Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

The Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment has welcomed indications from the UK Government that it will review long-term targets for climate change in line with a report recently published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Bishop Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, said: ‘The Government’s decision to ask the Committee on...

The word ‘Christingle’ actually means ‘Christ Light’, and celebrates the light of Jesus coming into the world.   Stories of how the Christingle began look back to the Moravian Church, which is found in the Czech Republic.  The Moravians have held Christingle services for more than 200 years, and according to them, this is how the...

A South American woman has made history as the MU’s first non-British Worldwide President.  Sheran Harper from Guyana is the new Worldwide President of the 142 year old movement’s four million members in 84 countries.  She takes over in January 2019 from Lynne Tembey. Born in the United Kingdom, Harper grew up in Guyana.  After...

If you are looking for something different for your children this Christmas, you could try a new film from Bible Society called ‘The Mystery of the New Noisy Neighbour’.  It places a mouse detective at the heart of the action – in the stable at Bethlehem, where he slowly discovers who Jesus really is… Emmanuel, Rescuer and...

It is the Moravians whom we have to thank for bringing us the Christingle.  Especially one Moravian clergyman: John de Watteville. On 20th December, 1747, John de Watteville was taking a children’s service in his Moravian church in Marienborn, Germany.   He led the children in some hymns, and read out verses which the children themselves...

How big are your debts? How long will it take you to repay them?  Christians Against Poverty has hundreds of low-income clients who are facing an average repayment term of more than 600 years. Despite sticking to their budgets with our support and advice, they will never, ever be able to pay off their debts....

Could a glossy magazine help you start a conversation about Jesus and the reason for the Christmas season? Christmas HOPE is a 32-page give-away magazine to help churches connect with their local community in the festive season. Topical features and eye-catching photos draw readers into an easy-to-read publication packed with testimonies and stories that point...

The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fifth century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mystical idea in no way hindered by historical evidence!  No one knows the hour of His birth. Certainly in recent times, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with...

Why do many Sunday schools and church groups for children falter, or even close down?  Scripture Union thinks it knows the answer. After conducting a recent poll of more than 1,500 ministries, Scripture Union says that people would be “amazed” by how many leaders and volunteers set aside “no or minimal” time for prayer. Hence,...

Attendance at Christmas services in England’s cathedrals has broken records for the second year running, according to recent statistics. A total of 135,000 people came to Church of England cathedrals to worship on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2017 – an increase of three per cent on the previous year, and the highest total...

Netflix is off to Narnia.  The streaming service is to produce new Chronicles of Narnia projects for film and television. The streaming service has signed a multi-year deal with The C.S. Lewis Company to develop the classic stories.  This makes it the first time that rights to all seven books including The Lion, the Witch...

The traditional Nativity scene on our Christmas cards has Mary with the Holy Babe. Around her are the shepherds and Magi. We may also see stable animals, angels and a star! While Joseph is often included, his presence seems to be of minor importance. After all, we praise God for Jesus with our familiar Christmas...