5th July 2026

Today is the International Day of Cooperatives. The theme is “Cooperatives for a peaceful world”.  The aim is to affirm the contribution of cooperative enterprises to social justice, inclusion and solidarity. It recognizes cooperatives as people-centered institutions that can help build trust, strengthen social cohesion and bring communities together around shared needs and aspirations. In a world marked by conflict, inequality, social fragmentation and declining trust, the theme recalls that peace is more than the absence of violence: it also requires inclusion, fairness, dialogue and economic security.

This year's theme also reflects the capacity of the cooperative model to serve as a bridge between people and communities. Through democratic ownership, open membership and collective responsibility, cooperatives create spaces in which people can participate, be heard and work together across social and economic divides. Rooted in communities and connected through an international movement, they support livelihoods, decent work, poverty reduction, social integration and peacebuilding among peoples, communities and nations.

Loving God, we give thanks for any initiative that seeks to promote peace in our troubled world.  We thank you for the co-operative movements and that it brings people together for mutual benefit. May today encourage people to consider how they can work together to create social cohesion, justice in trade and employment and work for disgnity for all. In  the name of Jesus we pray,  Amen.  

Scientists from Maastricht University in the Netherlands  have developed a mobile phone app that can detect an oncoming potentially-deadly asthma attack up to three days in advance.  A flare-up of asthma or COPD, is known as an exacerbation. This is when breathing, coughing, and phlegm become suddenly worse and sometimes, without prompt medical care, can become dangerous.  However, the new phone app may soon make it possible to use a daily voice-check to monitor for the earliest sign of a flare-up simply by speaking into your phone. Research leader Dr. Sami Simons explained that these sudden exacerbations are not only frightening, they can lead to longer-term deterioration and increase the risk of dying. The use of artificial intelligence means it is possible to perform sophisticated analysis to find patterns in audio recordings. The research is published in the journal ERJ Open Research, available here.

Loving God,

we praise you

with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

We honour your great power, mercy and love.

We thank you for your faithfulness,

for you never leave us.

We thank you for your care over us.

We glorify you for sending Jesus to be our Saviour,

and for breathing renewal into our souls.

We praise you for sending your Holy Spirit,

who fills us,

drawing us ever closer to you,

and working your purposes through us.

We thank you for every opportunity you will give us today

to see your hand at work

and to give you praise.

All blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.