I just came across this wonderful quote from Hilary of Tours who diagnosed our pastoral busyness as “a blasphemous anxiety to do God's work for him”.
Most clergy I know, including myself, are frequently guilty of this.
Psalm 46:10 encourages us to “be still and know that I am God”.
#cofe
Now #prayforpeace www.youtube.com/live/03pYP2N...
#tec #narthex #romancatholicchurch #cofe #christian
We never hear much about #Orban in the UK - not surprising perhaps given his control of media and authoritarian regime - so this is useful. #Pray for an end to his era tomorrow #cofe #narthex #tec #hungary
Oh do have a read at the blog at least and signposts to longer read report #cofe #tec #narthex #christian
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#churchtimes #churchnews #comment #features #arts #reviews #clergy #cofe #ChurchOfEngland #archbishopofcanterbury #Narnia #CSLewis #grief
I found a piece of writing I did on the last night before I moved out of my Vicarage to retirement:
stevetilley.blogspot.com/2026/04/last...
#CofE
Portrait: the colourful east window, seen in full above the altar at dusk. The window has five vertical lights. Its colours include lots of green, red, gold, brown and yellow, plus smaller portions of blue.
Landscape: two stained glass scenes. On the left is St Gabriel (part of his face now lost) holding a palm branch and raising his other hand. On the right is the face of Christ (with a halo), surrounded by other surviving fragments of medieval glass).
Landscape: two more stained glass scenes. On the left is Mary, wearing a crown and holding the toddler Jesus who has a dove in one hand and is poking Mary's chin with the other! On the right St Michael wears a soul on a pair of scales.
Portrait: window light showing the crucifixion (above) with Mary and John at the foot of the cross and (below) a bishop in green robes and a gold mitre, holding a crozier and a book
For #MedievalMonday, a few photos of the incredible stained glass at St Michael and All Angels, Eaton Bishop.
The glass (probably made in France) dates from 1320-40, though was repositioned in the mid-C19.
Scenes include the crucifixion; St Michael weighing souls; and the Virgin and Child.
#CofE
A pale wooden cross in a church with arrangements of white lilies on the crosspiece and red roses and dark green leaves at the foot - stained glass window in background shows
Large stained glass window with a cross beneath it draped with white cloths. A priest stands in front of it wearing golden yellow robes and carrying a large newly lit Easter candle. A choir in red robes with white surpluses are lined up on either side.
Happy Easter to all those on #cofe #narthex and a special thx to those here who’ve given info, help, encouragement to me.
Photo of a mini Easter garden made out of rocks and jam jars of flowers. There is a hollow space representing the tomb Jesus was laid in, with a folded cloth. The garden is situated in a churchyard with the church in the background.
Photo of interior of a stone church, with a large vase full of white lilies lit by the sun
Photo of a wooden cross with a crown of thorns and a nail. There is a church in the background
Photo of a wooden cross set in a churchyard. The cross is adorned with flowers and a golden crown, and a placard saying 'Christ is risen'
#CofEPeeps ✝️⚓️ #CofE I just wanted to say thank you to @pipofsuffolk.bsky.social for creating and running this feed 🙂 Happy Easter everyone!
One of the things I am beginning to love about rural ministry in small churches is that when people don’t attend someone knows why and sends apologies #CofE
Is there sleight of tongue in the established church, #BBCNews?
“Sarah Mullally leads the #ChurchOfEngland”, yet “some #conservative #Anglicans” refuse to accept her leadership
There is a split between #CofE and #Anglican. Drop the name “Anglican”; cut the link to #England
It is not “English-ish”
Will be attending to resurrection business at #RousLench Village Hall on stage (literally) 10.00 #CofE
When a hole is wholly holy
The reading at church tonight from Romans hit me right in the feels "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. " #CofE
Portrait: lit 2026 Paschal candle at Gloucester Cathedral; the stand is decorated with greenery, and yellow and white flowers
May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds!
It was wonderful to mark the #EasterVigil at @gloucestercathedral.org.uk tonight, and to remember with joy my confirmation on this day last (liturgical) year.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
#Easter #CofE
What for 20 years or so has been called #EasterCommunion here is now a #FestalEucharist. That, and all our new Holy Week liturgies feel incredibly wordy to me #CofE
www.facebook.com/share/p/18LZ...
Looks interesting scargillmovement.org on tour
#bradford #cofe #narthex #Scargill
Portrait: church chancel in semi-darkness, with the high altar stripped of its cloth and candles. The metal shapes of the screen (not visible) cast intricate shadows on the floor, walls and stone screen.
Maundy Thursday
#CofE
Being tantalised and tormented by the delicious smell of chocolate cookies from the kitchen which are for a church event I am not attending #CofE
Portrait: Norman tympanum with the central carving depicting Christ in majesty, surrounded by the four gospel creatures. Above is an arch of beak head carvings, and above that an arch of carved chevrons.
Another view of the incredible Christ in majesty tympanum at St John the Evangelist, Elkstone, for #TympanumTuesday
#CofE
Birds flying high in golden white and grey clouds like a mountain range against a blue sky. There is a white heart shaped cloud standing above them.
Day 89 of my Sabbatical.
Love is above all. God is love.
We spiritually soar in a life of relationship with the one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We know mystery.
My calling was reaffirmed at the Chrism Eucharist in the cathedral, through live-stream.
#layministry #blessings #faith #CofE
Portrait: stacked boxes of Waitrose's hot cross bunettone ('Panettone meets hot cross bun. Light Italian cake with spice, sultanas and candied peel')
Liturgical whiplash, courtesy of Waitrose
#CofE
Can anyone point me towards a normal print size (10-12 font maybe) but small overall edition of ether the New Testament or even just the Gospels, to go in a Home Communion set, please? #CofE
Decent large print bible recommendatuons, please? Needs to be available in the UK, preferably not cost an arm and a leg.
#CofE
So, how was your day in church? #CofE #CofEPeeps ✝️⚓️ I'm interested to hear your worship/liturgy stories ...
What was encouraging? Did you meet anyone new? Did you do something new? What went wrong/right? 🤷♀️☺️
"Was God there?" - as my flatmate used to ask when I got back home from church.
A feast of Easter-related choral music in West Yorkshire this weekend. Tonight Halifax Choral Society perform Dvorak Stabat Mater at Halifax Minster and tomorrow evening the Choir of @bradfordcathedral.org.uk perform Messiah! What a start to #HolyWeek #cofe #classical #choral #Halifax #Bradford
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#churchtimes #churchnews #comment #features #arts #reviews #clergy #cofe #ChurchOfEngland #archbishopofcanterbury #SarahMullally #MalcolmGuite
Is it just me or is there a veritable flood of new bishop level appointments going on of late? Every day it seems I see notification of another! Lots of them retiring maybe? #cofe
