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Making the Real Presence real.
The following paper has been prepared to stimulate discussion at an online conference that is being held on Saturday 25 September 2021 on the subject of the Real Presence in relation to Online Eucharists.These thoughts stem from many conversations with others – both those I agree with and those I don’t. I would particularly remember…
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Sev’n Whole Days
Sev’n whole days, not one in sev’n,I will praise Thee. I am sure gentle reader, that every Friday, if you are like me, you wait with great eagerness for the weekly delivery of that great organ called the Church Times. And if you are indeed like me, you find yourself flicking through the front of…
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The Bishop of St Davids and the Archbishop of Canterbury
The Rt Rev Dr Joanna Penberthy is the 129th Bishop of St Davids. In tweets that came to light recently, she exhibited an antipathy to members of the Conservative Party which did not sit well with her position. “Never, never, never trust a Tory” is not what people expect to see a bishop tweeting. Once…
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Pollokshields – These are our neighbours
It was impossible not to be moved by people standing around an immigration enforcement van in Pollokshields yesterday chanting “These are our neighbours, let them go”. Many people today are proud of those in this city who stopped this enforcement action. Every country needs to have an immigration system and every immigration system needs to…
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Easter Sermon 2021
Lent has been long enough. This Lent particularly has been long enough. Just over a year ago we locked down in the middle of Lent. And it feels as though that existence has been going on in one form or another ever since. Most people have embraced the need for the lockdown lives that we…
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A Preface for Ash Wednesday
The following preface was written to mark the beginning of Lent and reflects the language and character of the Lenten material in the Scottish Liturgy 1982 and Daily Prayer of the Scottish Episcopal Church Dear Friends in Christ, it is the custom of Christian people to prepare to mark the time of Christ’s passion and…
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Predictions for 2021
Boris Johnston will achieve his longstanding ambition to become a former Prime Minister. Stock market higher at end of 2021 than at the beginning (FTSE – 6,460) but higher inflation too (most recent CHPI – 0.6%). No progress for those hoping for marriage equality in the Church of England. State based hackers turn their disruptive…
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Last year’s predictions (2020) – how did I do?
Well, thank you for asking. Here’s what I predicted for 2020 and here’s how I did. Scotland will not vote for Independence in 2020 Scotland didn’t. Prediction accurate. No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England. There was none. Prediction accurate. Narrow Democrat victory in American election – country as…
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Here Comes the Sun
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Conversion Therapy and why I can’t join calls for it to be banned
There’s a huge new initiative launched today which brings hundreds of faith leaders together to “affirm and celebrate the dignity of all, independent of a person’s sexuality, gender expression and gender identity”. It is quite an achievement to get so many people from different traditions to sign up and publicly identify themselves with that cause.…