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Emerging from lockdown in Scotland – August update
However, there have also been a number of recent announcements that are of relevance to churches in relation to face coverings, Sunday schools, recovery meetings, advice services and youth work as restrictions continue to lift. This article should be read in conjunction with relevant Scottish…
Kieran Turner
A missional opening for the taking
Such was the finding of the Talking Toddlers research released in May. It showed that almost two-thirds of non-Christian parents with children under five have taken their children to a church-based activity such as a toddler group or Messy Church in the past year. “There’s a huge opening here,”…
Naomi Osinnowo
God's multi-ethnic kingdom
These social inequalities are present on both sides of the Atlantic. Here, in the UK, the disproportionate representation of Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in frontline services reveals that, for far too long, BAME people have been at the bottom of the social-economic scale. Take a look…
Rev Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana
Fun, friendship and faith
At about 10am we do the notices and remind people of future activities. The children are then allowed into the sanctuary area for ride-ons, tunnels, dressing up and more. This area becomes a big, open space, enabling children and parents to move freely between rooms. Most Thursdays see between 30…
Karen Relton
There's a school near our church
There’s a school near our church. There are kind, hardworking teachers inside. These days some of them look a little careworn. It’s hardly surprising. They have navigated countless changes over recent months, learnt new skills and had their ingenuity tested to the limit. The school year ended in…
Megan Patterson
Annual report 2019-2020
Our annual report for 2019 - 2020 shows you in detail what where our funding has come from, and our impact over the last year. You’ll find all the facts and figures as well as stories of what God has been doing across the UK.
Online church: a lifeline for Christians with disabilities
Pre-COVID-19, the church experience of those with disabilities and additional needs has not been good, and this has been for as many reasons as there are disabilities. Ask the inclusion question to disabled people now and you will find the percentage of those able to access and even be included in…
Kay Morgan-Gurr
Reimagining church and mission
However, despite initial alarm bells ringing, no consensus on how to respond was agreed. By the end of January more than 7,800 cases in China and close to 100 in a further 18 countries were reported. The Chinese New Year compounded the problem as it heralded a time of travel as many returned to…
Dr Sheryl Haw
Reopening churches: acting with confidence and wisdom
However, this year the return to normality is not at all like we're used to. It’s not a six-week break that we’re returning from, but a gradual and hesitant resumption of something akin to the usual after six months of very unusual times. Over the course of the coronavirus crisis, as a society, we…
Danny Webster
In God's strength we can
Though the gospel is as glorious as it ever was, the world has changed dramatically. Today our western culture is increasingly post-truth and post-Christian: not merely not Christian but set against Christianity. Our challenge in the west comes from living in a culture that reflects the distortions…
Guest writer
“Be great friends”: a renewed call to deepen friendships amid COVID-19
One of these was highlighted by a BBC article that was published last week. It explained that our new rhythms and patterns “could have some long-term effects on some friendships”. As a result of lockdown, less office working, limited physical gatherings in churches and bans on mass gatherings, it…
Phil Knox
Pray like never before
Amid the crises in our communities, we are facing, arguably, it is the greatest evangelistic opportunity of our lifetime. We invite you to play your part and join us in praying like never before. You will join with other Christians around the country when you use this prayer resource to inspire and…
New lockdown rules: what does it mean for churches?
There are a number of places where more than six people can attend at the same time, and this includes places of worship. Therefore, church services can go ahead as long as they operate according to the Government’s guidance, with social distancing maintained and other hygiene measures in place.…
Danny Webster
Update on Welsh lockdown guidance
On the whole, the guidance for places of worship remains largely the same: gov.wales/guidance-reopening-places-worship-coronavirus-html The ‘rule of six’ does not apply to meetings inside places of worship, neither does it apply to Sunday schools, weddings, wedding parties, funerals or funeral…
Graduate Scheme
For the graduate scheme we have designed a training programme incorporating weekly content from a range of contributors. This will include theological input, understanding our cultural context, leadership, communications, personal development and much more. You will report to a line manager who…
