COMMUNITY PRAYER ROOM EXPANDS TO GLOBAL CHAIN

"A room designated for around-the-clock contemplation and prayer has proved a big success.

"The prayer room has been stationed for the last week in the Methodist Church Centre, in High Littleton [England], and has attracted people in their teens to their late 80s. It opened [Saturday, April 2] and by Monday 80 people had signed up to use the space. The room is covered with ideas and prayers that others have contributed during their hour as well as space for people to add their own. Candlelight gives the room a serene feel, and national and world maps show where and what is being prayed for elsewhere.

"The Rev. Jill Flowers said: '... The idea is to draw attention to the importance of prayer.'

"The idea was started by a group of teenage worshippers in Chichester .... It has now spread across the globe, and later in the year many churches will join together to start a chain of continuous prayer that will run from June 2005 to June 2006."

"Prayer room helps show the importance of prayer"
Somerset Guardian. April 7, 2005

PASSOVER CELEBRATION BRINGS JEWS AND MUSLIMS TOGETHER

"Melbourne Jews and Muslims made history [April 10] by joining for the first time to celebrate Passover, one of Judaism's most important festivals.

"Nearly 100 people took part in the Passover ritual and meal at the Prahran community centre as part of the building bridges program to bring the two faiths together.

"The real Passover ... commemorates Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt for the Promised Land some 3,500 years ago, an event that is important to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Fred Morgan, rabbi of Temple Beth Israel, who led the Passover meal, said it was the story that bound Jews together. 'It reminds us that we are required to speak out for freedom for all people.' ...

"Rabbi Morgan said the service was truncated to make sure it finished before midnight. And it was amended to avoid offending Muslims. Grape juice was drunk instead of wine and the final invocation, 'Next year in Jerusalem,' was dropped. Rabbi Morgan said the ceremony, developed in the second to the sixth centuries AD after the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem temple, meant that temple sacrifices could no longer be made. Lamb left the Passover menu then, and has not been used for 1,939 years."

Barney Zwartz
"A taste of kosher history: Muslims join Jews to celebrate Passover"
The Age. April 11, 2005

BIBLE READING EVENTS HELD IN CITIES WORLDWIDE

"Officials with a Tennessee-based ministry say a Scripture reading marathon that [took] place all across America and in other nations around the free world [was] more than just a symbolic gesture. It [was] also a celebration and a chance to spread the knowledge of the Word of God.

"Back in 1990, Christians gathered on the steps of the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, for a continuous public reading from the Holy Bible, leading up to the National Day of Prayer. The approximately 80-hour Bible Reading Marathon events have been held several times over the years since.

"Barbara Bivens of Bible Pathway Ministries says similar planned Scripture-reading marathons [were scheduled] at public placed throughout the United States and Canada. ... Bivens points out that public Scripture readings are protected by the Constitution of the United States. ... The nationwide Bible Reading Marathons [were held] in cities across the US at such venues as county courthouses, town squares, at State Capitol buildings."

AgapePress
www.agapepress.org. April 8, 2005