Category: Stephen’s Blog

Repenting of … repentance? Slavery in the Jewish world When the great William Wilberforce challenged the world of its dependence on slavery, and managed by his death to see legislation ban the slave trade from the British empire, he faced many people inside the church and outside it who believed

When is a gift not a gift? To give or to … bribe! With all the talk of the Elf on the Shelf, and the seasonal question posed to children “Have you been a good boy/girl?”, there is a lot of pressure on little ones at this time of year.

A Tough Dealer? I cut the offer price by … hundreds! The Book of Proverbs is full of observations gained by the wise in the course of life and business. This verse always strikes me when I read chapter 20 of the book. Verse 14 says: The customer always complains

Oh no! You shouldn’t have! But thank you, I was only doing my best! Have you noticed how pride comes in many shapes and sizes; and its different appearances sometimes draw praise – sometimes criticism – from its observers. “You should be very proud of what you have achieved at

I want, today, to ask you to reflect on a little verse which seems to me, to be a challenge to our two churches built at crossroads. The verses is Jeremiah 6.16. It could be a call to arms for the people of Killaney and Carryduff – but not to battle;

Some days I can plan right down to the minute – almost. A list of tasks to be done is often the easiest way to tie down your concentration for many hours. I didn’t say how often some is, note. Of course this doesn’t work so well when none of

Black Santa day arrives! On duty at St Anne’s For two weeks before Christmas the canons of St Anne’s play their small part in supporting the Dean of Belfast as he launches his annual Black Santa Vigil. Each day during daylight hours, plus a few, the Dean and a colleague

It’s not the best name to have in a family, or a community. To be the person that everyone dreads seeing at a meeting, or coming into the room. Under their breath they whisper “Here he comes. .”“ ”Here she is…“ In Jeremiah 20.3 one of the priests had the name