Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Suppose you lose someone whom you love at this time?  Current guidelines from the Church of England, in light of the current restrictions over Coronavirus COVID-19, say that funerals may now only happen at the Crematorium or at the graveside. Only immediate family members can attend (if the crematorium allows). When we lose someone we...

Visit us after 3pm on Friday 3rd April – and download some stories to use on your website this weekend!  

The Rectory St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren It seems that the basics of parish ministry are no longer taught in theological colleges.  Don’t you know anything about consulting your diary in public? When you are asked if you are free on a certain date, accepted practice is to open it...

Editor:  The following stories are ‘News’ stories telling how various Christian organisations are dealing with the crisis as at the end of March/early April.Because the coronavirus crisis is changing so rapidly, please note: Throughout April we will be UPDATING our News EACH FRIDAY AT 3PM  Please go to:  www.parishpump.co.uk / Resources / Editorial / Coronavirus...

1                      May Day 1                      Philip the Apostle/James the Less 2                      Athanasius 8                      Julian of Norwich 9                      Pachomius 10                    Comgall 14                    Matthias the Apostle – called by lots 16                    Caroline Chisholm 17                    Rogation Sunday 19                    Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury 21                    Helena, Protector of the Holy Places 21                    The Ascension 24                    John and Charles Wesley...

May is the month when the ancient pagans used to get up to ‘all sorts’! The Romans held their festival to honour the mother-goddess Maia, goddess of nature and growth. (May is named after her.) The early Celts celebrated the feast of Beltane, in honour of the sun god, Beli. For centuries in ‘Olde England’...

Life in quarantine Loneliness at the Virtual Chelsea Flower Show, 19th – 23rd May Leave your dandelions alone What is the best way to talk about death?  Grow your lawns Take exercise for even half an hour a day – and lower depression! Dieting at home When texting can be dangerous Bless you? Plan for...

Is there someone in church whom you respect for their spirituality and common sense combined? Someone you feel easy about approaching to ask questions? That person’s patron saint should be Philip. Philip came from Bethsaida and was a disciple of Jesus from early on. He knew how to lead others to Jesus; he brought Nathanael...

One thing for sure:  the apostles were not self-obsessed. In fact, many a church historian has wished that they had left us just a few more personal details about themselves in the New Testament.  James the Less is an excellent example. This is the name we give to James the son of Alphaeus, but beyond...

This is the name behind the Athanasian Creed. Athanasius (296-373) was born into a prosperous family in Alexandria in Egypt, studied in the Christian school there and entered the ministry. He was twenty-nine years old when he accompanied Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, to the Church’s first ecumenical Council, at Nicaea in 325. Although Athanasius...

by Canon David Winter Many years ago, studying English literature at university, I was intrigued to be introduced to the work of Julian of Norwich. She was writing at the end of the 14th century, when our modern English language was slowly emerging from its origins in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. Our lecturer was mainly...

Editor:   The following prayers concerning the coronavirus outbreak are found on the Church of England website at: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-liturgy-and-prayer-resources  They are by Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference. If you use these, please acknowledge.  Time of distress Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support...