The Bishop of Chelmsford, Steven Cottrell, addressing members of the Anglican Consultative Council at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka. Photo Credit: ACNS
The Church of England’s Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, has suggested that churches should “renegotiate the Sunday contract” to include adult Sunday schools and eating together.
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The path of reconciliation is a good path to travel. But we talk about it a lot; some wonder how they can actually get on the way. What's a step in the right direction?
There are a lot of answers to that question but one is certainly to do anything that fosters deeper understandings of ourselves and others.
And one way to do that is to...
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Writing a letter after someone has lost someone is difficult. Working out what to say and how to say it can be like walking on egg shells. You don't want to be trite or use cliches; those things lose their meaning during such hard times. And yet writing a letter, a real pen-on-paper letter is surely a good thing to do. So what can you do?
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It's great fun to chat about books you've been reading with others, especially if they've read the same book. So a book club that discusses a book and adds in a faith dimension? That sounds like a great idea! Eve James at The Roscoe Library, St Francis Theological College is starting Reading with Spiritual Eyes. It's just such a book club!
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During a Marrakesh holiday to rekindle a fractured relationship, Perry (Ewan McGregor) and Gail (Naomie Harris) make acquaintance with loud Russian, Dima (Stellan Skarsgard). University lecturer Perry in particular falls under Dima’s spell, yet it is his desire to do the right thing that has him agreeing to...
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After the success of BIBLE360: Introduction to the Bible, it made sense to expand the project to include opportunities for learning in other areas related to faith and faith formation. Using the distinctive '360' concept of exploring issues from all sides, you see before you: The 360 Project!
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The big difference with the two new 360 Project modules is this: your own local expert, whether that be your parish priest or one from a neighbouring parish can lead them. Or even a lay person with some theological training behind them.
The modules have presenter's notes that assist in this process. But you still wouldn't want to just pick one up and lead it. There's more to it than that.
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Prophets get a bad name. Aren't they all to do with doom and gloom? Or are they? And what's that got to do with my life as a Christian today?
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So if spirituality is an individual thing, have you ever wondered just what yours is like? I mean, in ways differentdifferent to someone else's? Imagine if there was a wayto work out just what your own particular spirituality is? That would mean you could work out just what kind of things you need to do in your life to help your faith grow!
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Sparkhouse has long been a trusted provider of Christian education resources and curricula. In recent years, the animated video portions of these resources have drawn rave reviews. For the most part, Sparkhouse resources were usually purchased and used by churches or schools. What about families and households who want access to this material?
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There are some great workshops coming up organised by the Social Responsibilities Committee...
Read MoreI haven't seen this film but it was recommended by a number of people over the weekend of Synod.
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Dr Hugh Kempster is an Anglican priest in an inner city Melbourne parish.
Both of these sentences are true!
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Scripture is full of moments where it is acts of faith that transform people rather than a deft turn of phrase or a reasoned argument. Of course those are there too, but the idea that actions speak louder than words is the central theme of Jim Grover's journey to faith...
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Linking to a book review is a curious thing to do but I find that author Tony Jones has done a good job of summarising the contents of Packard and Hope's Church Refugees, a book that studies the reasons people have left churches.
Read MoreAdd one measure of Pixar’s Up and a few teaspoons of Thelma and Louise and you are on your way to understanding the recipe for New Zealand writer/director’s Taika Waititi’s latest film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. If that’s baffling, think on-the-run buddy movie with odd couple protagonists. The results? A lot of laughs!
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John Roberto will be in Sydney 23-28 August for two events about Re-imagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century. John is well-known internationally as a speaker, forward-thinker and author in faith formation, intergenerational ministry, and learning in a digital world.
Read MoreFrom Eve James, Librarian at the Roscoe Library...
“It’s not easy to talk about death, dying and funerals.
GraveTalk is designed to get the conversation started. There are no answers — just thought-provoking questions to get you thinking — and talking.
With Pentecost this Sunday, I found a nice page of new prayers written by Maren C. Tirabassi, a 30 year veteran of curating worship and author of 18 books of liturgical resources. Her inspiration this year has been a community ravaged by bushfires; how do we celebrate Pentecost with new imagery that doesn’t involve fire and wind? She has produced some lovely material…
Here’s an example…
Let the Spirit come and sing and pray and laugh in us, O God. Let the Spirit come and be in the silences between our words. As our lungs and lips breathe in and out, may true needs, deep longings, unglimpsed hopes, and paralysing fears, be exhaled into your heart through the Spirit’s sighing. Let the Spirit come and lead us to one another so that we receive not just personal blessings, but the wonderful gathered vision and vocabulary of your Pentecost people. Amen.
I want to highlight for you a new resource available from the Roscoe Library at St Francis Theological College Milton.
Fresh from the Word: a Preaching companion for Sundays, Holy Days and Festivals, years A,B and C is by Rosalind Brown, a canon at Durham Cathedral. This book collects...
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