Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

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...

There are two early stories that mention fir trees. The first involves St Boniface, who went to Germany in the 8th century as a missionary and found people sacrificing a child to their god under an oak tree. Boniface was appalled, and he rescued the child. He then chopped down the oak tree and found...

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...

Our pretty Christmas cards do not do it justice – the stable that Jesus was born in would have been smelly, dirty, and full of mess.   So why did God not provide something better for His beloved Son?   Why let Joseph and Mary scrounge around until they ended up in a smelly stable? Perhaps because...

Archbishop Designate, Sarah Mullally, sets out her hopes for the Church Bishops pray Gaza ceasefire deal brings immediate relief and comfort Renewed call for national conversation on AI and the Future of Work Update on Living in Love and Faith ‘An urgent crisis requiring urgent action’ – bishops join MPs in call to scrap two-child...

Ever wonder why Jesus was born when He was?  The Bible tells us that “when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son…” The Jewish people had been waiting for their Messiah for centuries.  Why did God send Him precisely when He did? Many biblical scholars believe that the ‘time had fully come’...

Did you know that mince pies have been traditional English Christmas fare since the Middle Ages, when meat was a key ingredient?  The addition of spices, suet and alcohol to meat came about because it was an alternative to salting and smoking in order to preserve the food. Mince pies used to be a different...

Did you know that it is a family in Wiltshire, the Parkers, who claim to own the world’s oldest artificial Christmas tree?  It was bought in 1886, and is still put up every year.

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.

All in the month of December Jane Austen – still loved 250 years later The many journeys of the Stone of Scone 65 years of Coronation Street All about Christmas trees Fun Facts about Christmas trees The dictators of Russia and China woud like to live forever A Quiz on the year 2025 Quiz 2025...

Shortly after the announcement of her nomination as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sarah Mullally delivered an address at Canterbury Cathedral, reflecting on her calling, the challenges facing the Church, and her hopes for its future. Rooted in her early vocation as a nurse and shaped by her ministry in London, she spoke of...

Christmas Unwrapped! From the Vicar Micah’s Message – look forward to the child born in Bethlehem The Nicene Creed: Trinitarian Faith What’s the Big Idea? An Introduction to Philippians Enough?  Reflecting Faith: Listening to the Gospel And there were shepherds… ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the Christmas story. Christmas Unwrapped! All of us have...