South African Churches call for Christians to break their silence on AIDS
The suffering and death caused by HIV/AIDS in South Africa is the backdrop to the worship resources for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January 2007. Christians in South Africa find their faith in Christ gives them the courage to speak out, to break their silence, to overcome the shame of victims and to overcome ignorance of the ways of preventing the disease. Out of their painful experience Christians in South Africa have written a service which will be adapted for use by Churches throughout the world. Worship resources which encourage Churches to draw on the experience of overlooked suffering from many causes, will be launched by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland in London on Tuesday 5 September. In addition to the Ecumenical Service on the theme, an Order of Service for healing is offered in the worship resources book. The resources include a pamphlet containing the special ecumenical service and daily reflections (also available in large print) a card with prayers for Africa and to encourage people to respond to the needs of others, a large A3 poster to advertize local services and a Resource Book containing additional worship. There is a bilingual English / Welsh version of the pamphlet and prayer card. The Week of Prayer worship resources are available from CTBI Publications, phone 01733 325 002 or via www.ctbi.org.uk Source: CTBI