To find out more, please click the poster above.

Generous Creator God,
as we greet this brand new day that beckons us,
we praise You that it is pregnant with potential.
But what shall the day bring forth?
You know, but we can only guess.
We simply welcome the unknown that lies before us
and pray that we may live well today
with a adventure, but deep a sense of responsibility before You.
Grant us discernment and imagination,
care and peace
courage and hope,
good humour and joy.
Whether working or resting,
serving or playing,
alone or with company,
struggling or at ease,
may we know your tangible presence with us -
Your love, care, healing and sustaining strength.
As we thank You for today,
we ask You to show us the way
to be light that dispels darkness.
For Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Copyright May 2013 Anthony D. Miles

Unbelievable? The Conference 2013 on May 25 2013

Now in its third year, Unbelievable? The Conference is the leading UK event for apologetics and evangelism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6mKqdXRuo

‘A man who prays much in private will make short prayers in public.’

D.L. Moody

Churches and Christians are being urged to mark
SUNDY 12th MAY 2013
as a special day of prayer for the media
– and to contact their local newspaper, radio and TV station
to find out what they would like prayer for.

The call comes from Christian charity the Church and Media Network which works to promote links between the church and the media.

The Day of Prayer is being supported by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu and the Bishop of Bradford, Nick Baines,
who have both provided prayers for the event.

Dr Sentamu’s prayer reads:

Lord Jesus Christ,
you speak and bring all that is seen and unseen into being:
we give you thanks for the gift of the media to reach the far flung places of the earth with messages of hope and life.

We give you thanks for those who risk their security and even their lives to expose injustice and to bring news of hope.

May they strive to be the bearers of good news that all people may come to know the abundant life for which we have been created;
and yet more wonderfully redeemed in Jesus Christ.

We offer our prayer in your name,
in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Father.
Amen.

The prayer from Bishop Nick Baines reads:

God,
Whose ‘let there be’ kicked life into being,
Enliven us who by our word and image
Shine light on truth.

God,
Whose ‘word made flesh’
Showed us the face of the father,
Open our eyes to see through your eyes
The truth about the world.

God,
Whose breath gives life to creation,
Breathe through us,
That our words and work might bring life and hope
In the light of the truth you show us.

In the name of the word made flesh
Who turned flesh into word.
Amen.

BBC Radio 2 ‘Pause for Thought’ and Premier Radio broadcaster the Revd Tony Miles, chairs the Church and Media Network. He said:
“The British media is under scrutiny as never before. Illegal and unethical practices by some journalists have combined with tough economic times and pressures from new technology to make these challenging times for everyone working in the media.”

Tony, a Methodist minister and media chaplain based at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, added:
“As Christians, we want to affirm that the media can be a positive influence for good in society and has a vital role to play in our national, local and international life. We also want to affirm those numerous people of goodwill and of faith working within the media.”

Churches are being encouraged to contact their local media to ask for subjects for prayer,
and to invite local editors to speak at church events.

They are being asked to tweet their support for the Day of Prayer @churchandmedia and use #pray4media.

Materials for the day, written by Peter Crumpler, former Director of Communications for the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council, are available on the Church and Media Network’s website at:

http://churchandmedia.net/prayerday

My ‘Pause for Thought’ on Thursday 18th April 2013 at 5.45am on BBC Radio 2 on early breakfast

– with Vanessa Feltz – click above

Continuing this week’s theme: ‘Winning & Losing’ (the Boston Marathon)

My ‘Pause for Thought’ on Monday 15th April 2013 at 5.45am on BBC Radio 2 on early breakfast

– with Vanessa Feltz – click above

Kicking off this week’s theme: ‘Winning & Losing’

You’ll need to scroll through to 44:30.

‘If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.’
Anon.

My ‘Pause for Thought’ on Monday 8th April 2013 at 5.45am on BBC Radio 2 on early breakfast

– today with Vanessa Feltz – click above

Kicking off this week’s theme: ‘Meditation’.

Calling the churches to pray for the media in May

A range of resources and suggestions have been produced to help local churches to pray for the media.  They include suggestions on how to engage with local journalists and broadcasters, and a prayer for media professionals.

The Church and Media Network is inviting local churches across the land to use these resources to pray for the media on Sunday 12th May 2013.

The call is a response to the rapidly-changing media environment and the challenges thrown up by the Leveson Inquiry and other media news over the past year.  Roman Catholic churches already mark this day (the Sunday before Pentecost) as World Communications Day.  Other denominations will be offered a special prayer to use in services, together with a set of simple ideas that will help churches to engage well with local and national media.

We’d love to see other partner organisations joining in, so please contact us via info@churchandmedia.net if your church or organisation would like to get involved.

The prayer, and resources to go with it, are available on the Church and Media Network website here.