The Church of England has warned that a social media advertising “loophole” could leave children exposed to “aggressive” gambling adverts.

Rt Revd Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, said a ruling this week by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), set a concerning “precedent” for promotions on social media.

The watchdog’s ruling dismissed complaints about poker adverts on a popular YouTube channel, as the owner supplied analytics from the site showing that most of his audience were over 18.

However, the Bishop warned that the analytics were an “incredibly dubious metric” as YouTube, which has a minimum age of 13, does not have any age verification and many viewers watch it without signing into an account.’

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📱The Church of England has warned that a social media advertising “loophole” could leave children exposed to “aggressive” gambling adverts https://t.co/VQZa6Qyoyw

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 8, 2022

The archbishop of Canterbury has called for a new “covenant” on social care between the state and the people, similar to the provision of the NHS and education, which makes “absolute value and dignity” the top priority.

Justin Welby, the leader of the Church of England, said that focusing on managing the cost of social care, a priority in the latest government reforms, is “the wrong way round” because it fails to consider what people who need care want.

“You start with the value of the human being,” Welby said. “Then you say, ‘what is the consequence of that? [in terms of the care system]’. We did that for the health service. We haven’t done that for social care.”

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Social care is a community obligation which says each person is valuable, loved and worthy of respect.

Praying for the #ReimaginingCare Commission as they imagine a vision for the future for care rooted in the dignity God wants for us. https://t.co/71e0bbYXvc

— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) January 7, 2022

Listen to it all or there is more there if you so desire.

En ce dimanche, fête du Baptême du Christ dans le
Jourdain

Et belle Téophanie aux Orthodoxes.

Ici, fresque de Pietro della Francesca (fin XVe s.) pic.twitter.com/a2IUu84gvT

— AcierEtTranchées (@AcierEt) January 9, 2022

Members of a new “cathedral” of online worshippers formed since the first lockdown are to play a key role in the Church of England’s 100th national online service to be broadcast this weekend.

Prayers will be read by people who joined a regular digital worshipping community that grew through YouTube and Facebook broadcasts of national online services.

The first national online service was broadcast from the crypt chapel at Lambeth Palace on Mothering Sunday 2020 as the nation went into lockdown. Since then a service has been broadcast every Sunday – with additional services broadcast over Easter, Advent and Christmas.

The broadcast on Sunday, marking the milestone of the 100th service, will led by the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields Dr Sam Wells, with a sermon from Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley, who oversees the Church of England’s national online services.

Dr Hamley, who took part in the first online service broadcast in March 2020 from the Crypt chapel of Lambeth Palace, will pay tribute to the work of both the national and local churches in providing online services during the pandemic.

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This week marks 100 national online services, brought to us by churches across the Church of England.

Our intercessions are led by the online community who join us from their homes each week, as we give thanks for all those involved in online worship.https://t.co/445UgnQAur 👇🏽

— The Church of England (@churchofengland) January 8, 2022

Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like thy servant William Laud, we may live in thy fear, die in thy favor, and rest in thy peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

10 Jan 1645: #Archbishop of #Canterbury William Laud is beheaded on Tower Hill after the English #Parliament passed a bill of attainder accusing him of #treason. #England #EnglishHistory #history #OTD #ad https://t.co/PRuD3HZBEz https://t.co/G3Y43aCzhN pic.twitter.com/j9k6GMCZRO

— Today In History (@URDailyHistory) January 10, 2022

Almighty God, who at the baptism of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ in the river Jordan didst manifest his glorious Godhead: Grant, we beseech thee, that the brightness of his presence may shine in our hearts, and his glory be set forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we prepare for the Baptism of the Lord tomorrow (Baptism of Christ, Giotto di Bondone 1304-1306). pic.twitter.com/RKH7owaCdb

— St Dominic's SF (@stdominicsSF) January 10, 2015

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

–Psalm 1:1-3

Chester Cathedral, NYE 2021@ThePhotoHour @VisitChester_ @VisitCheshire #LoveGreatBritain #Chester #ENGLAND #Church #Cathedrals pic.twitter.com/vfaipahrJB

— LawrenceWrites31 (@Writes31L) January 10, 2022