God of justice and peace,
We thank you for the vision and mission of the National Justice and Peace Network,
and for the people who work and pray for a more just and peaceful world.
We ask you to bless them with your grace and guidance,
and to inspire them with your Spirit of love and compassion.
Help them to be faithful witnesses of your Kingdom,
where all are welcome, respected and valued.
Help them to be agents of change and transformation,
where all are empowered, supported and challenged.
Help them to be signs of hope and joy,
where all are healed, reconciled and celebrated.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(courtesy of Paul Southgate, NJPN Chair, who asked Bing (AI) to write a prayer before a recent Executive Meeting)

Dear Friends,
 

Another fortnight has whizzed past, and the big issues being the Immigration Bill and the Budget. Interesting that once a ‘big name’ gets involved (as in Government/BBC vs Gary Lineker), everyone jumps on the bandwagon. In this case it is good publicity, but it then becomes more about the celebrity than the actual cause.

We have a rather different Action of the Week, which we hope you will engage with. Our leading section this weekend, though, is the Refugee situation. As you can imagine, there are lots of articles, many of which are saying something very similar. I have just picked a few of them.

This weekend we celebrate Mothering Sunday; however, I don’t believe you need to have had children, or indeed be female, to have been in a position to have looked after someone. Many of my generation no longer have children at home, but instead have elderly relatives that they are having to look after. Most of us have that mothering instinct which we have to draw on from time to time. regardless of who it is directed at. 
So, to all of you out there that care for someone, have a blessed day. You may not always feel appreciated, but you most definitely are. Thank you!

The next e-bulletin should be out on Palm Sunday, the 2nd April, as long as life doesn’t get in the way.

With all best wishes,

Sharon

NJPN E-Bulletin 19th March 2023