Shoe-polishing bishops demonstrate God's love

The Bishops of Birmingham and Leicester and the Dean of Peterborough are among senior clergy preparing to roll up their sleeves and cassocks today to clean and polish the shoes of dozens of office workers in towns and cities across the country.

The church figures are getting ready to buff the footwear of passers-by in a symbolic act echoing Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet on the night of the Last Supper, before his trial and crucifixion which are commemorated on Good Friday.

The Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev David Urquhart, said: "The shoe shine is just a small demonstration that people who follow Jesus are prepared to roll up their sleeves and serve their communities.

"During my Lent visits around the diocese, I have been very pleased to meet many wonderful people whose faith inspires them to serve those around them in that which transform both communities and individual lives."

Throughout the day, many cathedrals will host a special 'Chrism Eucharist'. Church of England clergy from across the diocese will gather to renew their ordination vows, and the bishop will bless the oils which priests use to anoint the sick and dying and those used during baptism.

Tonight, thousands of churches will hold evening Communion services commemorating the Last Supper. In many churches this includes a re-enactment of Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet and, at the end of the service, the altar and sanctuary are stripped in preparation for the sombre liturgy of Good Friday.

This morning's initiatives of symbolic yet practical service coincide with the recommended action for Maundy Thursday in the Church of England's Love Life Live Lent campaign. The interactive project aims to share recommended actions to make the world a better place in small and simple ways.

Last year, more than 130,000 people joined in with Love Life Live Lent, which inspired simple acts of service that spread happiness in our communities. This year, daily suggestions are available not only through two colourful booklets produced by Church House Publishing, but also through social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace and photo-sharing website Flickr. More than 1,000 users of Facebook have signed up to join the project's special online group.

Across the country:

Clergy from across Birmingham will join their bishop, the Rt Revd David Urquhart, in polishing shoes for passers-by in the square directly outside the city's cathedral before and after their Chrism Mass.

Clergy in Peterborough, including the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral, the Very Rev Charles Taylor, will be setting up their shoe shining stall near the city's Guildhall at lunchtime today, following their diocesan service where clergy renew their ordination vows. "I really look forward to helping the Shoe Shine again this year," said the Dean. "Last year was the first time I'd taken part in this re-enactment of Jesus' loving service when he washed his disciples' feet. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, which just goes to show that serving others can be fun as well as fulfilling!"

In Northampton, clergy will be offering shoe shining in the town's Abington Street during the afternoon. The town is also hosting an ecumenically-sponsored poster journey through part of the shopping centre modelled on the traditional 'stations of the cross' which progressively tell the story of the days before Jesus' crucifixion.

Free shoe-shining is also taking place in Coventry's Upper Precinct over a three day period from today until Saturday. The celebration, called 'Christ in the Precinct', has been a feature of Easter in Coventry for 18 years. In addition to the shoe-cleaning, there will also be live music, face painting and a colouring competition. The Rev Roger Morris, Director for Parish Development and Evangelism for the Diocese of Coventry, says: "We want to bless the people of Coventry by offering them something for nothing. We're not after money. We are not on a recruitment drive. We simply want people to associate the Church with the idea of good things freely given - after all, that is at the heart of the Easter message."

City workers and shoppers in Leicester will also get the chance to grab a free shoe shine and chat with local ministers, when the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, is joined by vicars and friends from across the city and beyond at their footwear polishing centre in the Cathedral Precinct from 2pm -5pm. Rev Mike Harrison, the Director of Mission and Ministry, says: "This is one way to respond to Jesus' call to follow the example he set of humble service by washing his disciples' feet."

Love Life Live Lent's actions run until Easter Sunday on 23 March, and are available as a full-colour booklet for just £1 from Christian bookshops or by mail order via www.livelent.net