Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Rupert is the saint for you if you like The Sound of Music – or salt with your food! Rupert (d c 710) was bishop of Worms and Salzburg, and it was he who founded the great monastery of St Peter in Salzburg in the eighth century, thus firmly establishing Christianity in that city. True,...

This March the UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie will once again be asking people across the UK to support its Great Daffodil Appeal. Money raised from the flagship fundraising appeal will help the charity’s doctors, nurses and hospice staff continue their vital work providing expert care to people at the end of...

At this time of the year, we are planning our gardens for the Spring and Summer ahead. The book of Genesis opens with a glorious account of God’s work of creation, and it also tells us that God rested on the seventh day. We all need to find that balance of work and rest, of...

‘And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and call his name JESUS…’  Luke 1:31 On 25th March Christians  around the world will celebrate the Annunciation, when the angel came to Mary to tell her that she would bear a child. At this time of year, I often find myself...

People who retired early (before the age of 66) are going back to work. A study has found that the reason is because they miss having a sense of daily purpose in their lives, or they miss the companionship of work colleagues. A recent study by Aviva found that people who want to retire early...

The Church of England’s National Investing Bodies (NIBs) are working out their 2018 commitment to General Synod to disinvest from high carbon emitting companies that are not making enough effort to change.Twenty companies have made climate-related changes to stay off the Church’s restricted list since 2020. Bess Joffe, Head of Responsible Investment, Church Commissioners for...

A new report detailing how clergy have fared in the Covid pandemic has been published, as part of the findings from the Church of England’s Living Ministry research programme. Clergy Wellbeing in a Time of Covid: Autonomy, Accountability and Support, sets out how clergy have reported on their levels of physical, mental, spiritual, relational and...

** Editor:  With Mothering Sunday in mind…. you could consider running the same quiz on the youngsters in your church! Why God made mums These were the answers given by some seven- year-olds… Why did God make mothers? 1. She’s the only one who knows all the passwords we use online. 2. Mostly to clean...

Mother’s Way When the angel told Mary she would give birth to God’s Son SPRING Lenten Contrition Have Pity on Me Grace of Love The Vernal Equinox The Computer Swallowed Grandad! ** Editor:  With both Mothering Sunday and the Annunciation this month, we offer the following on motherhood…. Mother’s Way (Luke 2:19,51) You treasure those...

Editor:  With Lent in mind, we offer quotes that focus on contemplation, prayer, and self-assessment. The need of the world is to listen to God. – Albert Einstein A religion that does not begin with repentance is certain to end there – perhaps too late. – Anon  Time spent on the knees in prayer will...

and his ladder to Paradise Is there something down at, say, B&Q, which reminds your friends of you?   John Climacus (d 649) had a thing about ladders.  He was a monk in Palestine who was only seen out at the weekends (at church, not B&Q); during the week he prayed and wrote in solitude. He...

A ‘staycation’ sounds so safe. But recent data from NHS Digital reveals that people who engage in outdoor leisure activities in the UK may then risk getting struck by lightning. Strikes and injuries increased sixfold in 2020. Of course, the likelihood of you being hit by lightning in the UK is still at about 1.2...