October 31st is World Cities Day, designated by the UN General Assembly. It is an opportunity to duck round the pumpkins and promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in addressing the challenges of urbanisation and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world. The World Health Organisation joins…
(Gustave Doré illustration from Dante’s Inferno) Read: ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?’ (Psalm 8:4) Consider: We are approaching All Saints’ Day. But first comes the evening before it: Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve. Although its name is Christian, modern Halloween has become largely secular…
While I was writing last week’s “thought” about inheritance my daily Bible reading notes took me to Matthew Chapter 20 and verses 1 – 16. In this parable a landowner hires labourers early in the morning and they work all day, being joined later by labourers who are hired at 9am at 3pm and at…
This week, we reflect on Revelation 1:7 in our 10 minute service.
One of the many benefits of retirement is sharing breakfast with my wife, followed by reading a few Prayer Guides and daily Bible reading and notes. One of the former was a Prayer Card with the same request for each day of the week, and was used in a previous TFTD. Sunday’s prayer included “Thank…
My daughter-in-law has just sent me a short video of my 13month granddaughter. She can clearly be heard saying, “bye bye” and “dada.” She then attempts to say “Billy” – yes you’ve guessed it, Bill the boxer! But when it comes to “mama” she just looks at her mum, and laughs and replies “nah!” This…
November 2026 Preaching Plan
All Saints Year A 1st November 2026. Lectionary Readings: Revelation 7 v9-17; Psalm 34 v1-10, 22; 1 John 3 v1-3; Matthew 5 v1-12. Children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of God. The psalmist exclaims: “Discover for yourself the the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection and you will be…
Had the last dodos seen what was coming, would they have wised up? Would they have clung to life; sacrificed innocence; developed mistrust; embraced cynicism; and, in the world’s eyes, avoided becoming a watchword for stupidity? This world where wisdom is foolishness and life is death. © Steve Mann, 2026 Jesus asks his disciples to…
Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Lindsey Hanekom www.ellel.uk All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV It seems to be one of life’s strange phenomenons; that you find the odd key lying around and you have no idea what…