Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

The Mothers’ Union has made a very practical response to the coronavirus. As their website explains, “We know that our work and experience in re-building communities and supporting family life is going to be more important than ever once the threat of COVID-19 subsides. Our members will be some of the first in line to...

The Methodists have launched a new social media campaign, #loveyourself #loveyourneighbour. It aims to engage “with the many wellbeing conversations that have recently sprung up. At its centre is a gentle rhythm of daily contemplation and action for those of faith, those searching, and those who do not know what they believe.” #loveyourself #loveyourneighbour aims...

The BBC ‘Today’ programme that was broadcast on Good Friday included an interview with Hylton Murray-Philipson, a survivor of Covid-19. He had been on a ventilator in Leicester Royal Infirmary, “reduced to the state of a baby”. The programme presenter, Nick Robinson, invited him to describe memories of his time in intensive care.  When he said...

Here are some excruciating one-liners… What time of day was Adam created? Just a little before Eve. Who was the fastest runner in the race? Adam. He was first in the human race. Why are atoms Catholic? Because they all have mass. Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark? Because Noah was always standing...

– a spirituality of walking By Graham B Usher, SPCK, £9.99 Walking is one of the simplest things we do as humans. It’s how most of us experience life. In The Way Under Our Feet, Graham Usher conveys how exhilarating it is to walk into the depths of our humanity. We become more ready to recognise...

Britain’s first Christian martyr Alban was the very first Christian martyr in Britain – or at least the first we know of. A ‘martyr’ is someone who has died for the faith – the word literally means ‘witness’. He was probably killed during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian in the early years of the...

– 40 days of devotional readings By David Cole, BRF, £8.99 The life stories of the Celtic saints are inspirational. They demonstrate great and unassuming faith, often in the face of insurmountable difficulties. In Celtic Saints David Cole draws us to relate our own life journey and developing relationship with God into the life story...

The lockdown this Spring at least gave Nature a brief respite. Wild goats, herds of deer, sparrowhawks, stoats, snakes, badgers, spawning toads and songbirds all seemed to have enjoyed the peace and quiet. We, in turn, have enjoyed watching them from our windows. As Mark Thompson, a presenter on Stargazing Life, said, “This lockdown is...

“The coronavirus crisis will push thousands of households to the brink.”  So warns a spokesman for CAP, the charity which helps people in debt. So, while CAP approves the Government’s recent £20 per week boost for those on Universal Credit and those receiving Tax Credits, “what many won’t realise is that a staggering 2.83 million...

CPAS, the Anglican agency that helps local churches do mission, has refused to be shut down this summer by coronavirus. Although it has had to cancel its entire summer programme of youth holidays and training events – at a cost of more than £250,000, it is still determined to do what it can. General Director...

It’s difficult as a scientist to hear information that is fascinating, but which also involves so much suffering for other people. I worked for a time in a leukaemia research lab. We had to let other people’s pain drive our research without it crippling our ability to concentrate on our work. But, writing this under...

Under the Romans On June 22nd the Church remembers St Alban, who was put to death on that day in 250AD, on the site of the town in Hertfordshire that now bears his name and has a splendid cathedral which houses his shrine. Christianity was struggling to survive in third century Britain under Roman rule....