In spite of driving rain, on a wet Shrove Tuesday, the Bishop of Birmingham was out in Birmingham Markets to find out people’s hopes for 2008. Bishop David Urquhart listened and chatted with market buyers and sellers, as part of the launch of his Lent initiative inviting Christians to spend more time with God called Too Deep for Words.
People were invited into St. Martins for a cup of tea and a scotch pancake and to post their hopes for 2008 and prayer requests on a bill board. Some personal hopes included ‘long life’, ‘a job’, ‘retirement’, ‘winning the lottery’. Hopes for Birmingham included ‘peace – an end to hatred and violence’ and ‘more understanding and friendliness between people.’ The prayer boards will still be up for Diocesan youth service, Re-United, where the Bishop will talk to and pray with 500 young people at St Martins in the Bullring. This event marked the start of the Bishop’s involvement in Hope 08 intiative and the launch of the Birmingham Hope 08 website.