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Advent lament: “O come, O come, Emmanuel”
Frustration is building as we slowly contemplate a Christmas, perhaps without loved ones and well-worn traditions. We hear the science and the logic and tell ourselves that needs must; however, we can’t hide forever the emotions this crisis is bringing out in us. Frustration can build to anger and…
Guest writer
Advice for churches on how to meet safely
As different parts of the UK enter and exit lockdowns, the restrictions on churches regularly change. The information below is correct to the best of our knowledge on 2 December 2020.
Special services and events
These are generally more restrictive than for regular worship services, with the rationale being that these events see people attending from different communities who don’t normally interact, and subsequently maintaining social distancing at gatherings such as weddings or funerals is likely to be…
Over 200,000 stories of hope during lockdown
Kieran Turner, public policy officer for the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland, says, “2020 has been a year of disruption for all of us and churches, like many other essential services, have had to adapt. This report has highlighted the significant impact churches up and down the country have had in…
Debt – the unwelcome guest this Christmas
Furlough, income reduction, job losses have all taken their toll on so many. The recent collapse of Debenhams and Arcadia, put a further 25,000 jobs at risk on top of the thousands of jobs already hanging by a thread. The number of unemployed over-50s has increased by a third in a year, according…
Emma Jackson
What ethical issues does the COVID-19 vaccine raise?
However, questions around ethics have been raised, with different groups, including Christian communities, sharing concerns around development, testing and distribution and the implications on human life. With contrasting perspectives to navigate, it can be difficult to know what to think. The…
When you feed the least of these, you feed me
Christmas is acknowledged worldwide, and everything points to a positive, happy time – a season to look forward to. It’s not surprising then that most people associate Christmas with family, friends, exchanging gifts and enjoying a festive meal together. But, for some people, this is not the…
Tinuke Akinbulumo
Churches can stay open under strict restrictions introduced throughout the UK
In a press conference on 19 December the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that for London and large areas of the south-east of England households must now stay at home in a newly created Tier 4 that largely replicated the rules from November's lockdown. For the rest of England the Christmas…
Danny Webster
January 2021 churches update
In response to rising coronavirus case numbers and pressure on hospitals as more people need treatment than at any time during spring 2020, the governments of the UK have announced further measures to limit the spread of the virus. Unlike in 2020 the measures affect churches differently in…
To meet or not to meet?
Churches across the UK have done an incredible job serving their communities during this pandemic. The church has not, and is not, closed. Indeed, many have found creative ways to continue regular public worship, to love our neighbours and to obey the governing authorities. Whilst the rules are…
Danny Webster
Being Human S2E05
What does it mean to live in relationship? Culture today governs our relationships through the ideas of choice, consent and contracts. As individuals, we relate to ours on our own terms and break relationships when they fail to meet our needs. We see these stories bubble up in marriages,…
The route out of lockdown: Scottish Government update
As part of the Scottish Government’s scheduled review of the lockdown measures, the First Minister outlined that restrictions would remain in place at least until March. The previous review of the restrictions was held in mid-January and decided to extend the restrictions until mid-February. These…
A roadmap for resuming in-person church meetings?
UPDATED 26 MARCH 2021
Danny Webster
MSPs set to debate Stories of Hope
The report highlighted the huge impact that churches and other Christian groups have had in delivering support and responding to the needs of their communities during lockdown. Produced by the Evangelical Alliance in partnership with Serve Scotland, the report submitted its survey of projects…
Rebuilding Leadership Webinar: Leading beyond the storm
On Tuesday, 30 March at 7pm, the Evangelical Alliance will be hosting a conversation on leading beyond the storm with Andrew Lynas and Martyn Link. The webinar will focus on the challenges of both leading and rebuilding amid uncertainty and chaos, looking specifically at Brexit, the pandemic and…
