is Psalm 89 v 14. ‘Your kingdom is founded on righteousness and justice; love and faithfulness are shown in all you do.’ Maybe the URC could Catch their Vision?

Revd Bob Day, Roby URC, Manchester

Fantastic Fairtrade Stoles from Mozambique!

2007-08-07T05:03:00.000-07:00

Zam Walker shows off her new handmade fairtrade stole from Mozambique at United Reformed Church General Assembly in Manchester.

They are available to order in a range of colours and designs. Contact Revd Kate Gray from URC handbook or Rainbow Turtle http://www.rainbowturtle.org.uk/ direct who import them from partners in Maputo, Mozambique. They are only £30!

Also available are tie dye clerical shirts, wall hangings, communion cloths & pulpit falls too.

Cancelled - IndiaDirect Event

2007-07-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry - this event on Sunday 15th July at St. Marks URC, Wythenshawe is cancelled due to Pastor Martin & Annie having to return to India early. We hope to hear from them when they are next visiting the UK. Sorry for any inconvenience.

India Direct Event: 15th July 7pm

2007-06-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 15th July Indian Pastor Martin and his wife Annie will be visiting people in South District. They run an organisation for children called India Direct based in India. It has been suggested we give people across South District opportunity to meet them and hear about this amazing work and ministry. They are visiting the UK on a short tour to raise awareness about their work in India. They have very full speaking engagements and visits so we're really pleased they are happy to make this special visit for so we can share together in God's world church.

Time: 7pm start

Venue: St. Marks URC, Oatlands Rd, M22 6AH

Refreshments available

Please share and promote in our churches

The Beautiful Island - part one by Revd Bob Day

2007-06-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

For your newsletters/worship/notices:

The North Western Synod has its world church link with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), also known as Formosa – Beautiful Island – a name given to it by Portuguese explorers in 16th century. My reason for going was primarily as convenor of the Church Related Community Work programme; the aim being for CRCW’s to share their knowledge and to learn from community engagement in Taiwan. I was also keen to continue to build links with the PCT; those who went to the last Synod will have learnt about the recent visit by lay people to Taiwan and some of you may have met members of the choir who visited the Synod last year.

Meeting up with Marie and Malcolm at Manchester Airport at 4pm on Sunday we flew down to London to join the other CRCW’s, Rosie, Suzanne and Linda as well as Dale Rominger, co-ordinator of the International Relations programme in the URC. Travelling via Bancock we arrived in Taipei on Monday 10 pm local time and then journeyed to Tek-Tng Church by minibus arriving 2 am Tuesday. Here we were warmly welcomed by Revd Chuang Hsiau-Seng with coffee, tea and biscuits.

Tuesday was to be a relaxing day so that we could recover! In the morning I looked round the Tek-Tng church complex begun in 1932, the modern new church built in 1988 and with the recent addition of an accommodation block used for visits, training and conferences; climbed into the massive tree house in the grounds; tried to work out how I would scale the climbing wall on the side of the manse; marvelled at the orchids growing in pots and at the church gardens; was ambushed by the excited and giggling teenagers who were part of the church’s education project; wondered at the large IT suite (20 + computers) with teaching rooms; and enjoyed a wonderful lunch of rice, meatballs, bamboo shoots, prawns, spring rolls, vegetables etc etc. The food we shared in all sorts of locations was always excellent and my chopstick technique improved rapidly.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a visit to Luhang on the west coast; to the massive glass factory and museum, the Folk Arts museum and gardens, and then to a Buddhist Temple where by chance a celebration was taking place with loads of fire crackers, dancing dragons and people dressed up as gods! The Temple was an amazing place with many different shrines dedicated to the various gods; each town we visited had a number of temples both large and small as well as road side shrines – 96% of the population followed Taoism, Buddhism or folk religion. The Christian population makes up the other 4%.

The next day Stephen our excellent interpreter and informant from PCT Church House joined us and visits began in earnest following an orientation session and a brief history of the Tek-Tng Church. Several key issues were identified:

In rural areas there is church decline as young people leave for the city
So people are wondering if God has given up on the church
There is a need for new models of ministry
A need for an open door policy in the church
How can small churches make a big difference?
Vision is the most difficult thing – not the budget!

So as we visited we learnt that churches were becoming more hopeful as they recognised that small can be more creative. Church redevelopment could also lead to transformation. The numbers of members in the PCT have doubled to approx 230,000 as the reverse trend has taken place in the URC!

(More in part 2 at the end of June.)

Congratulations!

2007-05-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

Revd James Ching Chang Pan (front row left), who visited the Northern Synod in November 2006 to sign the Partnership Covenant on behalf of Chiayi Presbytery, has been made Moderator of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. It is a one-year leadership post.

In July 2007 Revd Pan plans to attend the United Reformed Church General Assembly meeting being held in Manchester.

A newsletter article on Mission in Taiwan

2007-04-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

The 21st Century New Taiwan Mission Movement Project sets out The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan's approach to mission in their local and national context.

It is a bit like the United Reformed Churches 'Catch the Vision' but more resources have been made available to the local church from their giving to the central church.
The movement was launched in 2000 in the form of an A5 booklet which was freely given to each church member in the whole church to read! At it's heart it is about people in the church finding ways to 'identify with the people and be rooted in this land' - the renewal of society results in renewal of the church.

Aim: to actualize the Kingdom of God through building Koinonia

The movement has several goals to carry out the aim:

To engage the church to be an agent of God's kingdom as part of the church's mission
To enable church members to study and make real their discipleship asa body - to proclaim, to witness and to draw people to God
To enable churches in mission to discern the time and place and be in tune with God's intentions. The church will enter into society, community at all levels in cooperation to be salt and light as a witness to the Gospel
To go beyond the gosple community with the intent of renewing the spiritual life of Taiwanese society and bring about a new social order, to prepare people for the coming referndum for the future of Taiwan and establish Taiwan as a new home for the people

The Mission Movement shows the focus as the presence of the church in community as an agency of Christian faith, love and identification. Like a mustard seed or yeast; starting with humble beginnings but together will transform to a new communal Koinonia (community). This will be accomplished by pursuing goals in two areas:

Reading the Bible with New Eyes - deepening the insight of believers connecting the contexts of Taiwan with the purposes of God's salvation.
Spiritual Formation - the renewal of worship in congregations, in the spiritual and prayer lives of believers and, when applied, will renew the entire spirit of society and people of Taiwan.

These are not small! These are also very similar to our next phase of Catch the Vision in the United Reformed Church. The steps are visionary, hopeful and positive for the church in Taiwan and the peoples of Taiwan. Are these also ways for us to think about, sermonize and pray and act on in our Synod? In our local churches?

The mission movement is clearly a movement towards the Taiwanese peoples. In this way it is more 'go to be with them' than 'come to us' in approach. This has changed the make-up of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan in the local congregations. There are now many more marginalised peoples who are part of the church than in previous years and several centres have been established across Taiwan to further minister amongst certain groups in Taiwanese society eg a centre for fisherfolk, one for young women who are sex workers, a centre for differently abled people and an aboriginal (indigenous) peoples support and research centre. It is said " we need to suffer and identify with the people and be their hope, which is very important."

In our next phase of Catch the Vision in our Synod perhaps there are further areas in our local communities which will be key in transforming our communities and churches and how we are expressing church in relation to the changing world around us?

Some things we can learn from The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan:

Find out individually & collectively what kind of things non-church people do, where they go and what they care about and listen for God there. How can your church support you in mission where you already are?

Re-train our eyes to see and read the signs of our times - what is God already doing in our local areas and how can our church get involved?

Re-read our bibles to discern and see how God was working with people in different times and places and how. Are there any helpful principals & pointers for our churches?

Concentrate on doing one or two things with excellence rather than several with tired bodies and stretched resources.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan is different from the United Reformed Church but there could be much to learn from them - not by simplistic transferrance but by listening for the undertones of the Spirit, discerning the ways of Jesus and observing the work of the institutional organisation of the church.

To be continued...

Love Taiwan Mission: June - July 2007

2007-03-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

For all local United Reformed Churches in North Western Synod - please advertise this opportunity to visit Taiwan in your newsletters, notices, websites :

Aim: Training in Mission - for young adults (aged 16 to 35) to learn & live out their faith & challenge them to devote themselves to God through participation in mission.

Dates: June 28 to July 14 2007 in Taiwan
Arrive & Depart: Taipei Airport

Deadline for last registration: Mon. 30th April 2007

Expenses:
All local expenses from 28th June to 14th July will be fully supported by The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan incl. food, accom, accident insurance, transport & exposure programme.
Participants will be responsible for all other expenses incl. return international airfare, medical insurance, telephone, laundry, extended travel in Taiwan.

Participants profile:

Youth & young adults from overseas age 16 to 35

Have interest in cross-cultural mission

Are willing to cooperate with local church/organisation's summer programme

Want to know more about Taiwan

For more information & application procedure contact: either Mr. Etan Pavavalung (Programme Secretary of Youth Committee) The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan itan@mail.pct.org.tw or Ms. Lai Yin-Ting (Programme Assistant of Youth Committee) tinting@mail.pct.org.tw

Please contact Revds Kate Gray & Mike Walsh through this blog by leaving a comment or through your local church secretary if you would like to apply. We can support you with your application and advise about financial support too.

Taiwanese Student for September 2007!

2007-03-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Tsung-yuan from The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan will be coming to Manchester to study at Luther King House on the MA programme from September 2007! He worked with St. Mark's URC, Wythenshawe & The Tree of Life Centre for 3 months in summer 2005 as part of a small volunteer team whilst studying at Tainan Theological College and Seminary. Whilst here he also visited Morecambe, The Windermere Centre, Lancaster and a wide variety of churches of different denominations. We look forward to welcoming him back!

Our Partnership Covenant - for your church magazines & newsletters

2007-02-20T05:02:00.000-08:00

Please copy & share this in your upcoming church newsletters, magazines & on a prominent noticeboard!

It is for every local United Reformed Church in our Synod to participate in together!

Chiayi Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan & North Western Synod of The United Reformed Church

Purposes:

to foster a meaningful partnership between the United Reformed Church (represented by the Synod) and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (represented by the Presbytery);

to affirm, challenge and encourage each other as we seek to demonstrate our unity in CHrist and work towards the unity of Christ's church in the world;

to learn more about each other's church life, culture and society and to learn from each other about the challenges and hopes for mission in our two countries.

We hope to achieve this through:

one group visit each year during 2007-2011, with an emphasis on lay people and young people, starting with a visit to Taiwan in early 2007,

encouraging direct links between local congregations and teaching institutions;

using study and worship material written by our churches in the other;

supporting the work of the Chaplain to Taiwanese students based in Manchester, UK.

Would you like to be twinned with a church in Chiayi Presbytery in Taiwan?

Would your Pilots group, Sunday school or youth club like to link up with other young people?

Have you other ideas about our new partnership?! Lets share this partnership around across our Synod so that children, young people and adults get involved with our new Taiwanese sisters & brothers!

WELCOME to our new world church blog!

2007-02-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

This blog is for churches across the North Western Synod of The United Reformed Church in the UK.

It's for:

Information-sharing about our world church covenant partnership with The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan
Updates about our Council for World Mission partners in The Waldensian Church, Italy
Youth exchanges & opportunities
Events for our local churches, synod, synod areas
Newsletter articles and photos
Worship material & theological reflections
Local United Reformed Churches in our NW Synod to share world news & views

Do put a link to this blog if your church or synod area/district has a website or a blog.

Look forward to hearing from you as you leave your comments & feedback