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Thoughts and Prayers
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school, they were in a church.” These are the reported words of the Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Fry, after two children were killed and 13 seriously injured in a mass shooting in a…
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The Lone Biker
As I drew up to Billingsley Church yesterday, I noticed a motor bike outside. Now the Bishop of Hereford is a biker so my first reaction was panic was that he was doing an unannounced inspection of the church. But on looking closer, the bike didn’t look like his Harley Davison. On entering the churchyard,…
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Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer 80 years on
Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian whose work was deeply influenced by the great political turmoils of the mid-20th century. He wrote following prayer in response to the Second World War; even though we have just marked the 80th anniversary of the ending of that war, its words seem as relevant as ever. Lord, we pray this…
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VJ Day
This coming Friday will be the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, the ending of the 2nd World War. I am sure the celebrations will be on a smaller scale than VE day back in May, when the war in Europe finished. My impression is that VJ Day was never on the same scale as VE Day, unless families had…
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Farewell, Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath is dead; the Black Country mourns… Regular readers of this column will be aware that my musical tastes veer towards Anglican plainsong not heavy metal and I have no idea what Ozzy and Black Sabbath actually sounded like. However, I know many people do admire their music and he and…
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We the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem
Earlier this month, reports appeared of an attack on a Roman Catholic church in Gaza. In response, this is the statement was issued by all the church leaders in Jerusalem including Archbishop Naoum, head of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. “We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, join…
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St Mary’s Church, Highley – Churchyard Safety Update
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Mary’s Highley wishes to inform the community that, following a recent safety inspection of the churchyard, several headstones have been identified as unstable. In line with diocesan guidance and in the interest of public safety, these headstones have been carefully laid flat. We fully understand that this may…
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Caring for God’s Acre
Caring for God’s Acre is an organisation that manages churchyards for wildlife. They help us at Billingsley; four times a year they come and cut back the grass and other vegetation with a scythe. This is a very traditional way of maintaining churchyards; once the vicar would have claimed the grass to make hay. It…
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Deja Vu
Last Saturday I went to Hereford Cathedral; a colleague was being ordained priest and I was there to support her. It was seven years since I was ordained deacon, six years since I was made priest, all in the same cathedral. I wasn’t really sure how I would react; this was the first ordination I…
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In the Groove
Did you watch Rod Stewart at Glastonbury last week; still in his 80s, still doing what some call singing? Or there is the Oasis reunion concert this weekend in Cardiff, 30 years on, still making music, probably still falling out with each other backstage. I didn’t watch Glastonbury and I will not be listening to…
Benefice of Highley with Billingsley, Glazeley and Deuxhill and Chelmarsh
Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known
