On Sunday mornings recently we were tackling the middle section of Deuteronomy. It’s a challenging section with at first sight a lot of rules and regulations where it is not always easy to see how they relate to each other and where at times the culture they represent seems alien and even offensive to our… Continue reading Law and Legalism, Grace and Wisdom
Posts
A good time to bury bad news?
A New Labour advisor infamously described 911 as “a good day to bury bad news.” It highlighted the impression that Tony Blair’s government were more interested in PR and image than the truth. I thought again about that incident the other day when I read this tweet from Duncan Forbes “Would love to see the… Continue reading A good time to bury bad news?
He was raised for our justification
An odd kind of Easter Easter is not as we expected to be is it? It’s not what we were looking forward to. Normally today we would have invited as many from the community to come and join us for a big service together at the chapel. We would have decorated the building with balloons… Continue reading He was raised for our justification
Easter Means Hope
A nation trying to work out how to celebrate an important festival with law enforcement officers on the street, a leader coming face to face with death, terrified friends under lockdown as death stalks the streets. As we have seen over the last few days, words that at first sight could describe our experience under… Continue reading Easter Means Hope
Church in the new normal
I wanted to share a few reflections on our experience so far during the Coronavirus lockdown. It has been tough and challenging but in other ways, refreshing and encouraging. These are not structured thoughts – just some jotted reflections and interaction with concerns of others. Body ministry kicks in … if it is already in… Continue reading Church in the new normal
A strange Easter?
Easter Sunday is going to be weird this year. We are used to celebrating in style. For Bearwood Chapel, Easter means a week long festival including gatherings, a breakfast and communion on Good Friday, children’s clubs and usually some special events such as Arts Days and café nights. Then on Easter Sunday we all gather… Continue reading A strange Easter?
The absence of mourning?
A few years ago, one of our young mums had sad news, her sister back in her home country had died. Due to her immigration circumstances, she could not return for the funeral. So, we offered the opportunity for a memorial service here. It hopefully eased the pain but clearly was not the same as… Continue reading The absence of mourning?
When friends turn – the enemy within
Friendly Fire: a phrase that puts together two words that should not go together. The phrase came into common parlance during the 1991 Gulf War to liberate Kuwait. Sadly a lot of soldiers were killed by their own side, the result of the challenges of bringing different armed forces together with different cultures and communication… Continue reading When friends turn – the enemy within
Food from around the World Wide Web
Friday 10th April 2020 Qualified well wishes aren’t well wishes and in this case aren’t human … what do you do if someone you disagree with politically falls ill? You just wish them well. Stephen Kneale argues that if you need to explain your political disagreement whilst wishing them well then you are falling into… Continue reading Food from around the World Wide Web
Abuse and The Church: Changing the Culture
Always Reforming I’ve shared a few articles recently reflecting on the less pleasant side of church life. It should sadden us that the church (locally, nationally and internationally) often seems to fall short of what it should be as a haven of hope and safety. However, at the same time it should not surprise us. … Continue reading Abuse and The Church: Changing the Culture
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