Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

God obviously approves of romance – after all, putting Adam and Eve alone together in the Garden of Eden was His idea.  And romance – love between a man and a woman – has been around ever since. The history of the Israelites began with three great romances:   Abraham and Sarah.  Isaac and Rebekah.  Jacob...

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.  Proverbs 27:5-6  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 I remember it really clearly: stood in the kitchen of my student house, clutching a cup of tea, and being told – in...

China is a key country of concern for 2018 for Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world. Their latest ‘Persecution Trends Report’ warns Christians in China look set to face a harsh new year. Tougher regulations on religious affairs came into force in February, giving the State greater control over churches and other...

Millions of households in the UK are struggling to avoid hunger, as latest figures from the United Nations show that nearly three million people in the UK are now classed as severely ‘food insecure’, which means they are facing hunger on a daily basis.  In the whole of Europe, according the UN, only Albania has...

Don’t look to the government for so much help.  That is the message of an independent review which considered the Church’s reliance on government funding with regard to the upkeep of its church buildings.   The review instead calls for a ‘cultural shift’, where communities contribute to their church’s upkeep. The Taylor Report was commissioned in...

A new catechism, The Pilgrim Way, has just been published by the Church of England.  It takes the form of a series of questions and answers on the four texts that form the basis of the Pilgrim Course, which was produced four years ago.  The four texts are:  the Apostles’ Creed, the Beatitudes, the Commandments...

40 churches have been taking part in a trial of contactless giving, offering worshippers hand-held terminals in order to process their donations.  It is all part of an effort to encourage today’s increasingly cashless congregations to donate electronically. As the Rev Dr David Evans of Rugeley, in the Midlands, explains, ‘it’s a way that most...

The BBC has recently pledged to ‘raise our game’ on religion by increasing the portrayal of all faiths in mainstream shows The corporation said it would ‘enhance’ the representation of religion on TV and radio dramas and documentaries.  It said it would also create a new global religious affairs team, headed by a religion editor,...

God in the Arts     Editor:  For 2018, the Rev Michael Burgess is exploring symbols of the Christian faith as found in works of art. ‘He gave us eyes to see them’ – Andrea Pisano & Water Open the door of any church and the first thing to greet you is the font. As you...

  High Days & Holy Days for February Editor:  As saints’ days do not change, this material has appeared before on this site.  The day with the asterisk, remembering George Herbert,  is new this year. 1          Brigid of Ireland – Abbess of Kildare, c 525 2           The Presentation of Christ in the Temple/ Candlemas...

Looking at God   ‘Lenten Valentines’ From the Minister… God is able to keep His promises It’s so easy NOT to lose your head Aspects of romantic love The God who befriends ** Editor:  The Rev Paul Hardingham considers this month’s unlikely link of Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day … ‘Lenten Valentines’ During this month...

Looking at the Church Flip a pancake – and help someone in debt The oldest Bible comes back to the UK The easy way to discover your local churches Pray for South Sudan Historic churches and chapels are set to benefit from ‘rescue funds’ South Sudan hunger crisis set to intensify in 2018 How much do...