The start of a new year is a time for all sorts of reflections, but the covenant prayer used throughout the Methodist church (and since taken up by others from different traditions) is one of the riches of liturgy. The covenant prayer leads us to think about our commitment to God, in the context of … [Read more…]
It can be hard to stay focussed on the reason we celebrate in the midst of all the pressures and busy-ness. Advent is a season of spiritual preparation which runs alongside all the practical preparations for Christmas, but it’s so easy for it to get lost, for us to skip straight to nativity plays and … [Read more…]
A sea of red is filling the dry moat at the Tower of London as thousands of ceramic poppies sweep around its perimeter. The first of 888, 246 poppies – each representing a British or Commonwealth soldier killed during the First World War – was planted on 17 July and the final one will be … [Read more…]
The morning after – – – Scotland is to remain part of the United Kingdom. I print here a statement from our Bishops with which I’m sure we all agree. Speaking on behalf of the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Primus, the Most Rev David Chillingworth, says: “The people of Scotland … [Read more…]
Dear Friends September is the month of the Referendum – and of the Ryder cup but even I don’t think that is of equal importance! Some of us will be deeply committed emotionally and/or intellectually to one side; others will be unsure. I will vote No, but my wife will vote Yes – and we … [Read more…]