Daily Archives: October 23, 2019
(Psephizo) Ian Paul–What state is the Church of England in?
The Church of England statistics department released its Statistics for Mission report last week, quite a bit earlier than last year, and it is was not good news—though curiously there was almost no comment on it on the airwaves, in contrast to last year. We will be discussing this at the next meeting of the Archbishops’ Council, since in the end this is a major way in which we can assess whether or not policies for evangelism and discipleship are having any effect.
Overall, I think the headline things to note were:
a. that overall attendance continues to decline, and the pace of decline does not yet appeared to have slowed;
b. that, following a six-year trend in increased attendance at festivals, there was for 2018 a sharp decline. It is worth remembering that we have seen one-off anomalies before, and as the report comments, bad weather on a single occasion can affect the figures. What matters more than single statistics is longer-term trends;
c. that, nevertheless, there are dioceses where there appear to be consistent signs of growth and change.
Ian Paul’s full letter to the Editor of the Church Times in response to the misleading previous article on some C of E #evangelicals and the #marriage statement https://t.co/5UwKzW0jt9 #anglican #theology #sex #synod #ethics #religion #uk (picture: Ian Paul) pic.twitter.com/O8DqUnUJRS
— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) July 23, 2019
Photos from the morning run at Camp Saint Christopher
A Prayer for the Feast Day of Saint James of Jerusalem
Grant, we beseech thee, O God, that after the example of thy servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, thy Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.
#October23 Feast Day of Saint James of Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/D0boshdaM2
— JoS. S. Laughon (@paleomexicano) October 24, 2016
A Prayer to Begin the Day from Daily Prayer
Give us grace, O God our Father, to keep this day and always the new commandment and the great commandment and all the commandments, by loving thee with all our mind and soul and strength, and one another for thy sake; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)
From the Morning Scripture Readings
Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
–Psalm 38:21-22