Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

No Vac Novak became No Match Novak because Novak Djokovic was due to play at the Australian Open but prevented because he had declined a covid vaccination. 35 years ago ITV wanted a detective story set within 50 miles of the Midlands to rival BBC’s Agatha Christie stories. They choose to the Morse stories. Meatloaf...

Did you know that the word ‘mistletoe’ means dung on a tree?  The Anglo-Saxons thought that mistletoe grew in trees where birds had left their droppings.  Mistel means dung, and tan means twig.

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...

“A cold coming they had of it at this time of the year, just the worst time of the year to take a journey, and specially a long journey, in.  The way’s deep, the weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off, in solstitio brumali, the very dead of winter.” It was 1622, and...

Ever wonder where many of our Christmas traditions come from?   A surprising amount of our modern Christmas celebrations can be traced back to the well-loved story of ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens. When you read ‘A Christmas Carol’, you discover almost a template of the ‘ideal Christmas’ which we still hold dear today.  Dickens...

Mary’s Christmas From the Vicar Who is the Baby? Christian Basics – No 12:  The Return of Jesus The story behind the hymn: Good King Wenceslas Reflecting faith – To the Glory of God  ** Editor: Canon Paul Hardingham considers the mother of Jesus Mary’s Christmas As Jesus’ mother, Mary plays a crucial part in...

Church leaders in Ukraine continue to protest against Russia Russia’s suspension of Black Sea grain deal a “body blow” to world’s poorest, Christian Aid says New £15 million fund to help churches with energy bills Youthscape charity to work with parishes on reaching young people First sermon in British Sign Language at St Paul’s Cathedral...

It is to St Luke’s wonderful gospel that many Christians turn as the year draws to a close and Christmas approaches, for it is to St Luke that we owe the fullest account of the nativity. Luke alone tells us the story of Mary and the angel’s visit to her, and has thus given the...

All in the month of DECEMBER The man who gave us safe milk and saved the silk industry Lord Reith – running the BBC 100 years ago 90 years of broadcasting the Royal Christmas Messages The mysterious ways of mistletoe Protect our birds Other ways to engage with your community this Christmas ** Editor:  We...

Good News Christmas Prayer Christmas Day Bethlehem Ephrathah Twisty the Tree I heard the Bells on Christmas Day Where are we?  ** Good News (Luke 2:1-14) Good news! Good news of great joy – and it outweighs the bad news of the journey, of the rejection, of the confusion that made, and makes up life...

 Find the perfect cards…. But hurry! If you don’t already have a favourite charity, try the Combined Charities Christmas Shop at http://www.christmas-cards.org.uk/ for ideas. Your Count-down dates to Christmas might include: –  30th Nov – 4th Dec:  Write your Christmas cards. Start with the ‘must-sends’ first, so the pressure eases off. Draw up your Christmas...

The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren I have been slightly surprised that in your ministry so far, you have never been asked to give an after-dinner speech. Now you have delivered your first one, I can understand why. Speeches after any dinner come at the point where stomachs are dealing with...