Maybe they are short of space but I feel it is important for our very multi-cultural area (Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs) to be aware that the Christian Churches in the area are working together and this is why we are holding a particular event. Nevertheless, we press on and are currently engaged in trying to influence a local important Civic decision. Our local Civic Centre is under threat of closure. The Council are short of money and the centre is a valuable community resource, paid for by the council-taxpayers. It is open 24-7 and caters for youngsters (“Joe-Jingles,) teenagers (contemporary dance and theatre classes, ) keep-fit, ballroom and sequence dances,Charity concerts, dinner-dances (Francis House Hospice) and conferences. It is the heart of the Community, we recently had our Christmas Carol Singing in the Precinct (collection going to “Loaves and Fishes” for the Homeless.)

Under the banner of Churches Together we are fighting this closure, we do not want to lose any more Community spaces and have been in Public Meetings with the Leader of the Council, local Councillors and M.P. Should we have involved ourselves in Local Politics? Indeed, should we as Christians leave Politics to the Politicians and keep out of it?

Could this happen here?

Many of the people trying to be helped through the organisation “Open Doors” are being unjustly imprisoned in places like China and Pakistan, for their religious beliefs. They may be hard-working, loyal Citizens of their Country but because of their Christian belief are arrested on some trumped up charge and imprisoned, causing great distress to themselves and their families. Archbishop Vincent Nicols recently warned that “Secularists are just as dogmatic as the worst religious believer and sometimes more stridently so.” We have all heard of the cases involving the wearing of religious objects and not being allowed to pray with patients, as well as the rules governing adoption. We already have threats to Medical Staff who do not want to be involved in abortions and now possibly legally assisted suicide. We sometimes feel there is definite bias in the Media against Christians and that we are powerless to deal with it all. We are not powerless, we have a General Election coming up later this Year and we have the power to vote for someone who may not always share our beliefs, but respects them. Who can blame us if we find the whole political scene distasteful? Corruption and lack of integrity at the top of any establishment is a sad example and soon filters down to
grass roots level.

We at grass roots level are in a unique position. “Christ has no hands now but ours, no feet but ours, no mouth but ours.” We are given opportunities to shine in the darkness. Taking part in a “WE ARE ONE” walk through Central Manchester recently brought one such opportunity. Christians from across the Nationalities and Traditions walked from Salford Catholic Cathedral, led by Bishop Brain, Manchester Cathedral’s Anglican Bishop McCulloch and the Mayor of Salford to Manchester Cathedral,where we were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Manchester before taking part in another joint ecumenical service.

Bishop Brain commented on the theme of “We are One”, referring to the 30,000 people who had come to venerate the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux in October. People do want to belong together and we pray that we will all be one soon. Here again another opportunity for Christian Witness, after queueing for nearly two hours to venerate the relics, my husband and I (along with many others) were unable to get into the Cathedral for Mass, we were overjoyed when two of the Priests came outside and all the crowds received Holy Communion on the street. As this “Street” is a main route into Manchester from Salford, many people on buses, in cars and on foot witnessed this wonderful sight. Praise the Lord!

Unfortunately, as we all arrived at Manchester Cathedral, apart from the Lord Mayor welcoming us, we were met with protestors who did not want any Anglicans to associate with Catholics and “Catholic Heresies.” There is still a lot of work to be done! However, bearing in mind St. Therese’s advice “to do little things extra-ordinarily well” we carry on each in our own way, using the gifts God has given to us for the renewal and upbuilding of His Church (1.Corinthians 12). I firmly believe God puts you where he wants you, and so I found myself in Manchester Town Hall in October, attending an Ecumenical Celebration in the Town Hall. It was organised by the Conservative Christian Fellowship, (the Conservatives were holding their Party Conference in the City) and my invitation to attend was through Churches Together. What an uplifting event!

Like any big City Manchester has it’s share of godlessness, (we pray for the city and the surrounding areas for protection from evil every seven weeks on our drive around the Ring Road.) So to attend such a packed religious event was wonderful. We had Patsy Mckie (Mothers against Murder) whose son was shot dead in the Gang shootings that blight the City. Chick Yuill was inspirational and the Manchester Sing-out Gospel Choir was magnificent! There were many workshops, e.g. “Mending Broken Britain” I would have loved to have attended.

However, I am not a member of any political party and would like to know if any of the other major parties have a similar Christian Fellowship. Maybe someone reading this is already a member? The celebration in the Town Hall ended lifting the roof with “How Great is our God!” How Great and how mysterious his Ways! Thank you God for showing us the Way.