End the sin of racism, online service hears ahead of Windrush Day, weekly online service for Sunday June 21st
Father Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s Church in Walworth, south east London, will lead the service in which his sermon will describe racism as one of three pandemics faced by the world, alongside the climate crisis and COVID-19.
The service can be watched on the Church of England’s website, Facebook page or YouTube channel from 9am on Sunday 14th June.
Click through for a link to the Church of England on-line Church which can be found here (or from the front page or from the prayer resources page here)
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The service will be available from 9am on Sunday. It is being broadcast ahead of Monday’s Windrush Day, marking the 72nd anniversary of the arrival of The Empire Windrush, to the Tilbury Docks in east London.
The former troop carrier was carrying Jamaican and other British Commonwealth citizens from the West Indies to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War.
In the service, Father Andrew, who was born in Jamaica, will wear the ‘Windrush Cope’ - a robe, or vestment used by clergy at special services or occasions - created by artist Terry Duffy. The cope was worn for the first time at the 70th Windrush anniversary service in Westminster Abbey.
The vestment features a photo montage illustrating aspects of black history in Britain since the arrival of the Empire Windrush, including an image of Sam King MBE, one of the ship’s passengers, who later became the first black Mayor of Southwark.
It also features the image of Jamaican-born Bishop of Dover, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who will give the final blessing in the online service.
The cross on the cope is a reminder that Jesus is especially close to us when we suffer, Father Andrew will say. When we hurt people through racism or discrimination ‘we hurt Jesus too’, he will add.
The online service will also feature pictures from a photo essay from Windrush: Portrait of a Generation by Jim Grover, first exhibited on the Southbank in London in 2018 to mark the Windrush 70th anniversary.
The service, with a number of contributors, is being broadcast on Father’s Day. It will end with a special prayer recorded by Christians across the country, reflecting on how the day will be marked very differently for many this year.
The service will be available online and on the Church of England’s smartspeaker apps. It will also feature on the free Daily Hope telephone service.
A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Further information
- On Monday 22 June at 11am (Windrush Day) bishops, clergy, cathedrals and parishes across the Church of England are encouraged to keep a two-minute silence to lament the suffering of the Windrush Generation and wider issues of racism in society. A minute’s silence will be observed during the online service on Sunday.
- Explore the full range of online resources provided by the Church of England.