Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

Sometimes people are given a name to match their beginnings.  When a young woman in Kenya gave birth in the back of a missionary’s car, on her way to hospital, she then decided to call her little boy MOTAKA! (Her attempt at ‘motor car’.) Centuries ago, a little boy was born in a Middle Eastern...

Some of us like to sing, no matter what we may sound like to others!  And sometimes, something happens that is so special that we can’t help but burst into song. In the Christmas story, singing is featured on three occasions. When Mary visited her elderly relative, Elizabeth, she was so overwhelmed with happiness at...

“And this will be a sign to you, you will find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:2 Do you ever dread wrapping all those Christmas presents? The large roll of fragile paper that slides around on the table, the lumpy gifts that defy wrapping, the tape that sticks to...

Nobody knows who wrote this well-loved Christmas carol. It was originally a Latin Christmas hymn, ‘Adeste Fidelis’. It seems to have first ‘surfaced’ in English due to a John Francis Wade, who lived in the 18th century, and who made his living copying manuscripts and, sometimes, music by hand. Wade was a Roman Catholic, and...

For many religions, God is considered unknowable – just a supreme power or presence ‘out there’ somewhere.  Not so Christianity.  The heart of the Christmas message is His coming to us in peace and love – as the Bible says:  ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ (John 1:4 RSV) Jesus was born a...

Looking back on the 2023 cricket season How to Deal with Enemies From the Vicar The Two Minutes Silence Spiritual Disciplines: Generosity The Story Behind the Hymn: O God our Help in Ages Past Be a Barnabas – encourage one another Be a stained glass window Why go to church? ** Editor: by the Ven...

The 2023 cricket season ended on a jarring note.  A widespread review of the game in England found it suffered from racism, sexism, elitism and class-based discrimination. Older cricket fans will wince.  They recall the days when each county side was divided into amateurs and professionals, called Gentlemen and Players.  They had separate changing rooms....

In the season of Remembrance, we consider those who have heroically given their lives in war. However, Jesus calls all of us to a radical heroism in our daily lives: ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those...

In the season of Remembrance, we consider those who have heroically given their lives in war. However, Jesus calls all of us to a radical heroism in our daily lives: ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those...

For the last couple of months, we’ve been looking at seating in the church building. Perhaps you’ve noticed that on the more ‘special’ items there are dedication plaques to the person who donated the money to buy the item or in whose name the item was purchased. In some churches, pretty much everywhere you look...

Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You, Lord, are good. (Psalm 25:5-7) I love the Psalms, as they cover every emotion and religious experience, from despair to praise and...

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35). What does generosity look like for us? The practice of generosity is about more than finance, as we recognise that everything we possess belongs to God (Ps 24:1). We are stewards of all our resources, including time, possessions, gifts, as well as our love...