This month Bishop Lee invites us to major on hope in Advent.
In the season of Advent, Church tradition encourages Christians to turn their gaze to the wrapping up of history as we know it. To give attention to the four last things: heaven, hell, death and judgement. The readings set for Advent usually include [...]
Recently I was talking with a group of our colleagues about ministry issues. I am of course aware that leadership is not a ‘done deal’ within the Church of England, partly because many people assume that leadership is at best benign dictatorship and at worst, dictatorship plain and simple.
An oft quoted cliché is that the [...]
It is very tempting to stick with our favourite parts of the Bible and avoid the parts that are distinctly uncomfortable or even offensive to our understanding. This month Bishop Lee asks us not to rush for our scissors or rubbish bin and allow God to engage with us through those Scriptures which trouble us.
According [...]
Your witness……
Recently I heard an excellent speaker, Gary Hamel, a Christian man, who the Wall Street journal names as “the world’s most influential business thinker”. One of the things he said that made my heart skip a beat was this.
“Few outsiders (to the Christian faith) know a Christian who lives a life of distinction”
At [...]
With so much attention focussed on welcoming new people into our church communities we sometimes don’t pay sufficient attention to those who are leaving. This month Bishop Lee looks the importance of closing the back door if we are looking for growth in numbers.
‘Growth in Numbers’ is a key strand in our Diocesan Growth [...]
Susan Boyle, favourite to win Britain’s Got Talent, couldn’t in the end cope with the pressure and had to be admitted to a private psychiatric clinic for help.
Ten year old finalist in the same programme, Hollie, burst into tears in the semi -inal and had to start again (very brave young lady).
The English cricket team [...]
Fling Wide the Doors!
I am very glad to have this last opportunity of writing to you all before I retire. Bristol has been a great Diocese and a great Cathedral, and my time as Dean has been a wonderful climax of my ministry.
The abbey which later became our cathedral was originally built as a mission [...]
Bishop Mike challenges us to witness by what we say as well as what we do.
The Church exists in two different modes. The first is the one that principally attracts our attention: that is, the Church in the gathered mode, when we are in church together usually involved in worship. The second mode [...]
This month Bishop Lee reminds us that Christians are ‘an Easter people’ who discover most about God when the going gets tough.
In the past months, Bishop Mike has been asking whether this could be our moment. Might the great challenges we face in wider society, our local communities and our churches, be divine opportunities for [...]
Lent could not have come at a more appropriate time in 2009, writes Bishop Mike.
If ever there was a moment that our culture needed a period of Lent, surely now is that moment. What I mean is that there is a massive need for a re-think of the kind of lives we have led [...]
This month Bishop Lee encourages us to learn something about our own faith from the atheists’ bus poster campaign – and to ask questions about the difference it makes.
“Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”
By now many of you will have heard about the ‘Atheist Bus Campaign’ which is rolling out across the UK. [...]