Theology

Rev. Curry’s sermon summed up why I am a Christian 

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com There has been an incredible reaction to Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the Royal Wedding today. Both the content and the manner of his talk broke the formality which so easily straight-jackets Anglican services and especially any religious events involving the Royalty. There was power, authority and a bold… Continue reading Rev. Curry’s sermon summed up why I am a Christian 

Social commentary

The nonsense surrounding weddings undermine marriage

Photo by Asad Photo Maldives on Pexels.com A royal wedding is simply the über example of the extravagance, hype and nonsense that has overtaken the contemporary concept of getting married. This culture is fuelled by an industry dedicated to ramping up costs. It knows how much money people are willing to waste for ‘the perfect… Continue reading The nonsense surrounding weddings undermine marriage

Ethics & Christian living

I love being a dad, its being a son that I’ve struggled with – by Michael Palin

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I have been reflecting for a number of years on what it means to be a dad. But to do this, I have had to work through the struggles I have faced in being a son. It wasn’t that I didn’t get along with my dad. It was more that… Continue reading I love being a dad, its being a son that I’ve struggled with – by Michael Palin

Ethics & Christian living

The Only Way Is Ethics: ‘Christian Today’ has to drop dodgy adverts

Over the last few years the website Christian Today has grown in prominence in the UK. It carries a wide range of religious news and commentary and high profile Christian leaders, like Krish Kandiah and Youthscape's Martin Saunders, regularly write on the site. Ruth Mawhinney, a former Editor, is now Head of Media for Justin Welby,… Continue reading The Only Way Is Ethics: ‘Christian Today’ has to drop dodgy adverts

Homelessness

What are the best ways of helping people?

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com Every Tuesday at WLM's centre for homeless people at Seymour Place in central London, we have a Spirituality Discussion Group for our homeless clients. Even though membership of the group changes frequently, the group decides themselves the topics it wants to discuss. Its one the highlights of my job… Continue reading What are the best ways of helping people?

Social action

Crisis of faith in social action: keeping Christian distinctiveness

A huge number charities have been started by committed Christians. One example is my former employer, the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint. It was started in the late 1960s by the Rev Kenneth Leech in St Anne's Church in Soho. But by the time I worked there in the 1990s, Centrepoint had virtually no connection with the… Continue reading Crisis of faith in social action: keeping Christian distinctiveness

Ethics & Christian living

Why Westminster Abbey is the wrong venue to remember Martin Luther King

Photo by Samuel Sweet on Pexels.com On April 4th, I attended two events which marked the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King. The first was a packed, lunchtime service at Westminster Abbey, just over the road from Parliament. The second was a rare viewing of the 1970 documentary King: a filmed Record...Montgomery… Continue reading Why Westminster Abbey is the wrong venue to remember Martin Luther King

Theology

Beauty arising from the ashes of despair – by James Mercer

Behind All Saints’ church in Harrow Weald, North London, a woodland has been transformed into a Forest School for local children. It is only a few hundred yards from a busy London road, but for the children who visit the school established within the woods, it is a place of magic and surprise. The small,… Continue reading Beauty arising from the ashes of despair – by James Mercer

Theology

The Way of Love – by Simon Hall

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com I reckon most people can get to this point with me... There was a man from Nazareth in Galilee, who taught that love was the only law, and that God was returning to make the world right. He showed his miraculous love by befriending and healing those whose sickness or… Continue reading The Way of Love – by Simon Hall

Sport

Cheating cricketers and the message of Easter

Photo by Manoj Poosam on Pexels.com I’ll never forget my first match for my University Cricket Club. I was 19 and nervously excited. I had played a lot of league cricket down south but now I was playing alongside teammates from the northern leagues. They were a tougher breed. In the changing room before the… Continue reading Cheating cricketers and the message of Easter