Swine Flu: advice‏ and prayers

From today, all UK households will receive leaflets giving information about influenza A/H1N1 ('swine flu') and advice on how to prevent its spread. The advice is the same as for regular flu: use clean tissues when you cough or sneeze; bin tissues after use; and wash hands with soap, hot water or gel.

The Church of England has published the following selection of prayers for use in churches from this weekend, in light of the developing situation:

Heavenly Father,
giver of life and health:
comfort and restore those who are sick,
that they may be strengthened in their weakness
and have confidence in your unfailing love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Creator and Father of all,
we pray for those who are ill.
Bless them, and those who serve their needs,
that they may put their whole trust in you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Internet searching may boost brain

A new study suggests that searching the Internet could be a boost to the brain. In recent years, several studies have showed a link between pursuing activities that keep the mind engaged, such as crossword puzzles and memory games. Keeping your brain active could drive some of these brain chemistry signals in the opposite direction compared to where they go as dementia sets in, and now it looks like surfing the Web could be another way to do that.

So the next time you someone tells you to stop surfing the Web or checking Facebook, you know what to say!

Organ donation a Christian duty

The Church of England has told the House of Lords that giving oneself and one’s possessions voluntarily for the well being of others and without compulsion is a Christian duty - and that organ donation is a striking example of this. The Church’s Mission and Public Affairs Division was responding to the Lords’ EU Social Policy and Consumer Affairs sub-committee’s inquiry into the EU Commission’s Communication on organ donation and transplantation: policy actions at EU level.

The response repeats the Church’s opposition to selling organs for commercial gain, while accepting organs being freely given by living donors, with no commercial gain. However, whether organ donation should be arranged through an "opt-in" or an "opt out" system is not a question on which Christians hold a single set of views, the C of E response explains.