Reminder that the "Operation Christmas Child" scheme promoted through many schools at this time of year is actually run by US Christian evangelists who add their evangelising literature to the gift you have paid for. @humanists.uk has a good summary of better alternatives for schools to adopt.

What an abomination.

Classic FM already making me fed up with carols. I'm sure they've had the decency to wait until Advent ((or 1st December) in the past. Though that's too early in my book. Mrs. Grumpy night.

I noticed yesterday that autocorrect had changed my sermon title from 'feast of Christ the King' to 'Christ the Kind'. Rather like that! Perhaps a starter for next year's sermon.

So important to sustain our historic church buildings. Please share.

Dear Mr Trump, bullying the oppressed into capitulating to the oppressor is not bringing peace. It's siding with the bullies.

Just discovered that anyone an suggest names for our storms to the Meteorological office. So much temptation.

Letter in the @churchtimes.bsky.social this week, in response to Rev Katie Stock’s article last week. #NotEqualYet

"everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart" Mt 5, MP today. Always wondered about this, but realised today that perhaps Jesus was way ahead of his time in calling out toxic masculinity and objectivised misogyny.

@entirelygill.bsky.social @katdarcyc.bsky.social it's that man again!

30 years ago Spitting Image dared to broadcast the truth about Israel. Now no one dares.

Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …

Was mildly surprised by a number of really positive comments on my Remembrance Sunday sermon, when I felt it really wasn't my best. I wish I'd been brave enough to ask, 'what points in particular struck home for you?

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n... Why on earth are we allowing Trump to control the BBC? Appalled. Just appalled.b

In my occasional series of anachronisms in Kindle books, set during WW2, wife receives a photocopy of a document from her husband on active service. Hmm.

Choices for the rest of the evening: slouch on sofa with a book and fall asleep, or, slouch in armchair watching telly and fall asleep. 😴

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n... Whilst I agree with this statement, doctrinally, I can't help feeling that it's just another example of a male-dominated church demoting women and keeping them in their (subservient) place.

I don't watch much TV, But Riot Women is probably the most powerful and moving thing I've watched in a decade. #RiotWomen

6 pm Sunday. Youngest daughter: mum we're doing the Great Fire of London tomorrow and I need a costume. Have you got anything i can use? Long dark skirt, white blouse, apron? Sigh. Rummage through wardrobe. Familiar? Maybe but.... she's the class teacher. 🤣🤣

Great to see this piece of research on making transparent those churches which exclude women from leadership.

Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt: “The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist." www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

Mullally's archiepiscopate will be short — but that does not mean that it will be frenetic, writes Andrew Atherstone #nextabc #archbishopofcanterbury

A prayer for the next Archbishop of Canterbury. 🙏

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

Come and join us for a free continental breakfast to celebrate 75 years of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – there’ll be something for all ages and an opportunity to visit Narnia! 🥐 18 October 🥐 9:30am-11:30am 🥐 Free continental breakfast 🥐 Fun activities for all ages 🥐 Narnia experience

youtu.be/TBdpD_1F7Ko?... Feeling very honoured to have contributed to the Godcast this week.

A Prayer for the Holy Land 🙏 This prayer was written by the Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, for today's ecumenical Day of Prayer for Peace. Find out more at cofe.io/PrayForPeace.

To read the statement from church leaders calling for an end to the war in Gaza. www.archbishopofyork.org/news/cardina...

I would like this to go on the record now please. In a few years/decades when this is all over don't accuse Palestinians of leaving their homes in Gaza. Or there was a "war" and Israel won. This is a genocide and ethnic cleansing, just like what happened in 1948. Remember my words and teach them on

www.theguardian.com/environment/... Because, of course, anything associated with the Orange Man is simply a pile of merde.

Appalled by the violent scenes of police being attacked at the Tommy Robinson rally today. Those responsible should face the full force of the law. These far right thugs do not speak for Britain.

Could we please stop pretending that the flags being hung from streetlamps or painted on roundabouts are innocent expressions of patriotic pride? This is the far right marking out its territory. It uses these flags to intimidate its traditional victims and opponents. 🧵1/3

Is it just me, or is the KFC advert where a human is dunked into a river and comes up covered in batter remotely acceptable? Are we to understand that KFC endorses cannibalism? Creepy. #KFC

god, the feeding frenzy around Rayner is obnoxious. It looks pretty clear that she took and acted on advice in good faith that was given in good faith. Rules around trusts are complicated, FFS.

Quince paste in the making. We have an absolute glut this year. My kitchen is full of the beautiful perfume of Quinces, now preserved for the coming year.

Over 80 trans+ and LGBTQ+ rights orgs have signed a joint letter to MPs demanding full Parliamentary scrutiny of the EHRC’s new Code of Practice. If passed unchecked, it risks huge harm to rights and protections. Read our full statement here: tacc.org.uk/2025/09/01/j...

A new report from TransActual shows that trans and cisgender people face job loss, violence, vigilantism and wholesale exclusion following the Supreme Court Ruling and EHRC guidance. Read the report at: tinyurl.com/trans-segreg... #Trans #Transgender #Nonbinary #EqualityAct #EHRC #TransRights

For god’s sake someone remind the bbc.

First conker of the season. Autumn is here!

A statement regarding last night's vandalism at the South Essex Islamic Trust in Basildon. www.chelmsford.anglican.org/news/a-state...

www.theguardian.com/fashion/gall... For goodness sake, who on earth dresses up like this for the school run? It's enough effort getting the kids dressed and organised without a fashion show. I remember track suit over PJs on some days.

While the mainstream discussions are depressingly about *how* best to remove and stop immigrants, it’s a revolutionary act nowadays to say that immigration is actually a positive thing and an essential component of a thriving country, so please join me in doing so!

Here's how the real two-tier Britain works: 1. Whatever Nigel Farage says, however stupid, is looped and discussed by the media, while left-wing voices are treated as noises off. 2. Tiny far-right protests get massive airtime, while 10s of 000s gathering for Palestine or green causes are ignored.🧵

A week away on retreat, and when I turn my phone back on, what have I missed? Really, not a lot, TBH. Should do this more often. (Says she, frantically doomscrolling).

Hunting penguins in Southend and Leigh, with my delightful granddaughter. And a huge cup of Earl Grey! #waddlebythesea. A lovely day.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j... Even senior Israelis are saying 'enough '.

At last!!! 18 months too late. Or 77 years perhaps.

Disgusted to see this beautiful landscape ruined by wind turbines.

Very hard to do tapestry with a cat snuggled on your lap.