Sentamu to launch week-long York fast against violence
-12/08/06
The Archbishop of Yor
Sentamu to launch week-long York fast against violence
-12/08/06
The Archbishop of York is to embark on an act of ëpublic witnessí to encourage people throughout the country to join him in a week long campaign of prayer and fasting for Peace in the Middle East.
Part of his aim is to focus attention on the fact that, from a Christian point of view, it is necessary to ì[stand] up against violence as an unacceptable means of trying to change one anotherís views and lives.î
From tomorrow (Sunday 13 August 2006), The Most Rev Dr John Sentamu will give up a weekís holiday to Salzburg in order to camp inside York Minster where he will be asking people from all over the country to join him in praying every hour for peace in the Lebanon conflict, and for good community relations in Britain.
ìIn the Middle East there are thousands of people sleeping in churches, bunkers, underground car parks and shelters in an attempt to escape from the bombs and rockets that are falling on both sides of the borderî said the Archbishop.
He continued: ìThis act is a rallying call to people of all faiths and none, to encourage them to feel that there is something that can be done. The United Nations has a role, diplomacy has a role and our Government has a role to play in bringing this conflict to an end. But we as people also have a role to play in showing our common humanity with all those who are suffering.î
Dr Sentamu declared: ìWe have an opportunity to stand up and be counted with those in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine and all over the world who seek after peace. This is what this week will be about, people coming together for one purpose alone ñ to pray for peace in our troubled world and to pray especially for the Middle East.î
ìI will be inviting people from all over the country to pause for a prayer and light a candle for peace. I will lead every day, on the hour, every hour for seven days. Just like those sleeping on the floors of bunkers, car parks and churches, I will also spend the week camped out sleeping in the Minster.î
Explaining the nature of his action, the Archbishop said: ìMany thousands of people have been denied access to food and water as a result of the fighting. Why not join me in a spirit of fasting during the week by being prepared to forego a meal and donate the money to charities, like Save the Children fund, who are working in the conflict zone? At a future date we must all give generously to the reconstruction of Northern Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.î
Dr Sentamu will tomorrow have his head shaved and be anointed with oil during the morning act of worship at York Minister ñ a 10am Eucharist. This is preparatory to his seven day fast and prayer vigil for the Middle East.
After the service the Archbishop will be entering the tent which he will be pitching in St Johnís Chapel inside the Minster where he will be sleeping for the duration of his vigil.
Tonight he said: ìAround my neck I wear a cross which bears the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero: ëPeace will flower when love and justice pervade our environment.í The events of the past weeks show how far we are, as a world and as a nation, from that place which Romero describes.î
ìI have received letters and calls from people about this conflict, and people are asking ëWhat can I do?í They feel helpless, they feel bewildered but they want to do something in response to the suffering that they have been watching on their televisions, hearing on their radios and reading in their newspapers.
ìSo my call to everyone is to join me in prayer, join me in fasting join me in providing a meal for every displaced person ñ especially women and children, medicine for the sick; and at a future date be part of the reconstruction of the areas, in both countries, that have been destroyed.
ìWill you join me in standing up against violence as an unacceptable means of trying to change one anotherís views and lives? Whether in our own skies or the skies above the Middle East, bombing and violence cannot be the way in which we seek to change that which we donít like in the world.
He concluded: ìThere has to be another way. Each one of us has to be the change we want to see in the world. That is why I am asking people from all over the country to join me in our common desire for peace, and for love and justice to pervade our environment.î
[Also on Ekklesia: New black archbishop Sentamu receives racist hate mail; Black Archbishop calls for magnanimity in Anglican row; Church must face racism, says black archbishop; Britain’s first black archbishop inaugurated; Black archbishop prays for racist abusers; Don’t judge kids on hoodies, says redcap church leader; Archbishop to visit home of London bombers; Black archbishop says Tutu shows us what respect means; Worrying new Anglican dispute about David Beckham]
Sentamu to launch week-long York fast against violence
-12/08/06
The Archbishop of York is to embark on an act of ëpublic witnessí to encourage people throughout the country to join him in a week long campaign of prayer and fasting for Peace in the Middle East.
Part of his aim is to focus attention on the fact that, from a Christian point of view, it is necessary to ì[stand] up against violence as an unacceptable means of trying to change one anotherís views and lives.î
From tomorrow (Sunday 13 August 2006), The Most Rev Dr John Sentamu will give up a weekís holiday to Salzburg in order to camp inside York Minster where he will be asking people from all over the country to join him in praying every hour for peace in the Lebanon conflict, and for good community relations in Britain.
ìIn the Middle East there are thousands of people sleeping in churches, bunkers, underground car parks and shelters in an attempt to escape from the bombs and rockets that are falling on both sides of the borderî said the Archbishop.
He continued: ìThis act is a rallying call to people of all faiths and none, to encourage them to feel that there is something that can be done. The United Nations has a role, diplomacy has a role and our Government has a role to play in bringing this conflict to an end. But we as people also have a role to play in showing our common humanity with all those who are suffering.î
Dr Sentamu declared: ìWe have an opportunity to stand up and be counted with those in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine and all over the world who seek after peace. This is what this week will be about, people coming together for one purpose alone ñ to pray for peace in our troubled world and to pray especially for the Middle East.î
ìI will be inviting people from all over the country to pause for a prayer and light a candle for peace. I will lead every day, on the hour, every hour for seven days. Just like those sleeping on the floors of bunkers, car parks and churches, I will also spend the week camped out sleeping in the Minster.î
Explaining the nature of his action, the Archbishop said: ìMany thousands of people have been denied access to food and water as a result of the fighting. Why not join me in a spirit of fasting during the week by being prepared to forego a meal and donate the money to charities, like Save the Children fund, who are working in the conflict zone? At a future date we must all give generously to the reconstruction of Northern Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.î
Dr Sentamu will tomorrow have his head shaved and be anointed with oil during the morning act of worship at York Minister ñ a 10am Eucharist. This is preparatory to his seven day fast and prayer vigil for the Middle East.
After the service the Archbishop will be entering the tent which he will be pitching in St Johnís Chapel inside the Minster where he will be sleeping for the duration of his vigil.
Tonight he said: ìAround my neck I wear a cross which bears the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero: ëPeace will flower when love and justice pervade our environment.í The events of the past weeks show how far we are, as a world and as a nation, from that place which Romero describes.î
ìI have received letters and calls from people about this conflict, and people are asking ëWhat can I do?í They feel helpless, they feel bewildered but they want to do something in response to the suffering that they have been watching on their televisions, hearing on their radios and reading in their newspapers.
ìSo my call to everyone is to join me in prayer, join me in fasting join me in providing a meal for every displaced person ñ especially women and children, medicine for the sick; and at a future date be part of the reconstruction of the areas, in both countries, that have been destroyed.
ìWill you join me in standing up against violence as an unacceptable means of trying to change one anotherís views and lives? Whether in our own skies or the skies above the Middle East, bombing and violence cannot be the way in which we seek to change that which we donít like in the world.
He concluded: ìThere has to be another way. Each one of us has to be the change we want to see in the world. That is why I am asking people from all over the country to join me in our common desire for peace, and for love and justice to pervade our environment.î
[Also on Ekklesia: New black archbishop Sentamu receives racist hate mail; Black Archbishop calls for magnanimity in Anglican row; Church must face racism, says black archbishop; Britain’s first black archbishop inaugurated; Black archbishop prays for racist abusers; Don’t judge kids on hoodies, says redcap church leader; Archbishop to visit home of London bombers; Black archbishop says Tutu shows us what respect means; Worrying new Anglican dispute about David Beckham]