Daily Archives: November 21, 2025

(BBC) A Pair of ladies finish a two-year English cathedrals pilgrimage

Despite their loyalty to North Yorkshire, the women said they were most impressed by the cathedrals in Ely and Coventry.

“Ely was just absolutely beautiful. We went to morning prayer there,” Ms Slator said.

“It was empty with no lights on, but the sunlight just shone through onto the nave and it was just ethereal.”

Although walking for many of the visits, Ms Gray had a fall on The Howgills, between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, requiring aid from mountain rescue, before their final pilgrimage.

However, Ms Gray did not let that stop her seeing the last cathedral, in her home city of Ripon, making that trip in her wheelchair.

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Posted in Church of England, England / UK, Liturgy, Music, Worship, Parish Ministry, Religion & Culture, Travel

(Church Times) ‘Terrible hunger’ and ‘deep grief’ in Sudan, country’s Archbishop says

When asked during an interview last week about the focus of his ministry, the Archbishop of Sudan, the Most Revd Ezekiel Kondo, had a simple answer: “To see that my people survive.”

Visiting the UK this month to raise awareness of the conflict in the country that has produced the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, he spoke in an interview with the diocese of Salisbury about the “terrible” hunger in Sudan.

“Some of them eat trees, eat animals’ food,” he said. “People are scattered all over. [The humanitarian crisis] is huge. And we thank God there are some organisations which are trying, but because of the security situation it is difficult, particularly in Darfur.”

More than 21 million people in Sudan — 45 per cent of the population — are not getting enough to eat, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports.

Read it all.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, - Anglican: Latest News, Dieting/Food/Nutrition, Poverty, Sudan

(WSJ front page) The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Financial Strain From Inflation

America’s middle class is weary.

After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners thought life would be more affordable by now. Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020. Even though the inflation rate is below its recent 2022 high, certain essentials like coffee, ground beef and car repairs are up markedly this year.

“Life felt more doable a year and a half ago,” said Holly Frew, a college communications director with a household income around $135,000 living in Atlanta. “I need to know where the light is at the end of the tunnel.”

The American middle class encompasses a broad cross section of workers that includes white-collar office employees, nurses and plumbers, although there is no universally accepted definition.

Pew Research Center defines the middle class broadly as having a household income between about $66,666 and $200,000, depending on where they live. Perpetual sticker shock is making many within the group feel worse about both their own finances and the future of the country. They are hunting for bargains and spending more carefully.

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Posted in * Economics, Politics, Consumer/consumer spending, Economy, Personal Finance

Music For his Feast Day–Thomas Tallis: Spem In Alium

Lyrics:

I have never founded by hope on any other than Thee,
O God of Israel, Who shalt be angry, and yet be gracious,
and Who absolvest all the sins of mankind in tribulation.
Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, be mindful of our lowliness.

Posted in Church History, Liturgy, Music, Worship

A Prayer for the Feast Day of William Byrd, John Merbecke and Thomas Tallis

O God most glorious, whose praises art sung night and day by thy saints and angels in heaven: We offer thanks for William Byrd, John Merbecke and Thomas Tallis, whose music hath enriched the praise that thy Church offers thee here on earth. Grant, we pray thee, to all who are touched by the power of music such glimpses of eternity that we may be made ready to join thy saints in heaven and behold thy glory unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Posted in Church History, Liturgy, Music, Worship, Spirituality/Prayer

A prayer for the day from the Pastor’s Prayerbook

Almighty God, Lord of the storm and of the calm, the vexed sea and the quiet haven, of day and of night, of life and of death, – grant unto us so to have our hearts stayed upon Thy faithfulness, Thine unchangingness and love, that, whatsoever betide us, however black the cloud or dark the night, with quiet faith trusting in Thee we may look upon Thee with untroubled eye, and walking in lowliness towards Thee, and in lovingness towards one another, abide all storms and troubles of this mortal life, beseeching Thee that they may turn to the soul’s true good.  We ask it for Thy mercy’s sake, shown in Jesus Christ our Lord.

–Robert W. Rodenmayer, ed., The Pastor’s Prayerbook: Selected and arranged for various occasions (New York: Oxford University Press, 1960)

Posted in Spirituality/Prayer

From the Morning Scripture Readings

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD: that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die; that men may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days. “O my God,” I say, “take me not hence in the midst of my days, thou whose years endure throughout all generations!” Of old thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They will perish, but thou dost endure; they will all wear out like a garment. Thou changest them like raiment, and they pass away; but thou art the same, and thy years have no end.

–Psalm 102:18-27

Posted in Theology: Scripture