The Week Ahead

Putin, Russia and the West
Thursday 5 April

BBC4, 9.00pm

Charting Vladimir Putin’s rise to the top in Russian politics and how he has maintained his hold on power despite growing unrest in the country, including allegations of electoral fraud and thousands of protesters taking to the streets of Moscow.

Peter Cook & Dudley Moore: The Missing Sketches

Saturday 7 April

More4, 8.00pm

Fans are given a chance to revisit a selection of sketches performed by the comedy duo that were long thought to have been lost. 

Songs of Praise

Sunday 8 April

BBC1, 4.30pm

Sean Fletcher explores the power of singing to express the Christian faith and Alexandra Burke speaks of how her late mother inspired her to sing and perform.

The Reunion

Friday 6 April

BBC Radio 4, 9.00am

Sue MacGregor reunites five people central to the Battle for Basra in 2003. The city was toppled quickly, but attempts to rebuild it were fraught with danger, chaos and mistrust.

Sunday Worship
Sunday 8 April

BBC Radio 4, 8.10am

A service from Westminster Abbey giving thanks for the life and work of the Revd Dr Martin Luther King Jr, conducted by the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, the Dean of Westminster.

Beyond Belief

Monday 9 April

BBC Radio 4, 4.30pm

The Good Friday Agreement: Ernie Rea and guests discuss the place of faith in the modern world. 

Connecting Disciples

There is still time to sign up for the Discipleship and Ministries Learning Network conference for Methodist lay employees and children and youth workers. This year’s theme is Faith:Life:Work and takes place at Cliff College, Derbyshire from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 June. Book your place here.

Tickets for the Conference

Unless you are a Conference Representative, you will need a ticket to attend one of the following events: the opening of the Conference and Induction of the President and Vice-President on Saturday 30 June and the Reception into Full Connexion and Sunday Worship on Sunday 1 July. Booking opens on Monday 9 April here.

Clear Your Clutter Day

Action for Children has linked up with Money Magpie’s ‘Clear Your Clutter Day’ on Saturday 13 April. They encourage households all over the UK to clear their clutter and raise some cash. Action for Children is asking people to hold a ‘My Swap ‘n’ Shop’ and to donate the money raised from selling their pre-owned goods back to them. Click here if your community, church or school would like to get involved.

Fellowship of Reconciliation
        

‘Letting in the Light: Positive Steps for Peace in a Turbulent World’ is a conference with the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church Peace Fellowships, from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 April at Hinsley Hall, Leeds. The keynote speaker will be Kim Leadbeater, sister of the late Jo Cox MP. Book your ticket here.

Methodist school leaders’ conferences

MAST has organised two conferences on Monday 25 June in London and Bolton on Wednesday 27 June for workshops on Christian Leadership, SIAMS and RE resources. To book your place (by Friday 4 May), please contact admin@methodistschools.org.uk.

Resources from Brave New World?

If you could not attend this conference by the Joint Public Issues Team last month in Manchester, the team has produced resources from the workshops, audio of the plenaries and a film. You can also download ways to take action and to get involved with some of the issues discussed on the day.

The Continuing Nakba: 1948-2018 and Beyond?

On Saturday June 30 the 2018 Sabeel-Kairos Conference takes place at CMS House, Oxford. Tickets are £30 including lunch and refreshments. One of the guest speakers is author Naim Ateek, an Anglican priest who founded the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem. This thought-provoking day will also include exhibitions, stalls, an opportunity to learn more about the Morally Responsible Investment campaign and to meet other people within the Sabeel-Kairos networks. Please email info@friendsofsabeel.org.uk to reserve your place.

Peace and Justice Forum

The Joint Public Issues Team is seeking ambassadors aged 18-25 to take part in the forum and attend the launch at Parliament on Thursday 12 July. To find out more and to apply, click here.

This week in Parliament

The UK Parliament is on Easter Recess but you can find  out about future parliamentary business online here. If you want to find out about the Scottish Parliamentary calendar, click here and the timetable for the National Assembly for Wales, click here.

Reflections

In the coming week, the Prayer Handbook will be encouraging us to pray with Christians in West Africa, Britain and Ireland. The theme for next week’s A Word in Time Bible studies is Salvation by Faith, written by Sanya Strachan.

Video Thursday: Trans inclusion

In this week’s film, the Open Church Network and the Revd Steve Chalke sets out the case for a full, Biblical and Christ-like inclusion of transgender people.