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Cost of living crisis: share your experience of supporting others
Increased energy costs cause higher levels of debt, food poverty, child poverty, fuel poverty and poor health and mental wellbeing – not to mention the many other social issues that become more prominent in areas with high poverty levels. This is why as the church, it is important that we do not…
Nicola Martin
How could employment law changes affect your church?
On 20 July, the supreme court reached a verdict that fundamentally changes the way part-year and zero hour employees receive holidays. Holiday pay for people who don’t work a set pattern has often been a tricky issue. Most employers have used a method called the ‘conformity principle’, which is…
Rob and Nicci Birley
"I think I’ve just seen my sister for the last time."
When standing alongside bereaved friends, we feel helpless and often don’t feel like we are doing the right thing. Here is some useful advice on how to be a good friend during their time of grief: The power of presence. At times of deep sadness, sometimes we want to be alone. But often we want our…
Phil Knox
Jesus is the Light?
Jesus is the light? is Scripture Union's brand new Halloween and October half term resource that introduces children to Jesus as the light of the world! Packed with games and activities, this easy-to-use guide is purposely designed to be understood by children from both churched and unchurched…
“I have indeed seen His faithfulness”
Perhaps the first known outward sign of the Queen’s deeply held faith was when she was 13 years old. The young Elizabeth handed a Christian poem to her father which read: “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a…
Evangelical Alliance
Prayer of thanksgiving for the life of her majesty the Queen
Great and gracious God, We give thanks to you for the life of your servant Queen Elizabeth II. We thank you for her life of service, her faithfulness and her kindness. She has consistently shown us the values of goodness, courage and strength. Lord, we give thanks. We thank you for her witness to…
The power of a cuppa (or ‘chai’ for us Iranians)
It was more than a decade ago that my husband and I left Iran to pursue higher education in a neighbouring country. Our plans fell through. The year that followed was the most difficult of our lives: living as refugees was lonely and demoralising. The lowest point was the week we had to sleep on…
Bahar Shahbi
Should Christians attend secular music festivals?
For as long as I can remember, I have always attended Notting Hill Carnival. It was a whole family affair: Mum, aunts, cousins and siblings in tow, in overwhelming anticipation we'd make our way to West London for the two-day event to celebrate our Caribbean heritage of our native island of…
Nicola Morrison
The world needs good neighbours
Against the backdrop of today’s western post-Christian society, what is love? Those of you who enjoyed pop music in the 90s will know a singer called Haddaway attempted to answer that very question, and there have been many musicians, philosophers and writers before and after him who have reflected…
Carl Knightly
Young adults: Let's talk mental health in church
Opening up the conversation We can be uncomfortable with disclosures about mental health problems, and sometimes inadvertently make unhealthy assumptions that are counter-productive. There is, however, sound scriptural grounds to believe God cares about our souls – the seat of our emotions, will…
Dr Ayodele Ajayi
Book a Talking Jesus workshop
Have you read the Talking Jesus report yet? It’s part of a six-way partnership aiming to map the UK landscape in terms of evangelism by finding out: non-Christians’ perceptions of both the church and Christians; how Christians feel about sharing faith; and how effectively the church is making Jesus…
How do we grieve two very different deaths: HM the Queen and Chris Kaba? | Being Human
Watch Rev Israel Olofinjana in his quick take on the recent deaths of Queen Elizabeth II and the police shooting of 24-year-old Chris Kaba in south London.
The shooting of Chris Kaba
Since that date, members of the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (RJAF), the National Church Leaders Forum, the Evangelical Alliance, the Ascension Trust and the London Baptist Association have been meeting to hear the concerns of the bereaved family and the wider community, offering pastoral support…
Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana
Prayer on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Almighty God, Lord of light, life and hope, we come to you today with thankfulness for a life well lived. As our nation stills itself and the silence is broken only by the sobs, we turn to you. Lord, we give thanks for your Spirit at work in the life of the Queen, and for the ways you…
Prayer for King Charles
Gracious God, we pray for King Charles. In this time of sadness and sorrow, we pray that he might know your presence with him. Grant to him time to reflect and rest, and may he know your peace. We thank you for him and we ask that as you were with his mother, so might you lead and bless him. We…
