“…anything you did for one of the least important of these, you did for me.”  Mt.25:40
Our Calling as individuals and congregations is to serve God and Christ day by day.  The Gospel reading today teaches us that we serve Christ, and thus God, through service to the “least important.”
“…anything you did
For one of the least [...]

Drumming and dancing had led the enthronement of John Sentamu as Archbishop of York.  Having witnessed this last year, I returned this month to express solidarity with his quiet vigil of seven days of prayer and fasting for “lasting peace in the Middle East”.
 Tourists were queuing to enter York Minister as I arrived.  “I’ve just [...]

An exceptional storm
On Christmas Day 1497 Vasco Da Gama first reached the South Eastern shores of South Africa.  He named the area Natal.  It is now called Kwazulu Natal.  Recently, I visited the area on behalf of Christian Aid to explore issues around HIV/AIDS in conversations with theologians, including those living with HIV/AIDS.                 
On the day [...]

Millions of people across Europe observed the three minute silence on Wednesday 5th January 2005 at Noon.  I chose to join the silence in Castle Market, Sheffield.  At 1200noon precisely a bell rang.  Everyone stopped doing what they were doing.  Shoppers stopped in their tracks.  Stall holders stopped serving.  The usual hubbub of the Market [...]

IT WAS A LOVELY SPRING MORNING. I SAT BESIDE THE GANDHI STATUE JUST BEFORE A MEETING ON ANTI-SLAVERY AND WROTE THIS MEDITATION.
Flowers budding and breaking
Into bloom,
None accept bondage of winter and soil,
But take life from these.
Wind blows
Where it wills.
Young people on the grass
- look up to the skies;
Older people bent over
- look down to the soil and [...]

“Am I not a man and a brother?”
This question goes to the heart of the Creation Story where it is asserted that human beings are made “in the image of God” [Genesis 1:26-27], and pronounced “very good”.  This means that each human being is of value and worth, and sacred – to be treated with [...]

On 18th June 2007, during Refugee Week, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield pronounced from the steps of the City Town Hall that Sheffield City Council had declared support for Sheffield as a City of Sanctuary.
On 18th September, Sheffield’s City of Sanctuary Committee organised a Press Conference in Sheffield Town Hall to spread the news.
There were [...]

Biblical Roots and Christian History
The roots of Sanctuary are thousands of years old, and have their basis in such diverse cultures as ancient Egyptian, Hebrew and Greek. The Hebrew tradition enshrined the experience of a formerly oppressed people into the legal code of their new society when 6 towns of refuge/Sanctuary were established according to [...]

All human beings are made in the image of God.  Ethnic diversity is part of God’s wisdom, will and purpose.  One pattern – the image of God, but an amazing diversity.
Science confirms what theology has always insisted.  With all our distinctive, unique features, we are incredibly alike.
This means that the old theory of different races [...]

I accompanied Methodist Minister, the Rev Thurairajah Samuel of Morley, near Leeds, when he visited his home village Thirukkovil in East Sri Lanka.  He lost several members of his family and his family house in the Tsunami Disaster on 26th December 2005. This is my Report to the Morley Town Council upon my return.
“We are [...]