Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Two hundred years ago, on 11th May 1820, the British Royal Navy sloop HMS Beagle was launched. It was the ship that took Charles Darwin on the voyage around the world between 1831 and 1836 that led to his putting forward the theory of Evolution. HMS Beagle was one of 100 ships of its class,...

The prophet Jonah is mentioned three times in the Gospels when Jesus refers to ‘the sign of Jonah.’ In the Old Testament he was swallowed by a large fish, traditionally a whale, and in its belly for three days and three nights. It is easy to see in that sign a reference to the death...

Dear God, Thank you for xxxx, for all that they meant to me and others. I so wanted to say goodbye, to be alongside my friends and family. Help me to know you are there, Holding all my hopes, Holding all those I love, especially xxxx, And holding me this day. Be close this day with your...

‘So many people died that cities and villages in Italy … were abandoned and fell into ruin.’ That’s not a report about the impact of coronavirus, but an epidemic of smallpox that infected the Roman Empire in 165 AD. A second, equally devastating plague, possibly measles, swept the empire less than 100 years later. Rodney...

Crises bring out the best in people. What has become immediately apparent over the last few weeks is that the reserves of kindness, generosity and love for each other are often far deeper than we could have imagined. One of the challenges of this specific crisis is how inactive and intangible our help and selflessness...

On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus to be a global pandemic. Since its outbreak in January in Wuhan, China, the world has been slowly engulfed by fear of this invisible but deadly threat. As the virus has spread, so have the efforts of our Governments to slow the virus....

EASTER STORY Easter! Fun Things to Make and Do Living Easter Through the Year Lifted – Experiencing the Resurrection Life Holy Habits – Bible Reflections What’s in the Bible (for me)?  **  EASTER STORY Lion Children’s Books, £2.49 A beautiful retelling of the first Easter, with the events of the Jesus’ death and resurrection.  It...

The Changing The Mirror Easter Story Intercession God’s Word is Nourishment! Easter, our Marriage Ceremony ** The Changing Reflections of Mary (Mark 16:1-8) Our eyes seeing the same mountains, The gentle touching of our hands, Simply breathing the same air, Pleasures unrecognised till now, Gone…. In the changing. In the certainty of our grieving, You...

Editor:  As the church year does not change, much of this material has appeared before.  The articles on ‘Fooling Around’ and ‘Mary Magdalene’ are new this year. 1           Fooling around 1          April Fool’s Day 2          Hugh of Grenoble – the saint who fought corruption 3          Richard of Chichester – wanting God more clearly, dearly and...

I was about six when I began to enjoy April Fool’s Day. My older brother was very clever at appropriate hoaxes, not only deceiving me but also mum and dad. On the whole my childish efforts were encouraged. The day was full of laughs, even at school, where the teachers would try to trick us...

In years gone by, the rules surrounding April Fool were this:  between midnight and noon on 1st April, everyone is ‘fair game’ to be made a fool of.  It is the morning of the practical joke.  But the aim is not just to discomfort the victim: he must be tricked into taking action himself, sent...

Lion Children’s Books, £2.49 A beautiful retelling of the first Easter, with the events of the Jesus’ death and resurrection.  It is ideal for sharing with young readers, at home, school, or Sunday school.