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A Reason for Hope?
In a few days, we will mark the 1st anniversary of the 7th October attack on Israeli civilians, the taking of the hostages and so to our present situation with over 40,000 killed in Gaza and now a war in Lebanon. A few months ago, I brought to this column the words of the Anglican Archdeacon of Jerusalem, when asked if he…
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Small Acts of Kindness
This week I will be travelling to Cambridge, to conduct the funeral of Ian, my former head of department; a man who I first met 40 years ago when he taught me as an undergraduate. I am doing the service because Ian has been tremendously influential; he was one of the people who showed me how to…
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Our End and Our Beginning
Vicars tend to see a lot of death; it is not too much of an exaggeration to say that we bury people for a living. And if you ply us with enough alcohol, we will usually admit we have only a limited number of funeral sermons; we (hopefully) personalise them, but the theme is usually…
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The Shropshire Historic Churches Trust
This weekend sees the Ride and Stride, the main fund-raising event for the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust, that provides grants for the repair of the old churches and chapels within the county; we get no money for this from the state or the diocese. Some see our old churches as a barrier to mission; we…
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The Widow’s Mite
Some may know of the magazine, “The Big Issue”. It was launched over 25 years ago as a way of helping the homeless. The people who sell the magazine are usually homeless, or at least living in hostels. They buy the magazine for £2 and sell it for £4, so this gives them a small…
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Ignorance
I do not like having to admit be ignorant about a topic; so much better to have knowledge! However, in a new series on Radio 4, the former politician Rory Stewart extols the virtue of ignorance, or at least the awareness that we are ignorant about a topic (BBC Sounds – Rory Stewart: The Long…
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Anger like a Cancer Grows.
Yes, I know that is a misquote; Simon and Garfunkel actually sang that it was silence like a cancer grows. But sometimes misquotes can be inspired and I modestly claim this as an example. There seems to be a lot of anger around. Sometimes we see it burst into the public arena; I suspect a…
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Tony Morris, Dance Music Sensation
Tony Morris has just been featured on the “Today” programme on Radio 4. He is a 72 year old Glaswegian, who graduated with a 1st in psychology in 1976 and, by his own admission, has spent the years since then trying to work out to do with life. A few years ago he went to a…
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Testing the Spirits
Some of the more striking images this week have been of rioters, now alone in the dock of a court, being sentenced to imprisonment. The contrasts are striking. Previously, emboldened by the mob, they were full of bravado when confronted by police officers but now they are isolated and full of regret at being led…
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More from R S Thomas on Prayer
R.S. Thomas was priest who spent much of his ministry in a seaside village on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales. He was also one of the great religious poets of the 20th century. Last week I featured a poem about why he prayed. Continuing the theme, this week is another of his poems. He…
Benefice of Highley with Billingsley, Glazeley and Deuxhill and Chelmarsh
Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known
