Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

Fake news is not new. Perhaps one old example is the assertion that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Back in the 6th Century, Pope Gregory is said to have confused her with two other women in the Bible. Medieval Bible scholars also attempted to name an unidentified sinful woman who had washed and anointed the...

When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I’m lost In wonder, love and praise. By Joseph Addison

Here is a curious thing: even just one cup of coffee a day can reduce the risk of an elderly person falling – by up to a third. A recent study of thousands of older patients from the UK and Spain has found that even small amounts of coffee are enough to make them steadier...

James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and fishermen from Galilee – the ‘sons of thunder’, as the gospel writers describe their impetuous characters and fiery tempers. James stands out on three accounts: he was one of the three disciples who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ.  Jesus took him, along with Peter and...

Oh, you gotta get a glory In the work you do; A Hallelujah chorus In the heart of you. Paint, or tell a story, Sing, or shovel coal, But you gotta get a glory, Or the job lacks soul. Anonymous

The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren The estimate for re-hanging the bells in our church tower came as a great shock. The church council discussed fund-raising at length. Someone suggested selling part of the Rectory garden for building, another for getting 200 parishioners to loan £1,000 each, interest-free.  Then Mrs Ffrench...

Screen time for young children should be limited to an hour a day, and infants should not be exposed to it at all.  That is the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The guidance comes from the first ever WHO guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for young children.  They have been...

Jesus, fresh from His baptism and fired with His new calling, bursts into Galilee. Coming upon four fishermen working on the shore of the lake, He says to them, ‘Follow me’. Without further ado or even a second thought, they abandon what they’re doing (and in the case of two of them, James and John,...

Hugging and kissing in the office should not be allowed.  That is the opinion of three out of four workers, who say that such gestures lead to confusion, embarrassment and stress when greeting their colleagues. A study has found that quarter of us have found ourselves trapped in an unwanted hug, while 19 per cent...

O Lord, my heart is all a prayer, But it is silent unto thee; I am too tired to look for words, I rest upon thy sympathy To understand when I am dumb; And well I know thou hearest me.   I know thou hearest me because A quiet peace comes down to me, And...

The legend goes that St Christopher was a Canaanite who lived in the 3rd century.  He was a giant of a man, of fearsome appearance.  At first he decided to serve the devil, but when he discovered that the devil was afraid of Christ and His Cross, Christopher decided to serve Christ instead.  A nearby...

Hymns are on the decline at funerals.  A recent survey by the Co-Op found that not a single one has made this year’s top 10 most popular pieces of music for funerals. It is the first time ever that no hymns have appeared on the list, which was last compiled in 2016.  Then the list...