Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Christmas cards have a history which may surprise you: their origins are not of the Church, but of the Post Office and railways. Of course, very early ‘Christmas cards’ had been around for hundreds of years, in the form of a simple exchange of Christmas greetings in private letters. The earliest such letter on record...

War in Gaza and Israel Israel and Gaza: how should we respond? Nativity Quiz in 20 Questions Food Banks across the UK may be facing their ‘worst winter’ yet Can you get benefits? Chinese Churches growing fast in the UK Help people out of modern slavery Christians in India face rising violence Hunger in Zimbabwe...

Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is brilliantly told – the angel’s visit to Mary to tell her she would be mother of the long-promised Messiah, the old priest in the Temple told by another angel that his wife would have a son to be called ‘John’, who would prepare the people of Israel...

Imagine something unlikely! This Christmas, there is one television programme that the whole family wants to enjoy, but everyone will view it differently.  So – you are resting upstairs and watching it on the portable set in the bedroom. Your partner is still at work and watching it on a laptop in the office. Your...

Editor: The situation in Israel and Gaza is moving so quickly that any story we offer you now is bound to be ‘out of date’ by the time your December magazine appears. So instead, we are offering you a list of some Christian UK agencies who are working in either Israel or Gaza, and who...

All in the month of December The first-ever nativity scene The story behind ‘The Night Before Christmas’ Big Ben Beatrix Potter Little donkey, little donkey Universal Human Rights turns 75 ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, December) down the years. Here is a range from...

Israel-Gaza Conflict – UK faith leaders condemn antisemitism and call for solidarity Archbishops invite choirs to join premiere of new Carol for Advent and Christmas Prospect of winter energy bills causing anxiety for millions, says Archbishop of York Church of England launches initiative to help schools reach Net Zero Synod meeting to focus on implementation...

What are you buying your friends for Christmas this year? If you are tempted by ‘socially responsible’ gifts that involve you NOT giving your friends anything at all, but instead giving your money to a charity ‘in their name’, you may wish to think again.  Such gifts as goats in Ghana or chickens in Chad...

The Archbishop of Canterbury was recently joined by Muslim and Jewish leaders at Lambeth Palace to condemn the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since the start of the war in Israel and Hamas. They called for unity between British faith communities, against the backdrop of the war. Archbishop Justin Welby, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra and Rabbi...

We’re at that time of year again! But is Christmas just about the shopping, tree or presents? At its heart, Christmas is all about a God who has showed up on earth. The Creator of the universe, whose hands flung stars into space, cared enough to come to earth as a tiny baby.  ‘The Word...

No one is really sure, but a story is told of St Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the 4th century, who may have started the custom by accident.  St Nicholas was of a wealthy family, and of a generous heart.  As Christmas approached one year, he wanted to help a poor family whom he...

It was: 800 years ago, on 25th December 1223 that St Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene, in Greccio, Italy, after visiting Jesus’ birthplace in the Holy Land. It proved enormously popular and inspired other communities to stage their own nativity scenes. 250 years ago, on 16th December 1773 that the Boston Tea...