Power of God, be our protection; wisdom of God, be our guide; word of God, be our inspiration; shield of God, be our defence; hosts of God, be our deliverance; Son of God, be our salvation; now and always. Amen. St Patrick's Breastplate, Book of Armagh (9th century) We give thanks for the resurrection power of Jesus, that no tomb can withstand and no enslavement restrain. We pray that those under political, economic, social and cultural oppression may experience liberation through the grace of God, the acts of leaders of goodwill and the sacrificial mission of the Church in all parts of the world. We pray that we, as disciples, may have the courage to let go of our instincts of self-preservation and, in doing so, find the true freedom reserved for those who take up their cross and follow Jesus, the saviour of the world. Peter Hancock, Northampton District Chair

The President and Vice-President of the Methodist Conference have shared their thoughts and prayers for the people of Spain, following the spate of terrorist attacks this week, calling the Methodist people to pray for peace in our world.