Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

The Ascension is a hugely neglected festival, which deserves to have a bigger place in our church life. How do we understand it? The Ascension tells us that Jesus is in control: ‘Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand’ (1 Peter 3:22). Jesus occupies the top spot in the universe; the...

Space suits, meteorite fragments and a giant sculpture of the moon are to be displayed in one of the Church of England’s ancient cathedrals as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. A lit art installation, Museum of the Moon, by artist Luke Jerram, with detailed NASA imagery of the...

Is there someone in church whom you respect for their spirituality and common sense combined – someone you feel easy about approaching to ask questions?  That person’s patron saint should be Philip. Philip came from Bethsaida, and was a disciple of Jesus from early on.  He knew how to lead others to Jesus – he...

The Beatitudes, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), present the values of the kingdom of God. In ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ (5:4), Jesus appears to be saying ‘Happy are the unhappy’!! It’s not wrong for Christians to be sad or grieve, as we can...

One thing for sure:  the apostles were not self-obsessed.  In fact, many a church historian has wished that they had left us just a few more personal details about themselves in the New Testament.   James the Less is an excellent example. This is the name we give to James the son of Alphaeus, but –...

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.  (2 Corinthians 13:5-6) For many children and young adults May is the time...

By Michael Cassidy, SPCK, £16.99 Michael Cassidy has been called ‘one of Africa’s foremost evangelists and prophets.’  His story deserves a wide readership by anyone with a heart for modern Africa. As Africa shook off colonialism in the 1960s, a young man was gripped by a singular purpose: to play his part in God’s plans...

This is the name behind the Athanasian Creed.  Athanasius (296-373) was born into a prosperous family in Alexandria in Egypt, studied in the Christian school there and entered the ministry. He was twenty-nine years old when he accompanied Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, to the Church’s first ecumenical Council, at Nicaea in 325. Although Athanasius...

A sculpture dedicated to victims of knife crime has been temporarily installed at Coventry Cathedral for this month (April). The 27ft (8m) Knife Angel sculpture is made from 100,000 blades handed into police across the country.  (see it at:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-47569093) Messages from families of the victims of knife crime have been engraved on the sculpture’s...

May Day Prayer Ascension A prayer at Ascension God’s Creation Duty Done (For this month) The Inexperienced Gardener ** Editor: Here is an ancient prayer as May begins… May Day Prayer Might of the Triune our shield in distress, The paschal Christ’s might with his peace to bless, Spirit’s might, Healer of salvation’s state, The...

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. Colossians 1:27-28 Paul was very clear...

by Canon David Winter Many years ago, studying English literature at university, I was intrigued to be introduced to the work of Julian of Norwich. She was writing at the end of the 14th century, when our modern English language was slowly emerging from its origins in Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. Our lecturer was mainly...