Here is today’s Afternoon Tea. We have started a conversation about race and diversity and hope to continue, hopefully with guests. Today we talked about Implicit bias. Prejudice can arise as much out of assumptions about our own superiority and experience as normal as it does out of hostility to others That in some cases… Continue reading Diversity and Discrimination
Posts
Becoming like our idols “When we make free speech an idol”
This morning the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party tweeted a claim that SAGE had produced new models showing that it would be safer for schools to return a fortnight later than suggested. As it turned out, the tweet was false. SAGE had not said this at all. I hope that the miscommunication was an… Continue reading Becoming like our idols “When we make free speech an idol”
Food from Around the World Wide Web
10 ways people are continuing to be generous during lockdown The onset of coronavirus has exposed our world’s selfishness, but it’s also acted as a catalyst for an outpouring of generosity. It’s human nature to be concerned about our own well being, but as Christians, we want to continue to live out God’s word to… Continue reading Food from Around the World Wide Web
The King and the Priest (Reflections on Psalm 110 part 3)
In Genesis 14, Abram is established as a strong powerbroker in the land of Canaan when a terrible thing happens. Enemy armies attack and his nephew who has become tied up with the affairs of Sodom is captured along with others. Abram joins a rescue mission and the attacking enemies are defeated. Later in the… Continue reading The King and the Priest (Reflections on Psalm 110 part 3)
Good news for the childless
Every morning we’ve been working through a Psalm. We recently read these words in Psalm 113 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.Praise the Lord![1] These… Continue reading Good news for the childless
Preaching shorter sermons (Do we need to in lockdown online?)
One question that keeps coming up during lockdown is whether we can preach the same length of sermons during lockdown or whether we need to shorten them. At a recent FIEC webinar, research by educationalists was referenced suggesting that our attention span when viewing online content is about half that of when listening to or… Continue reading Preaching shorter sermons (Do we need to in lockdown online?)
The risk
Yesterday on Afternoon Tea, we followed up on the previous day’s discussion about fear by talking about risk. A lot of fear is in response to genuine risks. We had already seen that life can never be risk free. So how does knowing about and managing risks help us to face life? Here are the… Continue reading The risk
Preaching longer passages
A recent FIEC webinar on church life during lockdown discussed preaching and one of the questions was around whether or not you can preach on longer passages online given the shorter attention span that online engagement causes. I am going to engage with the question of online preaching in my next article but in face… Continue reading Preaching longer passages
Be Alert … Be Ready
“Destined for greatness … pacing myself” says one of Sarah’s favourite T-shirts. Personally, I’m not good at the whole pacing thing. I don’t like to be at events on time, I like to be there early and I like to see people involved there in good time too. The closer we get to the start… Continue reading Be Alert … Be Ready
The First Look Course – Announcement
Our First Look course introducing the life of Jesus is available here and you are very welcome to access the materials for free anytime you want. We also know that some of you would love to do the course whilst interacting with others one to one or in a small group. So, we are running… Continue reading The First Look Course – Announcement