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In the Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Lent 5 in Year A, we come to the last of our for explorations of Jesus’ encounters with individuals that formed a catechumate in the early church in her raising of Lazarus in John 11.1–45. Next week, on Palm Sunday, we will return to our gospel of the year, … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Lent 5 in Year A is the raising of Lazarus in John 11, the last of our four encounters between Jesus and individuals in the Fourth Gospel. Join James and Ian as they explore the fascinating narrative, and reflect on its implications for our discipleship and the issues around preaching … Continue Reading
Mark Broadway writes: Very few people in pastoral ministry will not find themselves being involved in funeral ministry, but I have learned that a number of clergy either do not preach at funerals at all, or offer a very short and generic message with the same content in every funeral. In his book, There is Hope: … Continue Reading
Mark Ireland writes: Watching the lying in state of the late Queen, and pondering the incredible devotion of those who queued all night in the cold, has prompted me to read again a sermon preached by Canon Henry Scott Holland in St Paul’s Cathedral after the death of King Edward VII. The late king’s body … Continue Reading
There is no doubt that the death of Queen Elizabeth II, following the longest reign in British history and the second longest anywhere in the world, ever, will be a milestone in the life of the nation. I found myself unexpectedly tearful as I heard the news. I cannot offer any lyrical eulogy as others … Continue Reading
Occasional contributor to the blog, Dr Richard Briggs (Cranmer Hall, Durham) has just published a new book that is a little different from his usual style. Intrigued, I was able to ask him about it. IP: Richard, you’ve written a book of poetry! RB: Yes I have. It’s called Not of this Worldview, and it … Continue Reading
We appear to have entered a rather different phase of engagement with the question of Covid-19 and our response to this legally and socially. At the beginning of the ‘first wave’ in March, there was a widespread sense that we needed to respond quickly and drastically, and most of the criticism was that Government had … Continue Reading
Savvas Costi writes: The coronavirus has destabilised the world we all knew. In these uncertain times, John Lennox has delivered an engaging and accessible little book, Where Is God in a Coronavirus World?, designed to be read within a couple of hours (I did it in two sittings). It’s not meant to be a treatise on the … Continue Reading
Richard Bauckham writes: “The message of Easter is hope, and hope is what we very much need in these times.” Something like that is what many church leaders interviewed in the media were saying around Eastertime. Unfortunately, to people who know nothing much at all about what Easter celebrates, it can come across as a rather … Continue Reading
This Sunday, Lent 5 in Year A, we come to the last of our for explorations of Jesus’ encounters with individuals that formed a catechumate in the early church in her raising of Lazarus in John 11.1–45. Next week, on Palm Sunday, we will return to our gospel of the year, Matthew, in the lead in … Continue Reading
Jeremy Marshall writes: I know absolutely nothing about infectious diseases or how to stop Coronavirus. I have no scientific or medical training. But I do know quite a bit about the fear of dying. Seven years ago I felt fear when I was told I had cancer. Four and a half years ago I felt intense, … Continue Reading