Consider the Birds of the Air (Matt. 6:26)
One of the apps I’ve been enjoying recently is Merlin Bird ID. If you hear a bird singing and wonder what it is, the app can often identify it from its song. Walking around the parishes of Trowbridge and Keevil, it has helped me notice birds I might otherwise have missed, whether chiffchaffs, blackcaps, or goldfinches, whose songs fill the air through spring and summer. As I’ve spent more time paying attention to birds, I’ve found myself returning to Jesus’ words: “Consid
The Church Alive (The Book of Acts)
“The Church Alive” is the title of our sermon series running from May through to September, during which we will be focussing on the Book of Acts, also known as The Acts of the Apostles or simply Acts. Written by the Gospel-writer Luke, Acts is the sequel to his Gospel, describing the continued ministry of Jesus Christ through the apostles and early church after his Ascension. The overall message of Acts could be described as: The good news of the risen Lord Jesus spreads
Easter at St James'
We were very blessed at St James' over the Easter period to have many wonderful ways to remember the sacrifice that was made for us during this most special of seasons. Here are some pictures of our Palm Sunday morning service, the Passion Play, Walk of Witness and Easter Sunday Worship service.
Baptism & Confirmation
Easter is the great celebration of new life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For that reason, from the earliest days of the Church, Easter has also been a fitting time for baptisms. Baptism is one of the sacraments of the Church: a divinely given sign and pledge of new spiritual birth and belonging to God. Just as God’s people were marked out (by e.g. circumcision) in the Old Testament, Christ’s people today are marked by the outpouring of water. There
Ever Feel Like Something’s Missing?
That was the question at the heart of a recent national survey conducted by A Passion for Life. When asked what feels absent from their lives, the top three answers (across both men and women) were purpose, freedom, and security. Among 18–24 year olds, acceptance also featured strongly. Those longings are not trivial. They are deeply human. And they are not new. They echo across generations and cultures. Beneath the busyness of daily life, beneath work, family pressures, an