In last week’s email to Ascension’s diaspora I mentioned that our recent Christmas and New Year celebrations had an arbitrary ‘man-made’ quality about them in terms of when we have them. Observing Jesus’ birth could happen at any time. (I suppose you might want…
UK Power Networks to boost compensation payments. Donation ‘saved our Christmas’ say family. Tributes to ‘exceptional’ soldier’ killed in Afghanistan. Three Brits injured in Tenerife hotel explosion. Pope Francis urges aid access to Syria in Christmas speech. South Sudan threatens to attack rebel stronghold….
I have become fond of the Methodists’ nativity set they put up in front of the pulpit in Ad-vent. Their church, their ‘toys’, their rules – I’ve no problem with – as we set up and take down our liturgical furnishings. But when I…
We enjoyed our quick visit to Amsterdam this past week. Two images particularly struck me. I bought them – postcards – and have them in front of me as I write. The first is Otto Frank – the father of Anne Frank and the…
On Thursday I came home after spending the evening with the Sea Cadets out in Mildenhall as the town welcomed Santa and turned on the Christmas lights. I was dressed very warmly – the uniform’s wooly pully is thick and I was wearing thermals…
Recently I came across some of the latest ideas regarding memory. Ever fearful of losing our memories, there is an increasing market for ‘memory training’ with supporters and sceptics on both sides. One view says that just being socially active keeps our brains ticking…
I had a round of meetings this week – the ELCE Pastors’ Conference, the clergy meeting be-tween the ELCE and the ‘other’ British Lutherans – the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, and the ELCE’s Executive Council. One item was mentioned, discussed and promoted at…
Marriage is a hot topic today. It’s not going away. And yes, I mean both marriage and the controversy. The question to be asked – the starting point – is: what is marriage? The answers depend on who you’ve asked! The answers vary today…
In writing the sermon I thought of the idea that we are not isolated, independent. (No man is an island …) So I went hunting and found this meditation by John Donne who wrote it when ill. Perchance he for whom this bell tolls…
The topic of promises and oaths has been part of my world over the last few months. Invariably it has been to do with organisations such as the Sea Cadets, Guides, or Scouts which have oaths or promises in which God is mentioned and…
