Blog: Pictures-Books-Reflections | James Woodward

Living with Dementia :People rarely remember what we said but often don’t forget how we made them feel.

Posted on 5 February 2017 by James Woodward

First published in the Salisbury Journal 2 February 2017 At Sarum College we are interested in engaging with and reflecting on what makes for human flourishing. You will have a sense of what it is that helps you to live what inspires your enthusiasm for life. Bein

The Montgomery Trust

Posted on 30 January 2017 by James Woodward

Invite a Montgomery Lecturer to speak at your event Through the Montgomery Trust you can invite nationally renowned lecturers in apologetics to speak at your event free of charge. The Montgomery Trust was set up by Sir Alexander Montgomery to promote lectures ‘in explanat

Positive Psychology Approaches to Dementia

Posted on 29 January 2017 by James Woodward

Positive Psychology Approaches to Dementia Edited by Chris Clarke and Emma Wolverson. Paperback 2016, 288pp ISBN: 978-1-84905-610-6 £24.99 This is a surprising book in so far as it, at first glance, appears to be a technical collection of essays written by expert

T2

Posted on 29 January 2017 by James Woodward

T2 Trainspotting A Saturday afternoon and a day off might not entirely be the right combination for a visit to screen three in the Salisbury Odeon to watch the new Trainspotting sequel. The seats were filled and lager and popcorn sustained many of my neighbours during

Leadership Learning at Sarum College

Posted on 25 January 2017 by James Woodward

Learning for Leadership “Real leadership is about getting alongside people and helping them achieve things themselves.” The Revd Becky Roberts grew up in a church family in the Diocese, at St Mary’s, West Moors. She is now the vicar of Harnham in Salisbury. “I w

A Monster Calls : Redeeming Stories?

Posted on 12 January 2017 by James Woodward

One of the great advantages of living in Salisbury is the availability of a well-run mainstream cinema. Friends will know that I enjoy a regular visit to the big screen. Like you I am sometimes captivated by the trailer but in the end disappointed by the film! Last night rath

Sarum Centre for Formation in Ministry (Reviewing Becoming a Reverend)

Posted on 7 January 2017 by James Woodward

There persists a certain curiosity about clergy with some fixed stereotypes about what kind of people we are or should be. The language, structure and culture of ‘Church’ remains persistently inaccessible and sometimes just incomprehensible. Matt Woodcock is a wise, h

A Christmas Reflection 2016

Posted on 23 December 2016 by James Woodward

The Christmas story contains so much. Angels, animals, shepherds, an unmarried mother and an older father, people filled with expectation, hopeful, but also consumed with political cynicism. It is all in the story – and if you pause to think about some of the story of 2016 –

Bishop Michael Perham

Posted on 15 December 201621 December 2016 by James Woodward

It will be a great privilege to welcome guests to the Sarum College Bookshop for the launch of Michael Perham’s latest book, The Way of Christ-Likeness. This practical and theological companion to Lent, Holy Week and Easter offers advice on creatively using the church’s mo

Better Disagreement? Public Debate and Dialogue

Posted on 11 December 201621 December 2016 by James Woodward

1 Comment

Towards Better Disagreement: Religion and Atheism Paul Hedges JKP 2016 I happen just to have returned from the Swindon office of BBC Wiltshire where I was tasked to review the Sunday papers. I turn now to catching up on some pieces of writing but especially book reviews that

Understanding Dementia (Jessica Kingsley Publishers)

Posted on 10 December 201621 December 2016 by James Woodward

I am gathering together a small collection of books all published by Jessica Kingsley who is certainly one of the most innovative and ground-breaking publishers working in this field. Their list covering a range of books on dementia is well worth examining. These first two

Amazing Love : Theology for understanding Discipleship, Sexuality and Mission

Posted on 10 December 201623 December 2016 by James Woodward

Amazing Love: Theology for understanding Discipleship, Sexuality and Mission Andrew Davison, DLT 2016, 114pp pbk This book has been with me over the past few weeks and my reading of it has been shaped by a number of events and experiences. First I attended a celebration of 35

Blessed are the Poor? By Laurie Green

Posted on 29 November 2016 by James Woodward

It has taken me some time to digest this book and so commend it to others for both reflection and action. Laurie Green has established a well-deserved reputation for his ministry amongst the poor and voiceless but also for his ability to think theologically. The book took me b

Blessed are the Poor ? By Laurie Green

Posted on 28 October 2016 by James Woodward

Vulnerability and Care: Christian Reflections on the Philosophy of Medicine by Andrew Sloane

Posted on 28 October 2016 by James Woodward

I have recently seen at close hand the work a busy acute hospital having to deal with an older person suffering multiple challenges to well-being caused in the main by intense confusion as a result of the Alzheimer's disease. The result was shocking and frustrating. Although,of

Understanding Spiritual Accompaniment

Posted on 25 October 201623 December 2016 by James Woodward

Spiritual Accompaniment and Counselling: Journeying with psyche and soul Edited by Peter Masden Gubi Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2015 paperback 192 pages £16.99 Here at Sarum College (www.sarum.ac.uk) our two year certificate in spiritual direction is very popular t

Loving Later Life An Ethics of Ageing

Posted on 10 October 201623 December 2016 by James Woodward

Loving Later Life An Ethics of Ageing Frits de Lange Eerdmans, 2015, 169 pages, pbk, £12.99 If asked to name one of the urgent ethical priorities for academics and practioners working across a number of sectors it would be to deal with this question ‘what are older people

Going Deeper for Truth and Freedom

Posted on 26 September 2016 by James Woodward

A Sermon preached at Westminster Abbey on Sunday 25th September 2016 at Evensong (John 8, 31- 38,48 – end) John 8;32,33 ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ If you visit Birm

Spiritual Care: luxury or necessity?

Posted on 29 August 2016 by James Woodward

Spiritual Care in Practice : Case studies in Healthcare Chaplaincy Edited by George Fitchett and Steve Nolan Paperback 2015, 320pp, ISBN: 978-1-84905-976-3 It seems as if English bank holiday weekends bring out the some of the more gloomy of stories in our newspapers.