Theology

Unknowable love, unknowable power; revealed in vulnerability

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com From Bono on Bono: conversations with Michka Assayas: "I remember coming back from a very long tour...Got home for Christmas, very excited of being in Dublin. On Christmas Eve, I went to St Patrick's Cathedral...it's a kind of tradition on Christmas Eve to go but I had never been. I went… Continue reading Unknowable love, unknowable power; revealed in vulnerability

Ethics & Christian living

‘Do not be afraid’ is at the heart of the Christmas story

Nativity scene – Julius Garibaldi Melchers – 1891 All of us have many things that they can worry about - whether its money, work, family or tricky relationships. When I became a parent it hugely expanded the scope and range of things I could be fearful of. You could say that anxiety is the default setting for modern… Continue reading ‘Do not be afraid’ is at the heart of the Christmas story

Reflections & Poetry

‘The Great Reversal’ – a poem by Kester Brewin

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Walking with the crowds, Carried along by the pressing forward. Each one eager to get ahead, but each one starting the same – born as a baby and from then on struggling towards meaning, power and influence. Be someone, Be remembered, Make a big impression; leave some indelible mark in… Continue reading ‘The Great Reversal’ – a poem by Kester Brewin

Poverty

Victims of injustice or just bad cooks? Whose responsibility is food poverty?

On Monday I attended the launch of the report of the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Food Poverty in the UK. Over the last week, the whole issue has had an incredible amount of coverage in the media. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, opened the event and said that hunger is Britain is an… Continue reading Victims of injustice or just bad cooks? Whose responsibility is food poverty?

Social commentary, Theology

Why are churches ‘the best social melting pots in modern Britain’?

Love Streatham's Family Fun Day Today, the Daily Telegraph reports on the findings of research by the Social Integration Commission about the places where people from different backgrounds meet and mix with each other. The article, with the headline 'Churches are the best social melting pots in modern Britain', states: ‘Overall, it found that churches and other places of worship are more successful… Continue reading Why are churches ‘the best social melting pots in modern Britain’?

Ethics & Christian living

‘He was a nuisance then and he’s a nuisance now’

'He was a nuisance then' said Braddock 'and he's a nuisance now. He won't let you work out cosy little systems and call 'em "churches", and he won't let you get away with having four meetings a week to discuss what you're going to do in next week's meetings. If that's what you want, you'll find… Continue reading ‘He was a nuisance then and he’s a nuisance now’

Ethics & Christian living

A world in crisis…but pregnant with possibilities

Photo by Austin Garcia on Pexels.com It feels like we live in a world which is gripped by crisis, suffering and uncertainty. The horrors of IS in Iraq and Syria. The unending cycles of violence and retribution in Israel and Palestine.  The human catastrophe of Ebola. Closer to home there is growing cynicism about the political process. Those… Continue reading A world in crisis…but pregnant with possibilities

Poverty

Food bank Britain and the three faces of poverty

A major report 'Emergency Use Only' was published yesterday by the Church of England, Oxfam and the Trussell Trust. It outlines the reality of Food bank Britain: Those receiving emergency food from food banks rose from 128,697 in 2011-12 to 913,138 in 2013-14. Many food bank users faced multiple challenges, including ill-health, relationship breakdown, mental health problems or substantial… Continue reading Food bank Britain and the three faces of poverty

Ethics & Christian living

Can you give 10 minutes a day for R&R’s Advent Challenge?

Advent is supposed to be a time of waiting and anticipation. A time to pause and prepare for the celebration of Christmas. If I am honest, for me it is far more likely to be a time smothered with extra busyness, more spending and an anxiety about getting more things done. To help people like me, I… Continue reading Can you give 10 minutes a day for R&R’s Advent Challenge?