Today, 11th July, many Christians remember Saint Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, who is known as the Father of Western Monasticism. It is a extra special feast day for those nuns, monks and lay people who seek to follow the Rule of St. Benedict. Saint Benedict was born in Nursia, central Italy, in…
This is Vicar Anne’s nineteenth year at St. Oswald’s Church, meaning that she has become the church’s longest serving priest, passing the Rev. Massiah who previously held the record in the 1930s with 17 years. Anne has introduced many changes over this time, not least changes to the Vicarage garden for which, as a keen…
The story of Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac. In this week’s Sunday family pack we join together to look at the story of Abraham’s servant being sent out to find a wife for Isaac. How did the servant know who was the right wife for Isaac? Messy Sermon Group family activities 5th July…
Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas, the Apostle. Saint Thomas is especially interesting because in spreading the Gospel he left the Mediterranean area completely and established churches thousands of miles away on the Malabar Coast in south-west India. He is also believed to have preached the Gospel in China and possibly Indonesia. There is…
Lockdown is at last slowly being unlocked though many people are still wisely staying close to home. It is important wherever you are to stay well and positive. Here is a compilation of perhaps the best advice about keeping healthy during the lockdown. You can make these small changes to improve your diet, fitness, mental…
This Sunday 5th July, on the Diocese of Blackburn’s YouTube channel at 9 o’clock, Rev’d Sarah Siddique Gill, Vicar of St Stephen’s and St James’ Blackburn will lead a multi-lingual service which will be repeated every first Sunday of the month thereafter. “The truth is that Christianity is a global religion,” says Sarah, who was born…
In this weeks Messy Sermon we will be exploring together, the story of God testing Abraham. A Sunday family pack to share exploring the story of Abraham and Isaac – covering the story of God testing Abraham’s faith this pack also thinks about how the lamb in Abraham’s story reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice on…
Today is Saint Etheldreda’s day. St. Etheldreda, Æthelthryth or Audrey was Queen of Northumbria. She was born around 630 and was part of the generation which followed Saint Oswald. She was born just before he died at the battle of Maserfield. Etheldreda wanted to become a nun but, as was often the case for daughters of nobles,…
Today, 22nd June, is Saint Alban’s day. Saint Alban is remebered as the first British martyr. Saint Alban lived in Verulamium, near modern St. Alban’s in Hertfordshire sometime during the 3rd or 4th century, that is some 300 years or more before our own Saint Oswald of Northumbria. There was enormous change between the time…
This weeks Messy Sermon Group Activity is exploring the story of Abraham being promised a family. So just how old was Abraham when Isaac was born ? Use this weeks Messy Sermon Group Activity to explore the story together as a family. There are prayers and activities for all the family to share and take…