There has been much in the media over the weekend about exam results in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, and the anger, disappointment, confusion among pupils, families, schools/colleges, universities – and politicians – as they struggled to understand what had happened/ was happening, and what the future held for those directly affected. A fortnight ago […]

There are commemorations today of 75 years since VJ Day, the official surrender of Japan and end of the Second World War (albeit scaled back from what had been planned). At the time those fighting in the ‘Far Eastern theatre of war’ felt they were the forgotten forces, especially when the politicians and public at

Over the past week I have spoken to some people who are very wary about mixing with others because of the risk of picking up the Covid-19 virus, who are uncomfortable with the idea of going into someone else’s house or having someone in their house. I have also spoken to others who feel that

Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair is inviting everyone to join him for a week of prayer starting on Monday 17 August and finishing on Saturday 22. The initiative will include contributions from the Church of Scotland’s ecumenical partners as well as youth workers, ministers and others from across the church. Each day of the week

Dumbarton Churches Together have supported the charity Embrace the Middle East for a number of years. The following news update was received earlier this week and circulated to churches in Dumbarton: The explosion in Beirut The massive explosion that ripped through Beirut on Tuesday 4 August was felt as far away as Cyprus. At the

The schools have gone back, and (so?) we have hot, sunny weather. It is almost guaranteed. But sadly the hot weather brought with it storms that created widespread flooding and was probably the main contributor to the fatal train derailment yesterday Lord, we like the sun and the heat, though sometimes we moan that we

Children start back today. Always a day of mixed feelings, but much more so this year. So many have lost so much ground over the last six months in terms of learning and social contact. Going back to studying, and making up lost time will be hard for them and their teachers. Parents/ family/ carers

Term starts today, but an in-service day for staff. Exciting, as they think about working with a new set of pupils, trying to make up lost ground, and move forward with this year’s objectives. But also worrying and challenging as they work through what the arrangements will be when children come back, concerned to prevent

Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers Proverbs 25: 15