Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial
- Special services of prayer and dedication asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples will soon be introduced in the Church of England on a trial basis, following a vote at the last General Synod. Synod voted in favour of a motion containing an amendment tabled by the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, to bring forward...Synod backs trial of special services asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples
- ‘… this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord … (Psalm 27:4) The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is this month (18th – 25th January), so it’s probably a good time to meet...Visiting other churches
- Have you noticed that people tend to be either givers or takers? John the Almsgiver was a giver – on a grand scale. Born into a wealthy family in Cyprus about 560 AD John was married with children when disaster struck: both his wife and children all died. In his grief, John decided to go...23rd January – John the Almsgiver
- World Leprosy Day is always the last Sunday of January. It aims to raise awareness of a disease that is at least 4,000 years old, making it one of the oldest diseases known to humanity. Leprosy still exists! Around 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy each year, and many millions are living with leprosy-related disabilities,...World Leprosy Day 2024 – 28th January
- This month, on 25th January, the Church celebrates probably the most famous conversion of all. At least, what happened to a young man called Saul on the road to Damascus has become a byword for all instant conversions – what is known as a ‘damascene’ moment. Saul was a devout Jew, a Pharisee, a student...25th January – St Paul, the first Christian intellectual
- It was only 60 years ago, on 11th January 1964, that the US Surgeon General published a report that would begin to change medical history in the West. For it concluded that cigarette smoking was very dangerous – causing lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. This was first official US government report on the health issues...When the bad news on smoking first broke
- January is a month of the beginning of great things! As well as the naming of the Son of God, we celebrate the conversion of the greatest ever apostle of the Christian faith. Many books have been written on Paul, and here is the briefest of introductions. He was a Jew, born as ‘Saul’ at...25th January – Conversion of St Paul
- The Church of Scotland recently joined campaigners to urge the First Minister to keep his promise, and to provide significant additional investment to tackle child poverty. More than 150 organisations across Scotland signed an Open Letter that called on Humza Yousaf to “do the right thing” and increase the Scottish Child Payment to at least...Church calls on Scottish Government to end child poverty
- As 2024 begins, the eyes of the world are on the wars in Israel-Gaza and Ukraine-Russia. But meanwhile the economic and financial crisis in Lebanon is spiralling out of control. The World Bank puts it starkly: “Lebanon has been assailed by the most devastating, multi-pronged crisis in its modern history.” Just one statistic: Lebanon recorded...Remember the Christians of Lebanon this year
- “Thank you” – “I’m sorry” – “I forgive you” – “I love you”. These are the most common words spoken by people in their last moments of consciousness before dying. That’s what Dr Kathryn Mannix tells us, and she should know, having spent her whole career working alongside dying people, and learning from them. Her YouTube...Good preparation for our death
- Timothy and Titus are the saints for you if you’ve been a Christian for some time, and now suspect that God wants you to move into some form of leadership. A daunting prospect! The books of First and Second Timothy and Titus are what are known as the three pastoral letters, where Paul writes to...26th January – St Timothy and St Titus, how local church leaders should be!
- It was 80 years ago this month, on 23rd January 1944, that Edvard Munch, the Norwegian artist, died. He is best known for his disturbing painting ‘The Scream.’ Munch’s body of work has been called “profoundly original” and “one of the most significant contributions to the development of Modernism in the 20th century.” Munch was...Remembering ‘The Scream’