Sep 21
SEPTEMBER 21st is the United Nations International Day of Peace, created in 1981 as an opportunity for ‘commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.’ Two decades later, in 2001, the UN General Assembly designated the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire. The World Council of Churches …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/09/21/make-time-for-peace-a-call-to-action/
Aug 06
LAST SUNDAY, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this reflection on the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, which falls on the Feast of the Transfiguration (6th August).
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/08/06/transfiguration-and-hiroshima-a-reflection-on-peace/
May 16
On Thursday 6th May 2021, I was involved in a service of remembrance for the civilian casualties of the Liverpool Blitz. It was held in one of the most vivid symbols the bombing of the city, the outer shell of St Luke’s Church in the city centre, which was destroyed by an incendiary bomb on 6th May 1941.
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2021/05/16/prayers-for-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-liverpoolblitz/
May 01
IN 2019 I took part in the Journey of Hope, a six-month training programme in peace-building and reconciliation run by Reconcilers Together, a network of Christian peace-making centres across the UK and Ireland. Our first stop in January 2019 was Coventry Cathedral, whose international ministry of reconciliation began when the cathedral burned down following the bombing of the city in November 1940. The Provost of the Cathedral, Richard Howard, vowed …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2021/05/01/journey-of-hope-leads-to-liverpool-blitz-link-with-coventry-community-of-the-cross-of-nails/
Jun 07
IT’S BEEN a year since the sixth step on the Journey of Hope pilgrimage of training in ‘Christian peace-building and reconciliation… to inspire and equip Christian leaders to become skilled practitioners of reconciliation in their churches and communities.’ reconcilerstogether.co.uk The pilgrimage journey included five residential modules from January to June 2019 – I wrote my reflections on …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2020/06/07/what-binds-us-together-the-sixth-step-on-my-journeyofhope/
May 30
An ‘inside-out’ journey beginning with hosting ourselves and moving out to consider host-guest dynamics within congregations and communities.
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/05/30/radical-hospitality-the-fourth-step-on-the-journeyofhope/
May 17
In 70 countries, loving someone of the same sex is illegal and, in 7 countries, it is punishable by death. In many more countries citizens are denied their right to live as their true gender identity, and 369 murders of trans and gender-diverse people were reported worldwide in 2018. As well as legal discriminations, social …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/05/17/justice-protection-for-all-international-day-against-homophobia-biphobia-transphobia-2019/
Feb 27
FEBRUARY is LGBT History Month in the UK, an annual commemoration of the lives and achievements of LGBT+ people. Now in its 15th year, it was set up by Schools Out UK, which has campaigned for LGBT+ inclusion through education since 1974. This year’s theme is Peace, Activism and Reconciliation, as 2019 marks 50 years …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/02/27/in-praise-of-god-for-lgbt-history-month/
Feb 08
LAST AUTUMN I saw an advert for a fully-funded six-month training programme in ‘Christian peace-building and reconciliation… to inspire and equip Christian leaders to become skilled practitioners of reconciliation in their churches and communities.’ It seemed too good to be true – an opportunity for fully-funded personal and professional development at a time when I …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/02/08/turning-to-one-another-setting-out-on-a-journeyofhope/
Dec 24
AT A carol service last Sunday, hosted by Open Table, an inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. Amazing Peace by Maya Angelou Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses. Flood waters await us …
Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2016/12/24/amazing-peace-a-poem-for-christmas-by-maya-angelou/
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