christian
Questionable parking from a police constable in Belfast – blocking entrance to a church car park with fewer than ten minutes to go before the Sunday morning service was due. Surely there are more places to park? Continue reading PSNI block entrance to All Souls’ Church: to go to Starbucks!
On Accession Day, I thought I’d give a little hand to all the Ulstermen and women who seem to have some confusion about the words of the National Anthem. Continue reading “it’s not difficult to get the words right”
Gyronny Herald contributor, Andrew McFarland, has just written an article on Faith and Pride. When you read the any book you have to be careful to read what it says, not what you think it says. This is particularly true when it comes to books that people quote from, like the Bible. Snipping a quote out of context can often lead to a misunderstanding about what the passage actually means. The story of Sodom is a good example of where misunderstanding can occur if you just look at the wrong verses. Read the rest of the article at Faith and … Continue reading Faith and Pride – Men of Sodom
Every Christmas for I don’t know how long we have had rows in our family. This year, I am glad to say that it has been much reduced. I am hoping that this will continue into the New Year. As I have discovered, my family is in no way unique in this Christmas rowing tendency. Luckily for me, I am not alone at Christmas. My hugs go to Spidey – whose post yesterday made me cry. Whatever, is going on over there – I’ve been sending good thoughts her way – and I hope they make it through. One Christmas … Continue reading family and love is what counts at Christmas
From Twitter I learn that most people have already opened their presents, their stockings, and parcels – before lunch!
Before we set off for the service on Christmas Eve night, we set up the Christmas tree unlike many of our friends who had had theirs up since December 1. The most we got during Advent was usually an Advent Calendar or in latter years an Advent Candle.
Since my brothers and I were in the choir at the local Anglican parish church – we were allowed to open one present upon our return from Midnight Mass, then bed quickly. Then Santa came round on his second trip* round the UK. Then in the morning we were allowed to see what Santa had left in the stocking.
In the 5199th year of the creation of the world, form the time when God in the beginning created the heaven and earth; the 2957th year after the flood; the 2015th year from the birth of Abraham; the 1510th year from Moses, and the going forth of the people of Israel into Egypt; the 1032nd year from the anointing of David King; in the 65th week according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the 194th Olympiad; the 752nd year from the foundation of the City of Rome; the 42nd year of the rule of Octavian Augustus, all the earth being … Continue reading the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Flesh
Whilst attending and now a member of All Souls Church (2nd Presbyterian and York Street) Presbyterian at present, many people have been wondering how I can manage to reconcile this with where I have been on my own spiritual journey up until now. Having found a small book* at the back of All Souls, I reproduce one part of what is written in it.
Since in the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church all members are free, and there are no compulsory things about which all must believe exactly alike, Non-Subscribing Presbyterians have no official creed. But perhaps we could sum up the kind of things that they do believe in some such statement as the following. You will notice that most of the words in this statement are taken straight from the Bible. That is just as it should be; Continue reading “continuing along the path with my brother…”
Scientists have developed a nuclear method that might just save religious treasures from pesky insects, bacteria and fungus forever. Museums and churches in Eastern Europe are already adopting a radiation method that exterminates bugs without smelly and harmful sprays. This parish priest says he’s resorting to nuclear techniques to save these religious icons from any other creepy crawleys like termites, which can make damaging holes like these. read more on Rome Reports Related Articles “Father Nicholas: The REAL Santa Claus” and related posts (manwithblackhat.blogspot.com) Kidnapping: Bishop absolves parish priest of complicity (vanguardngr.com) Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest (trustinjesus.wordpress.com) … Continue reading 21st-century answer to an age old problem
It’s the afternoon of the second Sunday of Advent, and I’m now back at Andrew’s after church this morning. There was a party after the service so that the church family – or beloved community – as they call it there could come together to celebrate something of the Christmas joy that is not always so evident in the world at this time. When coming back into the flats where Andrew lives, the door of one of the ground floor flats opened, and an older lady spoke, Were you at All Souls this morning? she asked. When we said that … Continue reading sometimes your neighbours and you have more in common…
Reading the news about the First Minister’s comments about integrated education in Northern Ireland has got me thinking. It really isn’t that long ago since I spoke in a debate, nay, I seconded the motion, at Alliance Party Conference in the Dunadry Hotel, in 2009. The motion was proposed by Alliance Youth, – I was only just a member back then (before being kicked out for being too old). The proposal was that the State should withdraw funding from schools that don’t withdraw religious control on them. In other words, to create a State education sector that was truly integrated, … Continue reading either a farce or we’ve moved very far indeed
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