There are two New Year messages taking place from the UK Churches today. This afternoon the Archbishop of Canterbury will be calling the Government to fix the country’s “broken” social care system. In a message broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Justin Welby will say care homes are struggling to deal with rising bills while trying to find and retain the staff they need to keep going. The country – including the government – needs to “rise to the challenge” of repairing the present system. His presentation can be obtained from the Guardian here. Along with that presentation that takes place at 12.55 today

there has been a document from the Ireland Church Leaders that is available from the Ekklesia website. They are looking ahead to the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the leaders say they are “more aware than ever that the work of peace is unfinished” and recommit themselves to a vision of “an island of restored relationships, where all can flourish and fully participate in our common life.” These leaders have reflected on the crises which have affected the island of Ireland, Europe, and the whole world in 2022. They welcome the hospitality shown to Ukrainian refugees, but add that, “The compassion and care that Christ calls us to offer to the stranger in our midst cannot be conditional on their country of origin or indeed the colour of their skin.”