Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

By Stephen Cottrell, CHP, £6.99 Christmas is one of the most joyful times of year, and it can also be one of the most stressful. This understanding and uplifting book offers another way to approach Christmas, and to discover how its joys and promises can restore our lives, not add to their burdens.

“And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and call His name JESUS…”  (Luke 1:31) On 8th December Roman Catholics celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. While non-Roman Catholics do not venerate Mary in the same way, we can still learn so much from the Mother of...

Cathedrals have struggled this year, as Covid-19 drastically cut visitor numbers, and thus income has plummeted. Numbers of lay staff in cathedrals across the country have been facing possible redundancy, as the financial impact of the pandemic continues to hit. Westminster Abbey alone is losing 20 per cent of its staff as it faces a...

Ever wonder where many of our Christmas traditions come from?   A surprising amount of our modern Christmas celebrations can be traced back to the well-loved story of ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens. When you read ‘A Christmas Carol’, you discover almost a template of the ‘ideal Christmas’ which we still hold dear today.  Dickens...

Change your expectations this Christmas. Don’t waste time lamenting what should have been. Instead, try and enjoy whatever is possible this year.  Make a list. Include sending cards, buying presents and organising food for the big day. Having a lists helps keep you in control of your life. Set a reduced budget this year. With...

“God is with us in our pain and fear’ – Bishop of London’s message of hope Going to church in the coronavirus pandemic Parishes serving their communities Church of England launches its Anti-Racism Taskforce More than £10m in grants to 66 churches and cathedrals Living in Love and Faith ** “God is with us in...

It is to St Luke’s wonderful gospel that many Christians turn as the year draws to a close and Christmas approaches, for it is to St Luke that we owe the fullest account of the nativity. Luke alone tells us the story of Mary and the angel’s visit to her, and has thus given the...

By Richard Littledale, Authentic, £7.99 For many of us, putting out a crib set is one of our treasured Christmas traditions. But what do these scenes really tell us about the original Christmas story? Richard Littledale, a regular contributor to Daily Service and Sunday Worship on BBC Radio 4, shares reflections, Bible readings and prayers...

The Church of England’s Giving Team has produced a new series of week-long resources (Sunday to Sunday) to encourage people to live generously. It hoped that parishes will use them to organise their own Generosity Week, at a time suitable for them. The material includes eight daily podcast reflections based on generosity in the Bible. A verse...

By Vicki Howie, Bible Society, £2 This children’s story booklet offers a fresh retelling of the nativity story focusing on God’s heart for all He has made. Created in partnership with HOPE Together.

Here is a challenge:  why not spend some time learning the words to traditional carols this year? Polls have found that too many of us know the title of a carol and the tune and the opening line or so, but then we have to make it up. This year you probably have more time...

During this year we have explored the beauty and wonder of our world in the rich variety of all creatures great and small. In the months of lockdown and restrictions, many of us have used the time to look afresh at the world of Nature and have learnt to value it once again. When we...