Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) has said that we’re at ‘Code red for humanity: the alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.’ At this Creationtide, how are we to respond to these...

Mark is the second of the synoptic gospels, along with Matthew and Luke. Traditionally this gospel is ascribed to John Mark, a close associate of Peter. It was written for Gentile readers, probably in Rome during Nero’s persecution of the church (c AD 64-7). Mark unveils Jesus’ public ministry with the words: ‘the beginning of...

Last month I wrote about the Arts and Crafts Movement’s influence in the decoration of churches in Britain.  This is often evidenced in the designs of windows – but why do we have so much coloured glass of all shapes and sizes in church buildings? Stained glass in churches is similar to wall paintings in...

 Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home! All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin;< God, our maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied; Come to God’s own temple, come; Raise the song of harvest home! We ourselves are God’s own field, Fruit unto his praise to...

 ‘My future is in Your hands…’ In her helpful book, When, God, When?  Joyce Meyer writes: “God has taught me to keep living the life I now have, while I am waiting for the things that are in my heart to come to pass. We can become so intent on trying to birth the next...

Education Sunday From the Vicar What’s the Big Idea? An Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew Reflecting Faith: Arts and Crafts Churches And whatever you do! Let’s run with perseverance Sailing with the Spirit ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the needs of children. Education Sunday Education Sunday takes place on 8th September, as our...

Education Sunday takes place on 8th September, as our children return to school after the summer break. It’s good opportunity to ask what God thinks of children and how we can reflect this in our schools, churches and families. Children are valuable to God: ‘Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place...

Education Sunday takes place on 8th September, as our children return to school after the summer break. It’s good opportunity to ask what God thinks of children and how we can reflect this in our schools, churches and families. Children are valuable to God: ‘Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place...

Originally, the theology behind church building was to build church buildings on higher land, so that people would have to lift their heads to look upon them; with the tower or spire giving it extra height. This was reflecting the faith of lifting our eyes to God and recognising our place in His Creation –...

This month we turn to the New Testament and look at Matthew, the first of the gospels. Although linked to Matthew the apostle, it is generally believed that the author used oral tradition, written fragments, eye-witness accounts, as well as common material in the other synoptic gospels (Mark and Luke). Matthew, in writing for Jews,...

In the church today we sometimes assume that discipleship is more about the sacred part of our life, rather than the secular as well. Are we aware of what God is doing in our school, workplace, with friends and family, on our street or in our leisure time? Whole life disciples spend every day with...

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.’ (Hebrews 12:1) With the Paris Olympics still so recent, this imagery can really speak to...