Love of God

Queen reminds General Synod of its essential mission

November 17, 2021
Archbishop Cranmer
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The 11th General Synod of the Church of England was opened yesterday, and the Supreme Governor was absent for the first time since Synod was created more than 50 years ago. Absent in body, that is, but certainly not in…

Fr David Palmer Catholic chaplain Nottingham University

What if Nottingham University were right to ‘cancel’ its Catholic chaplain?

September 8, 2021
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TRIGGER WARNING: The following blog post includes a discussion of the harsh treatment experienced by a Roman Catholic chaplain, and issues of religious liberty, common sense and Christian compassion. Its…

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Fight or flight? The falling man of Afghanistan has haunting echoes of 9/11

August 17, 2021
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They aren't stupid. They scramble beneath a US military aircraft and cling to its wings and wheels in the hope of escaping the coming Taliban terror. It is fight or…

Anglican spinach – a primary challenge for the Church’s mission

December 1, 2020
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There was a subtitle fail in the Zoom service from Guildford Cathedral on Advent Sunday. It caused a bit of amusement on Twitter, but it presents an opportunity to explore…

Holy Saturday: the Harrowing of Hell

April 11, 2020
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Each Easter, those charged with preaching sermons have the opportunity to refresh their understanding of the story. Being human, not all of us do so each and every year. Life,…

The real presence of Christ in the community of the virtual Church

March 29, 2020
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This morning I want to depart from our Lectionary readings to offer a text which inspired a first-class sermon which I once heard at Rochester Cathedral. A few years ago,…

CofE brexit prayer together peoples vote

Bemused by Brexit? Come to church for tea and prayer – unless your vicar is a Remainer

March 25, 2019
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At this moment of national crisis and international humiliation (which it is), the Church of England is encouraging people to come to church to be 'Together' for a cup of…

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Defections, divisions, tribalism and schisms

February 21, 2019
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'What causes fights and quarrels among you?' asked James the brother of Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. And then he proceeds to answer his own question: Don’t…

Scrupulous for Christ: saving the Church from the doctrine of the infallibles

November 1, 2018
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Ever since Jesus cried 'Woe' to the scribes and Pharisees, his disciples have been calling out the two-faced hypocrites and judiciously discerning whitewashed tombs – those who look all meek…

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BBC comedian smears right-wing Christians in Royal Wedding coverage

May 22, 2018
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Right-wing Christians are all racist. That's what the BBC's 'Good Morning Ulster' programme proclaimed last week on the run-up to the Royal Wedding as they discussed the impending union of…

bishop michael curry royal wedding sermon

Don’t slam the Royal Wedding sermon: Bishop Michael Curry reached two billion souls with the love of Christ

May 20, 2018
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Bishop Michael Curry's wedding address – or the US preacher's Royal Wedding sermon (as he and it shall henceforth be known) in the marriage service of Prince Harry to Meghan…

Steve Chalke: the wrath of God and the experience of Grace

April 30, 2018
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Steve Chalke tweeted about the wrath of God which is apparently often heaped on his head by 'Church people' (as opposed to Christians?), compared to the grace he experiences directly…

There is only one way for Christians to respond to ‘Punish a Muslim Day’

March 16, 2018
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Punish a Muslim Day apparently falls on 3rd April this year. No idea what day it was last year: it isn't clear if it's governed by the phases of the…

Shared conversations: some came to seek truth; others to conquer. Why can’t we just be kind?

February 5, 2017
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Commenting on the Bishops' statement Marriage and Same Sex Relationships after the Shared Conversations ("a gamma minus piece of drafting if ever there was one"), Canon Professor Mark Chapman prophesies…

Justin Welby takes to Twitter to teach us how to pray

September 6, 2016
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And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray,…

Cameron's Christian values are devoid of liberty, spirit and truth

March 29, 2016
400 Comments

At least No10 bothered to issue an Easter greeting this year. Last year they omitted to do so, and then refused to reply to a number of the politest…

An abused dog howls for the love of God

January 6, 2016
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An abused dog is stroked for the first time. The sound is piercing and distressing. It isn't quite a howl of anguish; more a shriek of intense fear. It…

"Our daughter died…" Justin Welby's sermon to Child Bereavement UK

December 18, 2015
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Every now and again a sermon is preached which is so simple in expression and yet so rich in its depths of compassion and apprehension of salvation that you…

Does God suffer?

September 21, 2015
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There's an awful lot of suffering and badness around. Nasty people do nasty things, and wicked people do worse. There are floods, droughts and earthquakes, which are no-one's fault;…

The social gospel is a legitimate child of evangelism

September 2, 2015
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"I am so tired of hearing this social gospel held up as the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason the Church pushes this social gospel is because by…