2nd Week of Advent Church Updates

(Amersfoort) The Old Catholic Bishops of the Netherlands wrote an Advent prayer book for the faithful.The Bishops show reflect on similarities between 1st century Israel and the modern day. With an economic crisis and the coarsening of society, Jesus Christ was born into a society under pressure, but he offered a redemptive response, focusing on God's kingdom. If you would like to purchase the book for 1 euro click here.

(Gronigen) At the Sunday Mass on the first Sunday of Advent,  Victor Peter Scheijde was installed as a pastoral worker at the Old Catholic parish of St. Martin, in Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe and the northeast. Victor Scheijde has completed his academic studies in theology and focuses now on his ecclesiastical studies at the Old Catholic Seminary. The pastoral care of the parish has been entrusted to the pastoral worker since the departure of Pastor Anne Duurkoop Utrecht to the parish in September of this year. Reverend Dr. W.B. van der Velde officiated on behalf of the Bishop.

(Bonn) Henriette Crüwell, pastor of the Old Catholic community of St. Cyprian in Bonn in a radio show on WDR 3 / WDR 5 on "... a journey through the country` s gender - About Justice between local men and church women... The Old Catholics have said that the Zeitgeist is not evil, but this is a place to work out the Holy Spirit and challenge us to understand." To listen to the interview click here

(Pakistan) Pakistan's first and only female Anglican priest Reverend Jane Shaw has warned that persecution of Christians in the country is prompting talented potential future church leaders to settle abroad.
She knew of four young pastors sent overseas for training who decided not to return to Pakistan. She said that while there have been incidents of Christians being attacked and killed, the majority of persecution was more insidious. "It’s largely low-level harassment," she said, "not being short-listed for jobs because you’re a Christian, or, if you do get the job, your colleagues making you so miserable that you have to leave. Also, in some cases Christian businessmen have been told that they’ll only get the most lucrative contracts if they convert to Islam." Other harassment includes Christian children being teased or bullied at school, Christian workers being assigned excessive work­loads, Christians being evicted from accommodation without notice, and influential community members occupying Christians' land with impunity.