News (Page 251)

Amen

Today we are in the midst of the week of prayer for Christian Unity. This coming Sunday is World Leprosy Day. There is a sense in which both are about recognising and including those whom we may often exclude. We are comfortable in our disjointed church; we worship with those with similar tastes in music,…

SMILE

On reading William’s Thought for the Day on Wednesday I was thinking how much I miss seeing people smile. I went to the library last week and the Manager, who I know quite well as I go regularly, said I didn’t recognise you for a minute.  In the cold weather I had my coat done…

Fear is a healthy thing

Isaiah 8 v 13.The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. On June 6, 1944, five thousand ships departed England for the Normandy coast and the greatest invasion of World War 11. From this military event comes…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 23rd January 2022

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time                 Year C                                    23rd January 2022 Lectionary Readings: Nehemiah 8 v1-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12 v12-31a;  Luke 4 v14-21. New Life. The Psalmist writes, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, it gives new life. His teachings last for ever and they give wisdom to ordinary people.” (Psalm 19…

The Magna Carta of Humanity

The Magna Carta of Humanity ~: Sinai’s revolutionary faith and the Future of Freedomby Os Guinness IVP, 2021 250 pages £14 ISBN 978 0 830 847 150 Available on Kindle The overarching theme of this magnum opus is freedom.Os Guinness explores the maelstrom of areas in which freedom is certain to be found and where…

Fruits of the Spirit 9

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Stay in control, STOP (what you are about to do or say), THINK (about your choices), DO (what will please God). Simple instructions aimed at teaching children about self-control but…

Rules, do as you are told!!

There is a sign not far away from where I live, a  bit like the one above, which flashes a red angry face in an intimidating manner at motorists who dare to break the speed limit as a clear sign to everybody around that a criminal has scant disregard for the cildren in the school…

Working in the background

The Thought for the Day is from Romans 11 v 33.I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry While learning to use a new computer, a lady was troubled by a faint clicking sound that indicated it was working even though nothing was…

Flat Grey Days

When winter begins to take its toll and the weather forecast online seems to imply ‘flat grey’, life can get, shall we say, a little miserable. Here’s a poem by Raymond Carver to lift us up a little. Our faith tells us we should rejoice in all things, but it can be difficult when not…