Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

A victim of injustice Have you ever been the victim of someone else’s malice and ambition? Then William of York (d 1154) is the saint for you. William Fitzherbert was born into a noble family, with royal connections. He was also smart – appointed treasurer of York at a young age, and also as a...

These are stressful days.  The towering storm clouds of coronavirus and financial trouble are casting a long shadow over all of us. Many of us deal with our stress by expressing it. Loudly! We lose our temper, swear, shout and even throw things at our loved ones. We over-react to various personal setbacks because we...

It was 250 years ago, on 11th June 1770, that English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, when his ship ran aground on it. While the aborigines and the Chinese may have found the Reef – the largest structure in the world made of living organisms – before him, Cook made...

From large pink hamsters that smile and wave at you, to cars that can’t get off roundabouts, a lot of us are reporting weird, vivid, and intense dreams just now. Experts say that financial worries, cabin fever and boredom may all be factors.  But – on the plus side, there is also the fact that...

Missionary to the UK In 563 AD St Columba sailed from Ireland to Iona – a tiny island off Mull, in the Western Highlands. He brought Christianity with him. Columba (c. 521 -97) was born in Donegal of the royal Ui Neill clan, and he trained as a monk. He founded the monasteries of Derry...

A recent survey carried out by YouGov, on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, found that more than one in five adults in the UK had felt panicked by the coronavirus, three in 10 had felt afraid, and more than six in 10 had felt anxious.  And that was even before lockdown. One therapist suggests...

MAF still flying Christians help by donating to foodbanks Refugee Week – 15th-21st June Conservation Foundation wants to hear stories from your garden Christian summer events and travel agencies hard hit by crisis Church Mission Society’s concern for Africa Mothers’ Union offers range of resources CPAS welcomes everybody online Creative things you can do with...

Paul’s first missionary companion Would you have liked to go to Cyprus on holiday this year? If so, spare a thought for the Cypriot who played such a key role in the New Testament. He was Joseph, a Jewish Cypriot and a Levite, who is first mentioned in Acts 4:36, when the Early Church was...

Many of us actually like dandelions. Their amazingly cheerful colour always brings a smile to our faces. The not-so-neat-and-tidy gardeners among us can simply enjoy flowers where they grow. The name ‘dandelion’ apparently derives from ‘dent de lion’ – lions’ teeth, owing to the tooth-like shape of its leaves. There are many different varieties of...

Saturday 20th June was meant to be the day when MAF celebrated its 75th Anniversary of flying with a big celebration in London. Not being able to meet with its many supporters is bitterly disappointing, but MAF now wants instead to pray for its supporters, and to reassure them at this difficult time. As MAF...

Friend of St Francis of Assisi Antony of Padua knew St Francis of Assisi.  Both men were true followers of Christ in a time of great religious confusion and social turmoil. Like Francis, Antony (1193 – 1231) was born into a wealthy family. Antony’s father was a nobleman of Lisbon, Portugal, who sent his son...

Domestic abuse is soaring just now. Even as far back as early April, it was up by 30 per cent. No wonder, then, that charities are urging us to keep an eye out for anyone in danger.  The warning signs include bruising, repeated shouting and all types of controlling behaviour. If someone is in immediate...