Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

The Church of England’s Ministry Division has appointed Carrie Myers, former Head of Volunteering for the MS Society, and a Reader in the Church of England, to lead its efforts to renew and encourage all forms of lay ministry across the country. Promoting lay ministries is a major component of Renewal and Reform, the Church’s...

To complete your seamless robe, and so to complete our faith, you ascended through the air into the heavens, before the very eyes of the apostles. In this way you showed that you are Lord of all, and are the fulfilment of all Creation. Thus, from that moment every human and every living creature should...

Not many university students are able to write Christian songs which become worldwide hits, but Don Emry Fishel managed it with his Alleluia No. 1.  Nearly 50 years on, it is loved and sung by millions of Christians worldwide. Fishel wrote it in 1971, while he was a student at the University of Michigan and...

30th May is Ascension Day…. Hail the day that sees him rise To his throne above the skies; Christ, a while to mortals given, Re-ascends his native heaven. Charles Wesley Astronauts sink into insignificance beside this ascension! Vance Havner Christ was taken up into heaven, not to enjoy blessed rest at a distance from us,...

Recent changes made by Parliament to allow for mothers’ names to be included on marriage certificates have been welcomed by the Bishop of St Albans together with Dame Caroline Spelman MP. Royal Assent was recently received to the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act following a Private Member’s Bill. Dr Alan Smith, together...

God’s creation, what a sensation Myriads of stars all known by name, Each constellation telling their story, Bursting with glory, God’s power to proclaim. Beautiful Pleiades, The Bear with its Cubs, Orion’s Belt, all set in the sky Our planet of blue transfixed in the heavens Touched with the finger of God from on high....

Have you ever happened to be in the right place at the right time, with certain qualifications, and suddenly realise that God is singling you out for a special task?  If so, Matthias is a good patron saint for you! In Acts 1 (15 – 26) the apostles had a task to do:  Judas had...

Following the Royal College of Physicians’ announcement of the adoption of a ‘neutral’ position on assisted dying, the Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, said: “We welcome the President’s assurances that the RCP will not be focusing on assisted dying, instead continuing to champion high-quality palliative care services, an emphasis that the Church of England shares...

Sitting there, on Sunday morning, Congregations in their pews Read their magazines, informing Them of all the latest news. All save one who sits there smiling – She knows that journal very well Having spent a month compiling – She knows what those pages tell! She it was who, deadlines facing Got those varied items...

  If you’re saying to yourself, ‘Who?’ you’ll be in good company.  May 15th is the feast day of St Matthias the Apostle, and in describing him thus we have said just about all there is to know about him. He gets just one mention in the Bible, in the first chapter of Acts, immediately...

The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren So, your bishop is dropping hints that you should begin to consider a move to having your own parish – ‘not forever in green pastures’ comes to mind. Do not be too hasty to leave; remember that a curate can do no wrong, but a...

The Church of England’s lead Bishop for Education has backed calls for a comprehensive Rural Strategy, following the publication of a new study. The report, recently published by the Rural Services Network, calls for action by the Government, citing concerns that the UK’s exit from the EU could serve to compound existing rural challenges. The...