We both love The West Wing! On his Desert Island he asked for the complete DVD box set – seven series – to take as his luxury item! It is
Author: blog
Hope is for all
I was in Sweden last week visiting our link diocese and cathedral in Vasteras. In Sweden there is a tense debate going on about economic migrancy and in particular, the
Loving your neighbour as yourself?
This winter a number of hospitals have declared ‘major incidents’, including those in Gloucester and Cheltenham. Emergency departments in particular are exceptionally busy. Managers are calling in extra staff, postponing
Must religion be bad news?
Must religion be bad news? So much of the news agenda for 2014 was dominated by acts of terrorism and aggression which were linked with religious extremism, the advancement of
Royal Mail Angel
I know the Royal Mail was sold off cheaply, but it would be nice if a little of the billions flowing in was spent on the service desk at my
All about children
As I sat in my car in the Close, I watched what appeared to be the full complement of a local primary school crossing in front of me and I
What should our values be?
At the beginning of another day of work as Chaplain at the University I sat down to eat my cereal while watching Breakfast News, and found two images equally shocking.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today in the USA, folks are gathering and turkeys are going in the oven and people across the land are settling in for a festive four-day weekend. No, they’re not
Sam, Monty and Mabel
Sam and Monty have been touching people’s hearts – making some people some people cry, apparently! For those of you who haven’t seen the latest John Lewis TV advert for
All part of God’s plan
The topic of work is never far from the headlines. Just in the last week: the National Apprenticeship Awards, the fall in unemployment, the CBI’s call for a rise in
Remember, remember…
In a recent episode of Doctor Who (the one with all the trees for the aficionados), he said “The human superpower is forgetting…” At this time of year, it feels
Pope signs up to Big Bang theory!
Pope signs up to Big Bang theory! So a recent headline goes. Others were more restrained, reporting that in addressing the Pontifical Academy of Sciences he said that the Big
Remembrance
I have always acknowledged when watching the news or attending a Remembrance Sunday service how grateful I am to those who have and continue to give their lives in the
A cleaner Gloucestershire?
“Ban on smoking in public spaces.” This was one of the headlines in my paper on Wednesday to which my attention was drawn as only a few days prior I
The importance of looking
Walking into the cathedral every day is something I try not to take for granted. And as the “Crucible 2” exhibition is still with us, each day is an opportunity
With great power comes great responsibility
Since the referendum on independence last week in Scotland, I have heard lots of talk in the media, and from our politicians, about power. Where power should reside and who
The unexpected benefits of knitting
My eye was this week caught by a string of articles based on surveys about teenagers becoming more sober, and a reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies. The media
Happy News
After all the dire news from around the world in recent weeks, at last some good news – a royal announcement, William and Kate are expecting a second child. The
Playing by the rules?
Are you, I wonder, a compulsive picture-straightener? Do things which appear unbalanced offend your sense of how the world should be? Many people seem, on the surface at least, to
Surprised by Sculpture – Crucible2 has arrived!
Art and faith have a long shared history – artists find inspiration in religious images; and painting, sculpture and music speak of the spiritual both directly to individuals and through
How can we keep faith?
A glance at the latest news headlines is hardly encouraging: another cease fire in Gaza ends with the firing of more missiles, refugees killed in the Ukraine, another found dead in
Seize the day; make your lives extraordinary
You can never tell what is going on behind a person’s smile. A person may be filled with joy and sunshine on the surface, with nobody ever seeing the turmoil
A life to live, a race to run
The Commonwealth Games are over. Considered the best ever, it was certainly a gripping 10 days. The potential of many young competitors had been recognised and, with training and commitment
We will remember them
On the 28th June 1914 the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, started a chain of events which would ultimately lead the world to war.
