In the run-up to Christmas you probably heard on the news a couple of rather unfamiliar phrases, like Black Friday or Cyber-Monday. As a reminder to those keeping up with modern life, or as an explanation for those who don’t, these are terms used by retailers to boost their Christmas sales, to place some additional pressure on potential customers to…
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The special season of giving and receiving gifts has come to a close. Santa can park up his sleigh for the next eleven months, and take some well-deserved rest for himself and his reindeer, elves and whoever else helped him with his incredibly intense hard work over the last month. His only helpers that cannot go on leave for the…
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Just before Christmas a new civil law, allowing same-sex couples to get married, took effect in Scotland. The Scottish media reported that a few of those in existing civil partnerships turned up at their local registrars to convert their partnerships to marriage. Quite likely there will be some more reports in upcoming weeks as the first same-sex couples get married.…
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The two-month-long mental torture is almost over; very soon there will be no more Christmas ‘evergreens’ played endlessly on loops in shops, no more ‘Jingle Bells’ every 10 minutes on the radio, no more sparkly glittery dust on the telly. I’ve loved all that, but I’m happy that it’s coming to its conclusion this year. I’m happy that now we…
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Over the last few years each church in our pastoral area has had some major works carried out. At great cost we try to keep them sound and safe, and still open and operable, even if only on an irregular basis like St Gregory’s. We make all possible effort for various reasons: emotional attachment, family connections, our personal stories, and…