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Advent reflection: Jesus / Myfyrdodau’r dyfodiad: Iesu
Jesus was mighty in word and in deeds and knew why He had come to earth. Mark talks about Jesus, after He had healed many, going to a solitary place to pray. The disciples find Him and want Him to perform more miracles. But note His response: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I…
Jos Edwards
Psalm 127
Psalm 127 begins where we all should: with God "building" and "guarding", not with ourselves and what we want to do. It starts with the call to be part of what God is already doing, not with what we do for God. This work of God involves both the local and personal ("the house") and the public and…
Promoting educational diversity
The parties have all made pledges relating to education and schools in their manifestos, but are these promises and commitments missing key issues at this election? Here are a few questions to help you think about some underlying issues, as well as to ask your candidates if you get the chance.
Labour, Rabbi Mirvis and fearlessly speaking out
For many watching the interview, having heard the critique of anti-Semitism by a wide range of Jewish groups, it might be hard to understand why Mr Corbyn did not apologise. Instead, he insisted on his own virtue in standing against racism and his willingness to talk to Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis to…
Danny Webster
Psalm 128
It’s sometimes harder to read Psalms about prosperity than those about suffering. While we can echo the Psalms of lament, recognising the suffering in the world, we sometimes struggle to affirm words like this verse above. Even if we are doing quite well, we know that others are not. When we read…
A different contest north of the border
Yes, this is the “Brexit election”. But here in Scotland, the question of independence is also very much in people’s minds as they think about how they will vote on 12thDecember.Brexit and IndependenceSince the 2014 independence referendum, the UK Government has devolved further powers to the…
Chris Ringland
Getting in the festive spirit
If there’s one thing elections and the run up to Christmas have in common, it’s noise. Vast quantities of noise. This time we’ve had a double whammy. And just like the election I’m sure there’s many of us longing for the silent peace of Christmas day. The day when the shopping is done (though even…
Kieran Turner
Psalm 134
We’ve come to the last Psalm in the Songs of Ascents (Psalm 120-134). If these are Pilgrim Psalms, this one fits the end of a pilgrimage. It is night. The feast has ended, the sacrifices are performed, and the pilgrims are now considering the return journey. This Psalm refers to those who “minister…
Missing God at Christmas
For example, nativity plays generally don’t depict all the denizens of Bethlehem who go to sleep, wake up and go about their business, completely ignoring the nativity taking place three doors down. And yet, surely part of the story is those who missed it: “He was in the world, and the world came…
John Coleby
Another wave of funding from Allchurches Trust
St Margaret’s Church in Aspley, Nottingham, will benefit from a £7,000 grant to develop its ‘Bee family’ programme – an after-school community group aimed at young families who live in the local estates around the church. The aim of the group is to provide hot meals to help tackle local food…
Emma Smith
Being Human
I was travelling recently on a train and got into conversation with a fellow commuter. Life had been tough, and he shared with me stories of family breakdowns and strained relationships. As we chatted, he made a comment about the challenges of ‘being human’ with all life throws at us. I was struck…
Peter Lynas & Jo Frost
We rock for Jesus
Taking inspiration from the bleak atmosphere and factory sounds around them and the tough drudge of daily life, these young, working-class musicians capitalised on the sound of rock ‘n’ roll and began adding darker, more eerie melodies to their songs. Cranking up the volume, this new genre tingled…
Matt McKay
Agents of lasting change
On the eastern coast of Mozambique, it was the city worst hit by ferocious winds that went on to rip through Malawi and Zimbabwe last March. The damage was evident in every street, in every community. I met countless people who had lost relatives and had their homes destroyed. Their stories, each…
Carey Ellis
Roots and fruits
Biologically, a constitution refers to the physical health and strength of a body. Similarly, a political constitution embodies the fundamental principles for government, and expresses the national identity. Unlike the US, the UK doesn’t have a written constitution. Ours is uncodified, a blend of…
Dr David Landrum
Where in the world is it most dangerous to be a Christian?
Its conclusions make difficult reading. One in eight Christians worldwide face persecution measured as extreme, very high or high - a six per cent increase from 2019. Violations of freedom of religion or belief were often reported in the course of last year – the case of Asia Bibi, for example. In…
John Coleby
