Last Sunday marked the beginning of the church year, and with it the opening of the Advent season. And with that, came one of my personal favourite liturgical flourishes: the Advent wreath, and the lighting of the candles.

As we went to light them at the weekend, it was pointed out that they were looking a little… precarious. Indeed…

Oddly enough, today on the blog I get to be the bearer of breaking international news. Not because our blog happens to be publishing at the decisive moment, or because I have some exclusive scoop, but because in the last week the Anglican church worldwide has been undergoing seismic shifts and it seems that no major news outlet has even sought to comment.

If indeed you haven’t heard…

I want to start by saying thank you. Over the years, St Luke’s has given an incredible £59,500 to support our work in rural Africa, and this year you’re standing with us again! Your generosity is helping farming families restore their land and build a future free from hunger.

Ripple Effect works across East Africa, helping families who rely on the land for food to eat. Our teams aren’t outsiders - they come from the very communities we serve.