Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Truth Encounter A prayer for the pandemic The Water of Life A February Rose In this Lenten Time renew us A Prayer for Light The woe of war In the wilderness Love The ages of life ** Truth Encounter (Luke 4:1-14, John 17:17, James 4:7) Led by the Spirit And tempted by the devil He...

This month you can join churches around the UK in prayer, giving and action, on behalf of those who are struggling with poverty.  Society should be “founded on compassion and justice, where all people are able to exercise dignity, agency and power,” says Church Action on Poverty. For free resources to encourage prayer and fund-raising,...

– vicar and poet  On this day the Church Calendar celebrates George Herbert. For those who are muttering ‘never heard of him’, just think of the hymn ‘Let all the world/ In every corner sing’, which he wrote, along with several other hymns which are still popular, even if they are well over 300 years old....

Beware of people talking near you in a restaurant.  This is the recent advice from some South Korean researchers, who claim that people can be infected with Covid-19 while still more than 20 feet away. They also warn against all loud talking or shouting in public. The researchers have urged restaurants to consider installing dividing...

Forty days and forty nights On the 17th of this month, we enter the season of Lent: those 40 days when we follow Jesus into the wilderness and prepare ourselves to celebrate His Easter victory. In the last century an artist called Stanley Spencer planned to create a series of 40 paintings, each depicting a...

The founder of the largest independent faith-based safeguarding charity in the UK was recently awarded an MBE for services to safeguarding the vulnerable. David Pearson led Thirtyone:eight (known previously as CCPAS) until his retirement in 2010. From humble beginnings in a caravan parked on his driveway, the charity now employs 50 staff and engages with...

Last year saw a steep rise in redundances among the over-60s, and a lack of proficiency with digital work tools such as Zoom helped contribute to the problem. The number of workers over 60 who were made redundant increased from 8,000 between April and June to 31,000 between July and September – twice the percentage...

– the saint for a Leap Year  There is a saint for Leap Year: he is St Oswald of Worcester, who died on 29th February 992. His family story was extraordinary, and full of some surprising ‘leaps’, all by itself.  It provides a tantalising glimpse of what happened to at least one of those pagan...

By Stephen Cottrell, BRF, £7.99 When we look at the life of Peter – fisherman, disciple, leader of the early Church – we find somebody who responded wholeheartedly to the call to ‘come and see’. Come and meet Jesus, come and follow him, come and find your life being transformed. This book focuses on Peter,...

The natural environment can make a real impact on your mood. Mountains can leave you feeling more optimistic, while the ocean can help boost your inspiration. A recent study at Goldsmiths University of London found that water is most effective at increasing positive emotions, such as happiness and inspiration.  Woodlands can help you forget your...

The Rectory St James the Least of All   My dear Nephew Darren I appreciated your recent concern when you heard one of our parishioners had slipped on a gravestone. Your desire to help was entirely commendable, and I do know that sending your own church’s health and safety officer to give us some advice...

** Hymns for seasoned citizens The Old Rugged Face Precious Lord, Take My Hand, And Help Me Up It is Well With My Soul, But My Knees Hurt Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have Seeing Amazing Grace, Considering My Age Just a Slower Walk With Thee Count Your Many Birthdays, Name Them One by One...