Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Some people’s lives seem to epitomise the suffering of millions, but also to shine with a Christian response to it.  One such person was Maximilian Kolbe, 1894 – 1941, a Franciscan priest of Poland, and publisher extraordinary. Maximilian was born at Zdunska Wola, near Lodz, where his parents, devout Christians, worked in a cottage weaving...

Could you champion mission in your church? ‘Shall we not love thee, Mother dear?’ Mothers’ Union – changing women’s lives for the better Bible stories for school children UK church attendance – by ethnicity Churches in Bulgaria breathe sigh of relief A million bricks of answered prayer ** Editor:  We are offering the same article...

The title of Bob Geldof’s autobiography, ‘Is That It?’, will resonate with us, when we’re looking for more in life. On a deeper level, we want to see and hear more clearly what God is doing in our circumstances. Jesus’ transfiguration, which we remember this month, helps us to consider this (Luke 9:28-36). Jesus was...

The Rectory St. James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren Since your church is a former cinema, I suspect that were the floor to be removed, cigarette ash, sweet wrappings and tickets for the last Charlie Chaplin film would be revealed. Our marble flooring in the chancel was raised last week to try...

Have you done something bad which haunts you?  Does the memory of it still follow you through each day – and keep you awake at night?   If so, then Laurence Loricatus (c. 1190 – 1243) is the saint for you.  He was born at Facciolo (Apulia) and as a youth he killed a man. After...

HOPE Together is recruiting Mission Champions who will inspire and equip fellow church members to reach out. Each Mission Champion will be resourced by HOPE Together to inspire others. Here’s the ‘job description’: Encouraging fellow church members to be involved in serving others in their community and making Christ known through their love and practical...

‘One difference between grace and mercy is that grace is getting what we don’t deserve (favour), and mercy is not getting what we do deserve (justice).’ (R.T. Kendall). Jesus calls us to show mercy in our everyday relationships: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.’ (Matthew 5:7). How are we to show...

A Fifth Column is ‘any group of people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favour of an enemy group or nation’.  You can hardly accuse Christians of being Fifth Columnists, for we are urged to respect and pray for those in authority and St Paul claimed: “we give no offence in anything,...

Living in chaos? Perhaps this summer you have temporarily escaped from a bad situation in your daily life, and are dreading going back…   There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot, from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good.  He did it at creation.  He did it at the cross.  He is doing...

Accident Going to Uni this autumn?  Or not? iPads and toddlers Gain a baby, but don’t lose a friend When you are stressed, so is your dog! Have you ever lost a close friend to death? Look out for this at family gatherings Where do children feel most lonely? How much did you spend online...

All in the month of AUGUST Napoleon – one of the greatest military leaders Louis Mountbatten – 40th anniversary of his death 25 years of legal Sunday trading Growing crisis in social care Roadworks and more roadworks… Meditation retreats Beer of biblical proportions Plastic, plastic everywhere Our favourite (and least favourite) traditional foods ** Editor: ...

In June of this year we commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in the knowledge that many of the veterans would not see another major celebration of that remarkable event. That brought an added poignancy to the proceedings. I’m sure that, like me, you were touched by what many of the veterans had...