Wales Synod

Public Issues Calendar 2008

 The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church have traditionally published details of dates on which churches might focus on particular issues. For 2008, through our work together in the Joint Public Issues Team, we have combined to produce a calendar of Sundays on which organisations involved in some way with social justice, offer worship and other resources via a web-link.

 We particularly draw attention to an initiative by Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice and others, in bringing together Poverty Action and Homelessness Sundays in a whole week of action on poverty and homelessness.

The calendar is published early, even though some dates are unconfirmed, so that it may be included in church calendars, diaries and plans. We suggest that congregations select subjects that will interest and challenge, and perhaps where there is expertise available to plan a Sunday service or some other event.  We hope people will be able to make a connection with their faith, and prayerfully support particular local or national projects. Some will feel able to make a practical commitment; they will need the church’s prayerful support.

 The list is not exhaustive; please let us know if you think others should be included by e-mailing enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk  

18 - 25 January   Week of Prayer for Christian Unity   www.ctbi.org.uk

20 January   Education Sunday   www.educationsunday.org 

27 January   Holocaust Memorial Day   www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk

27 January   World Leprosy Day   www.leprosymission.org.uk  

28 January - 3 February   Poverty and Homelessness Action Week

www.homelessness-Sunday.org.uk ; www.church-poverty.org.uk 

25 February - 9 March   Fair Trade Fortnight   www.fairtrade.org.uk  

7 March   Women’s World Day of Prayer   www.wwdp-natcomm.org 

2 March   Tear Fund Sunday   www.tearfund.org  

9 April   Deir Yasin Day   www.sabeel.org  

11-17 May   Christian Aid Week   www.christianaid.org.uk 

18 May   Not for Sale Sunday (Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe)  

www.chaste.org.uk 

8 June   Environment Sunday   www.arocha.org.uk

15-21 June   Refugee Week   www.refugeeweek.org.uk

 13 July   Sea Sunday   www.missiontoseafarers.org

 14 September   Racial Justice Sunday   www.ctbi.org.uk

 21 September   International Day of Prayer for Peace   www.overcomingviolence.org

 5 October   Disability Sunday   www.throughtheroof.org/sunday/disabilitysunday.html

 19 October   Healthcare Sunday   www.healthcaresunday.org.uk

 19-26 October   One World Week   www.oneworldweek.org

 9 November   Remembrance Sunday  

www.britishlegion.org.uk/content/Remembrance-Sunday-508933.shtml

 16 November   International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians   www.csw.org.uk

 16-22 November   Prisons Week   www.prisonsweek.org

 1 December    World Aids Day   www.worldaidsday.org