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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…
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Why Empathy
It is often easy to feel sympathy for someone, to recognise that they are in distress and feel sorry for them. Empathy goes beyond this; it is an attempt to (mentally) enter into their world and to share in their pain. It is a relatively recent word, first found in English in 1908 and being…
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The Summer Solstice
The summer solstice, the longest day, is upon us. Midsummer Day has always been celebrated; we are holding a concert in Glazeley Church as well a local history exhibition, as part of our festivities to mark 150 years since the church was rebuilt. In pagan times, Midsummer Day had particular significance for those who worshiped…
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The Moon Turned to Blood
On Thursday, just as I was on the point of giving up, I went out into my garden at 11pm and there I saw it; the “strawberry moon”, which I had read about on the BBC news website. It is full moon that stays very low in the sky; as such it appears larger than usual and…
Benefice of Highley with Billingsley, Glazeley and Deuxhill and Chelmarsh
Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known
