Oh No ! Not another book on OldAge? Yes and a good one….. Self-appointed ambassador for the baby-boomer generation, Esther is a professionally incautious 68, shouldering her way into what she calls the Third Age with the energy, self-belief and studio gloss of the That’s Life! BBC television presenter she once was. “Don’t put a […]
Fire and Gold
Posted on by James Woodward
The monotone of the rain is beautiful, And the sudden rise and slow relapse Of the long multitudinous rain. The sun on the hills is beautiful, Or a captured sunset sea-flung, Bannered with fire and gold. A face I know is beautiful- With fire and gold of sky and sea, And […]
Angel of the North
Posted on by James Woodward
A short visit to see my parents in the North East gave me a welcome re connection with this amazing, varied place. The A1 north of the Durham services station offers sign postings to some of the most significant places in my life: Kelloe and my birth place Spennymoor and the long daily bus journey […]
Who died?
Posted on by James Woodward
who died? Is it your face that adorns the garden? Is it your fragrance that intoxicates this garden? Is it your spirit that has made this brook a river of wine? Hundreds have looked for you and died searching in this garden where you hide behind the scenes. But this pain is not for those […]
Amazement
Posted on by James Woodward
amazement And God is filling me, though there are times of doubt as hollow as the Grand Canyon, still God is filling me. He is giving me the thoughts of dogs, the spider in its intricate web, the sun in all its amazement, and a slain ram that is the glory, the mystery of […]
These our actors
Posted on by James Woodward
these our actors Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp’d towers, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve […]
Everywhere Orchids
Posted on by James Woodward
everywhere, orchids I think there’s a trickster who wanders the mountains, with a belt made of ivy and a cloak of wisteria, lips always smiling, noble to look at, he drives yellow leopards, his friends include tigers, he stands in a chariot bannered with cassia, everywhere, orchids all over, azaleas. Exhaling the perfume, the […]
What hope for Religion?
Posted on by James Woodward
The New Spirituality: An Introduction to Progressive Belief in the Twenty-first Century Gordon Lynch “Religion is over – there’s simply no future in believing that traditional Christianity is in any way persuasive in England today”, was the comment from a Priest friend of mine working in a suburban town in the West Midlands of […]
Whats in a sermon then?
Posted on by James Woodward
In Other Words, Incarnational Translation for Preaching Charles H. Cosgrove and W. Dow Edgerton In our theological libraries it may be that, depending upon our organization, the sub-sections contain books in the following areas: biblical studies; history; spirituality and prayer; religious studies; philosophy; ethics; and general theology. The area which reviews in religion and […]
Is there anybody there – Responding to Dementia?
Posted on by James Woodward
Is there anybody there? Can we remember those who forget? We human beings deal with our fears in a variety of ways. Often our response to certain types of illness is shaped by ignorance and prejudice. A historical overview of religion reflects our ambivalent relationship with illness. Consider how we treated the insane in […]
Dignity – Whose Dignity?
Posted on by James Woodward
In the Department of Health second NSF paper A New Ambition for Old Age, dignity is defined as ‘the moral requirement to respect human beings irrespective of what they suffer from’. Another definition is this : ‘dignity refers to an individual maintaining self respect and being valued by others’. These definitions remind us that […]
Putting all this effort into perspective?
Posted on by James Woodward
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. No programme accomplishes the Church’s mission, no set goals and objectives include everything. This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that […]
Regret?
Posted on by James Woodward
Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression Swami Sivananda
What is it about Mozart?
Posted on by James Woodward
After celebrating Christ the King and the end of the Church’s liturgical year I was fortunate again to be able to travel into Birmingham on Sunday afternoon for an excellent 3.00 pm concert. A packed house enjoyed the chamber orchestra of Europe play some Stravinsky. But the highlight of the concert was two extraordinary pieces […]
In memory of Alwyn Lloyd Roberts
Posted on by James Woodward
Here is a the homily for Alwyn that was preached today in St Marys Temple Balsall. Alwyn was a star.At a Children’s workshop while singing all things bright and beautiful when we got to the line ‘the purple headed mountain’ Alwyn changed the words to ‘the purple haired monster’ and nodded his head toward […]
Presence and Engagement
Posted on by James Woodward
Last week in the parish which we have entitled ‘Food for Thought’ had its second event. The formula for this is quite simple – we meet for a simple supper at 7.00 pm, followed by a talk – with a sort break for a hot drink followed by an hour’s conversation and home by […]
Valuing Age:Pastoral Ministry with Older People just published!
Posted on by James Woodward
This book is desperately needed. James Woodward’s study is masterful,informed, compassionate, theologically articulate and pastorally compelling. We will all grow older; we should allread this book. It is a compelling visionof a Church in which older people really are valued and served.’ The Very Revd Ian Markham PhD, Dean and President of VirginiaTheological Seminary […]
Christ the King
Posted on by James Woodward
What kind of KIng? In Majesty A Servant King? A suffering King A King for us A King who knows and loves us A King that offers us hope and new life A King that turns things upside down A King that surprises What kind of King is Christ for you?
Gerotranscendence
Posted on by James Woodward
Lors Tornstam Tornstam defined the first thesis in Sweden in the field of gerontological sociology in 1973. This model (Gerotranscendence) suggests that human longevity includes the potential for a transcendent movement away from the materialistic and rational point of view common in the first half of life. His research suggests that successful completion of such […]