This month Claire Nutt writes about the search for serenity at the coast, and pushes against the tide of uncertainty that surrounds us all. Claire also shares Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr. Written towards the end of the last War it still remains relevant to us today.Tony Service looks forward to the first Methodist Service since lockdown to be held on 16th August, but laments the setting aside of many of the key ingredients of Methodism, and in particular the lusty singing that forms a vital part of their worship.Charlotte Watson reports on the putting together of Prayer Bags to help maintain continuing support for families during the summer break whilst face to face activities for children & young people has had to cease temporarily.The rest of the magazine is all my fault.
The service, which was due to take place in York Minster, was held in two parts, and broadcast entirely via video conference because of the Coronavirus restrictions. The event comprised a legal ceremony with readings, prayers and music, followed by a film marking the start of Bishop Stephen’s ministry as Archbishop of York.Bishop Stephen says: “I am looking forward to beginning my ministry as the 98th Archbishop of York. This isn’t quite how I imagined it would begin. It is certainly the first time an Archbishop’s election will have been confirmed via video conference. But we’re all having to re-imagine how we live our lives and how we inhabit the world.“These are difficult times. My hope is that through this service the love of God that is given us in Jesus Christ will shine out, perhaps even to those who while never attending a service in York Minster, might have a look online.Following in the footsteps of my many predecessors, I look forward to serving our nation and bringing the love and peace of Christ to our world, especially here in the north.”A video of the service is available on the Church of England website (www.churchofengland.org).
This month Revd. Roy Shaw writes about the fall-out of the Coronavirus pandemic. Roy also touches on the difficulties in Kenya - I really cannot imagine what it must be like for farmers seeing their livelihoods eaten in a few hours by plagues of locusts.Tony Service - for the first time since 2004 apparently - has “nothing to offer” and yet still manages to fill two pages! Good work Tony! Also, once again Tony has helpfully let me have some texts and images to help fill the pages, and although I hadn’t space for all of them they were very welcome. The rest of Connected is the result of me trawling the tinterweb plus some texts that I had considered or written, but not used, over the past few months.
Hi folksPlease see below. Some of you will know that I am really passionate about the dialogue between Science and Faith, and that unlike the prevailing and damaging message out there, actually Science and Faith are not in conflict, but are, in reality, great conversation partners! So, I am really excited about this free series of webinars. Please check it out, and register if you can! I am sure some of the science will go over my head, but it should be very interesting nevertheless. I think for a lot of men, the issue of science and faith being in conflict is a very real one, so I’m hoping you will find these webinars really helpful for your own thinking through the issues.Revd. PeteDear all,The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion will be hosting a free, online summer course:Telling a better story – why Faith and Science belong togetherFaraday Institute Summer Course June 2020Faith and science are often seen as uncomfortable bed-fellows. However, this has not always been so. In this series of webinars we examine the ways in which Faith and Science speak to each other in contemporary society and explore the theological and ethical issues which this dialogue raises. We aim to show that there is a better story to be told about faith and science than the prevalent one of conflict and mutual distrust.Each day, from Monday 29th June to Friday to 3rd July we shall be hosting two or three webinars each day given by an array of international speakers highly qualified in their individual fields. There will also be some opportunity for on-line discussion.It is completely free to attend and open to anyone, anywhere, who is interested. You are free to join us for as much or as little of our programme as you wish. For more information, see faraday.institute/TellingABetterStoryIf you could circulate this to those you know who may wish to join us, both within your diocese and beyond, we would be very grateful.Many thanks,Zoe
