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Release International can confirm a total of 69 Christian prisoners of faith have now been released in Eritrea – while five more have been arrested. Release partners say that many have been long-term prisoners. One has been behind bars for 16 years. None has ever been sent to trial. When news of their release broke...

– Bishop of London’s message of hope The Bishop of London, Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, has said that despite this being a time of “great uncertainty and challenge” as the world struggles to “overcome a devastating pandemic that has cut short earthly lives, destroyed livelihoods, and separated us from the people and activities we enjoy,”...

Almost certainly not.  But the story of how that date came to be chosen as His ‘birthday’ is one that stretches back long before His birth. it seems to have started on the Greek island of Rhodes in 283 BC. That year the solstice fell on 25th December, and it was also the year that...

By Dai Woolridge, Bible Society, £2 This children’s story places a mouse detective at the heart of the action in Bethlehem, and he slowly discovers who Jesus really is: Emmanuel, Rescuer and King. It is perfect to give out as a free gift to children in your church or local school.

Last month we thought about one key element of gathered worship – the Welcome. It is for everyone, regardless of how they look, or dress, their faith or their behaviour. This month, being the month of Advent and Christmas, let’s focus on Grace. God, in Jesus, did not wait for us to become perfect or...

On the whole British people are happy with the title ‘Father Christmas’, a suitably neutral name for the central character in children’s Christmases, writes David Winter. In America, however, and by a process of cultural indoctrination increasingly in other English-speaking countries, the same red-coated and bearded fellow with his sack of presents is known as...

By Christina Goodings and Samantha Meredith, Bible Society £5.99 Here is a craft for every day of Advent, or just to keep your children entertained in the run up to Christmas. You can make decorations, your own Christmas cards, and a variety of gift boxes and trimmings. Suitable for age 3-7 years.

A Covid Christmas (no more than six) could actually help take some financial pressure off you, according to Martin Lewis, the personal finance expert. The Money Saving Expert founder recently pointed out that because of the enormous pressure on people to spend, spend spend at Christmas, the festive period has become one of the ‘biggest...

More than 17,000 online services and events have been provided by Church of England churches since the introduction of the lockdown and restrictions on public worship earlier this year. Figures from the Church of England’s A Church Near You website, which allows people to search for church services and events, show that more than 17,000...

Many people say: “I can understand God, but I can’t see where Jesus fits into the picture.” A theologian called Athanasius, Egyptian by birth and Greek by education, gave the answer to your question 1600 years ago. He said: “The only system of thought into which Jesus Christ will fit is the one in which...

What helps clergy to flourish?  Some insights from an ongoing Church of England research programme have now been sent to curates across the country. The study has found six main principles that contribute to the wellbeing of ordained ministers. They include the ability to handle expectations, recognise times of personal vulnerability, establish healthy boundaries, and...

By Bob Hartman, Bible Society, £2 These entertaining rhymes will make it easy for you to share the message of Christmas with children in your family, church and community.