It’s that Southern-Hemisphere time of year again when people get a chance to travel around and see what other churches are doing. Here are 11 actual, tried-and-tested, assured ways that actual churches are using to ensure that their ageing, shrinking club does not have visitors or new people: 1. Don’t have a website. Websites now
11 Ways To Stop Church Growth Read More »
[Update 22 January 2016: The point I made in this post, that the Anglican Primates overreached their authority, has now been almost universally spotted and expressed, without any significant rejoinder. The Archbishop of Canterbury has now posted his understanding of what transpired. How different the conversations might have been by now if his words had
Primates Do Not Suspend TEC Read More »
When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the
Incarnating Christ’s Life Read More »
Let us pray (in silence) [that God direct our lives in the way of peace] Pause Almighty and everliving God, [or God of revelation] you govern all things in heaven and earth; mercifully hear the prayers of your people, and guide the course of our days in your peace, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour who
Primates Meet Today in Canterbury Prayers for Archbishop Justin Welby, the Anglican Communion, and the primates beginning their meeting today in Canterbury. The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited all 37 Primates to Canterbury to reflect and pray together concerning the future of the Anglican Communion. The gathering, to be held 11-16 January 2016, will be
Primates Meeting 2016 Read More »
We tend to speak about “secular” as if it is the human foundational operating system, and that, somehow, religion is superimposed as an application, a program, on top of that (choose from some popular programs, all doing similar things); as if atheists declutter the unnecessary program, getting back to the foundational operating system – secularism.
The Incarnation Changes Everything Read More »
Although this collect may draw from shared traditions (see commentary), the collect I am currently suggesting for the First Sunday in Ordinary Time, celebrating Christ’s baptism, is a reworking of a collect by Cranmer for Christmas. Let us pray (in silence) [that we will be faithful to our baptism] Pause Eternal Father, you have given
Around Christmas time there’s always the old saw that Christmas is essentially a pagan celebration. It’s usually said by a Christmas Grinch, or a Jehovah’s Witness, or someone with a particular agenda. The truth, possibly surprisingly, may be the other way around. The Puritan-dominated Parliament of England in 1644 banned all Christmas activities as being
Pagan Origin of Christmas? Read More »
