This Term
23 Sep 2021
It is so good to be able to feel that things are back to some kind of normality in church life! Although the two morning services served a purpose, they weren't the same as us all being together on Sunday morning (and showing our faces! and singing!). That unnatural rush away from church at the end of a service has...
Read More The Simplicity Of God
07 Aug 2021
I was asked by Lake Road Congregational Church in Keswick to lead one of their sessions introducing aspects of theology. I did a short talk on "The Simplicity Of God". This is what I said in the 20 minute presentation. There was a discussion afterwards. When I was asked by James to do this I didn’t quite know what to focus on, but my mind went back to the start of last year...
Read More Forgiveness
05 Jul 2021
One of the ways you can tell that the gospel of Jesus Christ has really taken root in a culture is that the influence of God’s word spreads beyond individuals becoming Christians. Laws begin to be passed which reflect what God commands and prohibits. The norms of society become influenced by what Jesus teaches. The opposite is also true. When a culture begins to reject Christ...
Read More Remember!
23 Jan 2021
Earlier this week there was a lot of discussion in the media about “Blue Monday”. No, not the early 1980’s classic single by New Order, but the fact that the third Monday in January has been described as the most depressing day of the year. It has been decisively shown that there’s no real science behind that description. However this year it felt like an apt description of how I, and I...
Read More Sundays During Lockdown
06 Jan 2021
Despite the fact that we are now back into an indefinite period of national lockdown, the government have clearly stated that churches can remain open for public communal worship. This is a reversal from their position in previous lockdowns, and a wonderful answer to prayer. It is therefore right that as a church we should ...
Read More Christmas
23 Nov 2020
As I write, there is a lot of discussion about what the government will do to save Christmas this year. Will the restrictions be lifted, and if so by how much, to enable us to celebrate together with friends and family? Is this a safe and wise thing to do, given the continuing spread of COVID-19? As Christians, we might have an added concern. It may upset us ...
Read More The New Normal
24 Jun 2020
As I write this the media is celebrating as a result of the Prime Minister’s announcement about the reopening of large sections of society. We can be thankful – especially as churches will be allowed to meet again. We are still waiting for the full guidance regarding public worship. When it comes we will study it and act accordingly. It is likely that things wont look exa...
Read More Encouragement From Russ
16 Apr 2020
Beverley Encouragement from James Island Christian Church on Vimeo....
Read More Sunday Worship In The Coronavirus Period
02 Apr 2020
Right now, we are in uncharted territory as the church. I am not an excessively emotional person, but the evening before the first Sunday we didn’t gather I was overcome by the thought of churches closed - not just across the UK, but across much of Europe and the USA. There are obviously good reasons...
Read More Update 20/3
21 Mar 2020
I realise that for all of us, social distancing and isolation raises all kinds of new difficulties. They will be different for each of us. Some of us are adjusting to a new level of noise around us. Others are struggling with the quietness. Some of us are attempting to work, getting half as much done for twice the amount of effort. Others are struggling to find ways to fill the time...
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