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From the Most Revd & Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York:

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I am just back from visiting my extended Anglican family in two very different countries.

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First, in Canada, I shared in the hundredth anniversary celebrations for the Church in Edmonton, and later went to speak at student and clergy seminars at Huron University.

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My heart was warmed by the fun, commitment and care the young people showed for their community and the marginalised in our world. They wished they could bottle their joyful friendship and their experience of God鈥檚 love and give it out to those whose lives were lonely, or burdened by the pressures of modern living.

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Some days later, in Egypt, I celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of All Saints鈥� Cathedral in Cairo.

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How wonderful to share the life and work of our great family, and to see God鈥檚 love and generosity being lived out in such hugely different situations.

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In Cairo, a project has been set up to build bridges between Christian and Muslim neighbours, particularly in poor areas.听 Even in the midst of the bombing and burning of churches, they are working to serve the whole community, showing that what matters is not so much buildings but common humanity and love between people. That, for me, is the power of love and belonging which can transform our world.听

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I sometimes say to congregations, 鈥�The Church is a real Church only when it鈥檚 a band of brothers and sisters.听 Turn and say to the person on your left and your right, 鈥淚 could not live without you.鈥澨�

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Can you imagine!听 In the Church of England?听 But people do it.

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Because love for one another is stronger than any hatred, and recognising another person鈥檚 worth helps us to recognise our own.

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As Jesus of Nazareth said, 鈥淚f you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? If you greet only your friends, what鈥檚 so great about that?听 Act like God鈥� (Matthew 5:46-48).