Peacemakers with deep compassion for the people of Manchester and their loved ones wherever they are, and for the rest of the UK sends thoughts as prayers throughout. And it is from this place of vigil we pray again the words of our motto ” Let Love, Let Hope, Let Peace Reign, we let it be, and so it is.”
For many, this prayer may seem a complete waste of time, but in our hearts, we feel the love and peace, the only real anchor on which any people or nation can ever hang hope, in the knowing that love never fails. And so, in these times of seeming adversity, we reach in and up to the place of knowing and there find peace. Our prayer is evidence that peace exists in Manchester, and everywhere, despite ongoing news of terror, most assuredly PEACE reigns. -- Her ladyship the Hon Reverend Dawnecia Palmer, Bristol Prayer Patrols
Image copyrightEPAImage captionTributes were paid by people at a vigil in Manchester city centre
http://https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2017/may/23/vigil-manchester-attack-victims-video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40023488
Manchester attack: Theresa May terror threat speech in full
Theresa May has raised the UK terror threat level to critical – meaning an attack is expected imminently – after 22 people died and 59 were injured by a suicide bomber in Manchester.
The prime minister made a statement after a meeting of Cobra, the government’s crisis response committee, on Tuesday evening.
Here is her speech in full.
I have just chaired another meeting of Cobra, where we again discussed the callous and cowardly terrorist attack in Manchester last night, and the operational response from the security service, the police and other emergency services.
It remains the case that, other than the terrorist himself, 22 people were killed in the attack. Fifty-nine people remain injured, and many of them have life-threatening conditions.
As Greater Manchester Police confirmed earlier today [Tuesday], the perpetrator was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old who was born and brought up in Britain.
And as the emergency services have confirmed throughout the day, his victims were innocent children, young people and their families.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.
I want to reiterate what I said this morning about the professionalism of the emergency services and the bravery of the people of Manchester. Through their actions, they proved that cowardice will always be defeated by bravery, that evil can be overcome by good, and that our values – the liberal, pluralistic values of Britain – will always prevail over the hateful ideology of the terrorists.
In my statement earlier today, I said that the police and security services needed to investigate whether or not Abedi was acting alone. Those investigations continue. But the work undertaken throughout the day has revealed that it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack.
This morning, I said that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) – the independent organisation responsible for setting the threat level on the basis of the intelligence available – was keeping the threat level under constant review.
It has now concluded, on the basis of today’s investigations, that the threat level should be increased, for the time being, from severe to critical. This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely, but that a further attack may be imminent.
The change in the threat level means that there will be additional resources and support made available to the police as they work to keep us all safe.
As a result of the JTAC’s decision, the police have asked for authorisation from the secretary of state for defence to deploy a number of armed military personnel in support of their armed officers.
This request is part of a well-established plan, known as Operation Temperer, in which both the armed forces and the police officers involved are well-trained and well-prepared to work in this kind of environment. The secretary of state for defence has approved this request, and Operation Temperer is now in force.
This means that armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces, which will allow the police to significantly increase the number of armed officers on patrol in key locations.
You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches, helping the police to keep the public safe. In all circumstances, members of the armed forces who are deployed in this way will be under the command of police officers.
Precisely how the military and armed police officers will be deployed is an operational decision for police commanders and Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley of the Metropolitan Police will be making a statement giving further details at New Scotland Yard later this evening.
In the coming days and weeks, there will of course be many events hosted up and down the country. The police will work with the organisers and hosts of these events, to come to a judgement about how they can go ahead while making sure the people who attend them are safe and secure.
I do not want the public to feel unduly alarmed. We have faced a serious terrorist threat in our country for many years. And the operational response I have just outlined is a proportionate and sensible response to the threat that our security experts judge we face. I ask everybody to be vigilant, and to cooperate with and support the police as they go about their important work.
I want to end by repeating the important message I gave in my statement earlier today. We will take every measure available to us and provide every additional resource we can to the police and the security services as they work to protect the public.
And while we mourn the victims of last night’s appalling attack, we stand defiant. The spirit of Manchester – and the spirit of Britain – is far mightier than the sick plots of depraved terrorists. That is why the terrorists will never win, and we will prevail.
It has been a terrific year to date. There have been many published stories of horrific wars, millions of people were killed, injured, and suffered tremendous losses. But, there have also been much more glorious testimonies, of celebrations, victorious and courageous acts of giving and kindness, amazing stories of gratitude for lives saved, encouragements, personal development and numerous transformative adventures and innovations, the likes of which our planet has never before experienced, and Peacemakers are thankful to have had the opportunity to participate, by offering the global invitation to signup for the 2016 Peacemakers Global Prayer Patrol Mission.
It was a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon but we were determined to bring the warmth of our prayers and goodwill to the streets of Fishponds. We felt that Prayer Patrol would serve as a timely crime prevention tool and a good way to help re-boost morale and confidence on the streets. It was a very interesting and well-received Patrol. Several Passersby stopped and engaged at our Prayer Stops, where our two youngest patrollers, ages four and five, along with older members of the team prayed with them. Many people told us that they were moved by the braveness and prayers of the children. One man was so moved that he ran across the road to the Bakery and came back laden with cakes for them.
which is next door to Sugar the Loaf Pub. The church was closed and not one church member in sight, but the pub was open and three men sat outside having a drink in the drizzling rain. At first, they were intrigued with our high viz jackets and then became even more interested when we told them that we were out Peace-Keeping and blessing the area. The rain continued to fall, becoming heavier as we went along, soon there was no sign of anyone walking the streets, so we decided to take a shortened route back to the base.
Nearing the Three Black Birds Pub we noticed a man standing in the doorway, drinking a beer and enjoying a cigarette. As we got to him we did our usual greeting and he responded cheerfully and wanted to engage us in conversation, he also had a prayer request, which we told him we would pray about once we got back to base. But as we were moving away he called out “Please. Please, Please remember to pray”, it was urgent and we did.
lk about, day or night. Together with the community policing, and the involvement of other community groups and organizations, along with some residents, Prayer Patrols were at the center of providing a valuable, visible presence in the area. At one time they were patrolling the streets almost 24 hours per day. They also opened an office in the area, the Peace Embassy, for concerned residents, youths, and local groups.
Then, the City Council allocated funding to community groups and projects, regenerated the area with new buildings and other neighborhood improvements, in housing, gardens for residents, and parks, etc. The streets are definitely safer these days, we found new communities have moved into the area, and there are quite a few new enterprises dotted around.
“Our prayers works brilliantly, says Reverend Palmer, and even though we hear of wars and rumours of wars in the media almost every day, I am absolutely conscious and resilient to a transparent knowing that good prevails, no matter what they say. We have got to hold this vision. And as more and more of us hold the vision of a peaceful universe, vibrating peace through everything and everyone, eventually it will break through the illusions of fear, panic, hatred and greed. The majority of people long for peace, but our leaders make preparations for war, this sends a mixed message to the universe.”
Today, with thanksgiving and comfort, we hold in our prayers the lives of the precious ones which died on September 11th, 2001, in the ghastly Twin Towers attack, and for their beloved ones left behind.
endeavouring to keep the memories of them alive forever, within our hearts and lives.
On behalf of LIFE bestoweth Love, Hope, and Peace to all.
Dee has been homeless for around 4 years, spending time in several shelters, and moving through a few States, but had been at this one for almost 2years. At first, she appeared sarcastic in tone, but as we engaged in conversation, she became less suspicious and became open and engaging. She told us that it was hard for someone to get out of this sort of situation, but that she longed for change. She was hopeful that one day she too would have money, get a place of her own, and make a better life for herself as well as having sufficient to also help others. She was keen that that break would come about from the lottery or some other big break like the Lottery. Dee had done some volunteering in the past, she had seen others getting out but somehow it seemed that she was never fortunate to be offered that chance. She also said that women sometimes were raped, robbed and abused in some of these Homes, and she was tired of this way of life. We listened and prayed with her, during the prayer a worker came over and ask us to move on. We truly felt that this was a case that Peacemakers could adopt and offer some sort of sponsorship. Dee would not give us her full name nor a personal contact telephone number, but she did promise to visit our website and that she would contact Reverend Palmer through the Contact Us page. So far, we have not heard from her. It is our hope that in time she may get in touch.