The September issue of the NW NJPN E BULLETIN features a wealth of events across the region as well as several Zoom presentations.  Announcing this year’s International Day of Peace (21 September) with the theme ‘Cultivating a Culture of Peace’, UN Secretary-General António Guterres says: ‘In a world mired by conflict, inequalities and discrimination, we must strive ever harder to promote dialogue, empathy and human rights for all. Let us plant the seeds for non-violence, justice and hope’. 

The World Council of Churches is taking ‘Gaza’ as a single focus for the 2024 World Week of Prayer for Peace in Palestine and Israel (16-22 September). Pax Christi will be hosting an online prayer event on 18 September and the final 3 pages of this bulletin contain the text of a service for Palestine and Israel put together for a Pray and Reflect service in my parish. You are welcome to dip into this or use in full – I can supply this material laid out in an 8-page A5 size booklet on request.

Ahead of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on 29 September, the Jesuit Refugee Service UK has issued a challenging report that examines the experiences of homelessness among people refused asylum in the context of the cost-of-living crisis and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are resources for the Season of Creation (1 September – 4 October) including details of a Climate Justice Gathering in Liverpool on 12 October, rescheduled from 29 June, plus news and events from CAFOD Lancaster Diocese.

Church Action on Poverty is urging churches to sign a letter lobbying for the controversial two-child limit to be removed in the October Budget. This cap means families are not allowed to access support through Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit, for more than two children, if children were born after April 2017.  Please ask your church to sign or send an individual response using the sample letter.

NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin September 2024

Please read and pass on.

Best wishes

Anne O’Connor