Viewing all items in Resource Category: Editorial

 The Christian teaching about who crucified Christ is not that the Romans or the Jews or whatever people happened to be there did, but that you and I did, and that all human societies without exception are involved in the crucifixion of Christ.  – Northrop Frye They crucified Him with the criminals.  Which is more...

Resurrection Resurrection Prayer That Day Easter Dawn Blessed is the one Poor Thomas – between Sundays The way Amazing My New Car   ** Resurrection (John 20:1-18) Even in the darkness Still she went, Stumbling, longing for light, Finding a stone-moved emptiness. Then her running And the running and out-running of the men, The believing...

Standing up to tyrants, no matter what the cost. That kind of courage has been in the headlines since the war in Ukraine began, as many brave people have defied Putin’s oppression. Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not have Putin to contend with, but Hitler. Bonhoeffer did not back down either, when the time came. Bonhoeffer grew...

More than 200 church choirs aimed at children and young people are to be launched in a new programme. ‘The Choir Project’, working in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), will engage children and young people with their local church choirs amid renewed interest in sacred church music. The launch comes as...

William Law is the saint for anyone forced to choose between losing their job or losing their integrity. It had all begun so straightforwardly. Born in King’s Cliffe, Northamptonshire in 1686, William had studied at Emmanuel College Cambridge, been ordained a deacon, and been made a Fellow of the college in 1711. But soon politics...

– the more things change… Zeno of Verona (d. 371) should be the patron saint of all ministers who suspect that the more things change, the more they remain the same. For instance: ethnic diversity…church-planting… teaching…. concern for the poor… women’s ministry in the church… sound like modern-day Christian concerns? Not a bit of it...

Progress has been made, but much more needs to be done, in order to increase the representation of people from working class backgrounds in lay and ordained leadership roles in the Church of England, the General Synod was recently told. The Bishop of Barking, Lynne Cullens, who is heading a key advisory group to encourage...

The Church of England has welcomed the Government’s Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultation, “recognising the opportunity they offer to secure long‑term improvements for children, young people and families.” As the largest single provider of schools in England, and with a long history of serving the most vulnerable, the Church...

 – martyrs of the Early Church In the month of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice of Himself for us, the martyrdoms of Carpus, Papylus and Agathonice are well worth remembering. What they said as they died could be said by the many thousands of Christians who are facing persecution all over the world today. Carpus, Papylus and...

The Cross of Jesus From the Vicar Never Far Away Breakfast – with Jesus Christ What’s the Big Idea? – an Introduction to the Books of the Old Testament: Lamentations The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy Reflected Faith Series: Same Old, Same Old Noah: builder for God Peaceful mind in Eastertide ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham...

 and new working group to be established General Synod recently gave its backing to establishing working and consultative groups to continue work on same-sex relationships and marriage as the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process came to a conclusion. LLF was originally set up in 2017 to explore the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. It led to the introduction, following a key Synod vote in 2023, of public prayers of dedication,...

Alphege is the saint for anyone who refuses to let others suffer on their behalf. His is a tale of courage and self-sacrifice, with some details that are still poignant, even down 1000 years of history. Alphege began like many other leading churchmen of his time; born of a noble family, with a good education,...