CTiW: Advent Service & Solidarity Sunday

Churches Together in Westminster Advent Service - Sunday 29 November, 6.00 pm, St James Piccadilly - on YouTube.

Churches Together in Westminster join together with St James Piccadilly for their annual Advent Service. An online service led by Revd Lucy Winkett with readings by members of the CTiW Executive Committee.

CTiW will also observe Solidarity Sunday and World Day of the Poor on 6 December, to mark our commitment to those most vulnerable in the Coronavirus pandemic – and those who are responding. Solidarity Sunday is about reminding ourselves and each other that there is so much good we can do - through giving, through prayer and through powerful demonstrations of unity.

In his message for the fourth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis writes that ‘keeping our gaze fixed on the poor is difficult, but that it is more necessary than ever if we are to give proper direction to our personal life and the life of society. Until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbour and for every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue.’ The Pope reminds us that prayer to God and solidarity with the poor are inseparable.

The Diocese of Westminster are holding a special service on that day and all CTiW members, including St Martin's, are invited to attend. You are invited to join this United Service for the World Day of the Poor: A celebration of solidarity at Farm Street Church. The service will be held online at https://www.farmstreet.org.uk/livestream at 3pm on Sunday 6 December.

CTiW are producing a Resources Booklet of Readings, Reflections, and Prayers to help individuals and churches reflect upon and raise awareness of how the pandemic is impacting the vulnerable of the world. This booklet is arranged as a series of daily themes on specific issues. It will have information on organisations working abroad, and how you can support them.

 

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Arvo Part - The Deer's Cry.

Solidarity Sunday 15 November: Remembering our Global Neighbours

Solidarity Sunday 15 November: Remembering our Global Neighbours

Churches Together in Westminster will observe a Solidarity Sunday on 15 November, to mark our commitment to those most vulnerable in the Coronavirus pandemic – and those who are responding.

It is about reminding ourselves and each other that there is so much good we can do - through giving, through prayer and through powerful demonstrations of unity.

The date coincides with the Roman Catholic World Day of the Poor. In his message for the fourth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis writes that ‘keeping our gaze fixed on the poor is difficult, but that it is more necessary than ever if we are to give proper direction to our personal life and the life of society. Until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbour and for every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue.’ The Pope reminds us that prayer to God and solidarity with the poor are inseparable.

The Diocese of Westminster are holding a special service on that day in which all CTiW members are invited to participate. We are pleased to announce an invitation to join this Ecumenical World Day of the Poor Service. It is a celebration of solidarity to be held at Farm Street Church at 3pm on Sunday, November 15th. The service will be livestreamed on https://www.farmstreet.org.uk/livestream.

If you cannot join in that service, we urge you all to mark Solidarity Sunday in your own churches.

We are producing a Resources Booklet of Readings, Reflections, and Prayers to help individuals and churches reflect upon and raise awareness of how the pandemic is impacting the vulnerable of the world. This booklet is arranged as a series of daily themes on specific issues. It will have information on organisations working abroad, and how you can support them. The booklet will be sent out to all our Members in early November.

Let us join together in support and solidarity with our Global Neighbours, for Christ has no body now on earth but ours.

By Rev’d Joan Ishibashi & Gillian Dare

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Eric Whitacre - Hope Faith Life Love.