13th July 2026

Two firefighting aircraft were sent to the Paris region yesterday after a “very virulent” fire of “exceptional scale” erupted in the sprawling Fontainebleau forest about 60km (40 miles) south-east of the capital. It raced across 800 hectares (2,000 acres) and was still spreading early this morning causing the partial closure of the A6 highway, the country’s main north-south artery.  In north Wales, firefighters are tackling major blazes in the Snowdonia region, Conwy, Gwynedd and Flintshire. A fire has been burning since yesterday morning in the Sychnant Pass area - forcing some residents to evacuate in nearby communities.  Last week, two British hikers were badly burned and found in a semi-conscious in a Spanish ravine amid deadly wildfires that have swept through the country’s Almería province, according to local media reports.  That fire has has taken the lives of at least 13 people and burned more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres). At least 23 people are missing. A researcher team from at Imperial College, London, the UK Meteorological Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has estimate that more than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes in England and Wales during the exceptionally hot weather in May and June. Heat waves were caused by a heat dome that was exacerbated by human-induced climate change that has warmed the planet by around 1.4C since pre-industrial times. Scientists believe it added between 3 and 4C to the maximum temperatures recorded in May and June. 

Loving God, you have created a wonderful world and placed us on the planet to enjoy the magnificence of your majesty.  Forgive us that we have created such misery and sadness for so many. Comfort all who mounr and plce your healing hand on all injured as a consequence of wildfires. Forgive us that we have failed to heed the warnings you have given us thorugh scientific research over many decades.  Forgive that so many still want further exploitation of fosil fuels that put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Shake the leaders of nations and global corporations through the extreme heat being expereinced across Europe that they will tke action to move swiftly away from  practices that place the natural world a risk. In  the name of Jesus we pray,  Amen.  

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In 2007, when senior players in the men's senior England football squad, including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Steven Gerrard, and John Terry decided their appearance should be donated to charity. The result was that  the England Footballers Foundation was founded.  Since then every squad member's match fees have benefitted charity rather than the players themselves. Over almost two decades an accumulated total of approximately £15 million has been donated to support others. With England still in the current World Cup competition the squad is on course to donate a minimum of £88,000 from this tournament alone. One estimate put an individual player's total donation across all 2026 appearances at £24,000 should the team reach the final.

Find out more about the England Footballers Foundation here.

Psalm 33: 1-5 (NCV)

Sing to the Lord, you who do what is right;

honest people should praise him.

Praise the Lord on the harp;

make music for him on a ten-stringed lyre.

Sing a new song to him;

play well and joyfully.

God’s word is true,

and everything he does is right.

He loves what is right and fair;

the Lord’s love fills the earth.