Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at your Church

Funerals have changed almost beyond recognition under the strict new rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Church of England funerals may now take place only at crematoria or at gravesides. Only immediate family may attend, and they must keep their two-metre distance. To help those who are grieving-at-a-distance at this difficult time, the Church...

The recent guidance preventing clergy from entering their own churches, even to just livestream an act of worship, has prompted a series of imaginative alternatives. “Not being able to use our church buildings is, of course, a huge loss to us all,” one says, but on the other hand, “streaming worship from home shows that...

There is now a range of digital resources for to you connect with God at this difficult time.  These include: Time to Pray app (https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/time-to-pray) which is free and has an accompanying daily audio offering on SoundCloud and iTunes. Mental health reflections (https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/supporting-good-mental-health) Tips to tackle isolation (https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/dealing-loneliness-and-isolation-five-top-tips) Finally, there are the Church’s smart speaker apps,...

Doesn’t the simple pleasure of going to church and exchanging the peace at Sunday worship seem long ago now? These days, we are not even allowed into our churches! But we can take comfort when we think back to the Apostles who were commissioned to build God’s Church. After the first Pentecost, what did they...

Not being able to go to church is causing an awful lot of people to ‘go’ to church. It started in late March, when the Archbishop kicked off with the first ever national virtual service, recorded in the crypt chapel of Lambeth Palace. It was seen or heard by an estimated five million people. That figure...

A Gospel to give away at Easter A prayer for communities affected by flooding Orchards – easier than you might think! Reflected Faith: the role of the Sacristan Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi is seeking political asylum in France. How does your church help the community? Day of prayer for England’s social housing estates Scripture Union...

When 800 non-Christians were interviewed about reading a Bible, those aged 18-50 wanted a quality, magazine version of a gospel. So, HOPE Together and Biblica have joined forces to publish Mark’s Gospel in a stunning image-filled format that makes a great Easter gift. Dr Rachel Jordan-Wolfe, assistant director of HOPE Together, took the lead in...

For people battered by forceful storms For communities battling rising floods For emergency services stretched to the limit We pray For farmers losing straw and crops For shopkeepers losing high street  trade For repeat victims losing strength and hope We pray For resilience and resolve to change For impatience with using flood plains For commitment...

There has been much talk recently about planting trees. Planting new trees has always been a good idea, but now more than ever this could be a very important thing to do. Way back when we were about to have a General Election, each political party was offering to plant millions of trees in exchange...

The traditional marks on an altar are five crosses representing either the five wounds of Christ or perhaps more matter-of-factly, Christ at the centre of what holds up the table – and indeed what holds our lives. .This month let’s consider the work of the person responsible for preparing the altar for worship. So often...

Asia Bibi was released in 2019, after eight years on death row on blasphemy charges and currently lives with her family in Canada. But speaking recently on French radio station RTL, Bibi said: “My great desire is to live in France. “France is the country from where I received my new life… Anne-Isabelle is an...

General Synod recently celebrated the first anniversary of its decision to have a loving, worshipping, serving Christian community on every significant social housing estate in the country. Almost 30 million people live in the 20% of Church of England parishes that have 500 or more social housing homes within them and have been called ‘estate...