#MorningPrayer
Keep our focus, Lord Jesus,
not on what we have
built for ourselves,
nor even on what we have
built to honour you,
but on what you have
built among us in your love;
dwelling with us, living our life,
infusing our hearts
and your community
with your grace and mercy.

After a morning of @dioceseofyork.bsky.social synod, with a focus on rural ministry, will be joining @andrewrumsey.bsky.social (and The One Show) in pilgrimage on the St Aelred's trail, with 4pm open air service in Rievaulx Abbey (all welcome) followed by an evening of his new album in Helmsley.

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) butterfly resting on a broken branch. Arrows pointing to various part of the butterfly with the following identifying features: "Wingspan: 68-75mm. Blue border is much thinner or absent. Four black spots on the forewing." Photo credit Graham Hubbard

Have you seen a Small Tortoiseshell or a Large Tortoiseshell? 🔍

As the name suggests, the Large Tortoiseshell is slightly larger with a wingspan of 68-75mm. It is also a duller orange colour with a thin (sometimes absent) blue border on the wings. Look out for the extra spot on the forewings.

Kingfisher perched on a reed above a wetland at golden hour, its bright blue back and orange chest glowing in the soft light. Moments like this show the wildlife our nature laws protect, species that rely on healthy habitats and wild places to survive.

Today, the Government stepped back from the most damaging recommendations that threatened to gut the laws protecting our most precious places for nature.

With wildlife already in crisis, anything else would have been reckless.

But avoiding the worst is not enough. Nature needs ambitious action.

Speak up for the people of Sudan Sudan is at breaking point. Sign our petition to demand the UK Government takes action to save lives now.

With the tragedies of war across the world, may we not forget the people of Sudan as they approach the 3rd anniversary of a particularly brutal war on 15th April.

Over 21m people without healthcare & desperate for food. The UK is UN sec council lead for response:

www.tearfund.org/campaigns/sp...

Paul Vallely: Iran bombing wreaks chaos in the Middle East AYATOLLAH Ali Khamenei was prepared for death. He was aged 86 and had nominated his successor. It wasn’t the only plan that he and his Islamic elite had put in place — as Tehran has shown in its response to President Trump’s thousand-plus attacks ...

"President Trump has let an evil genie out of the bottle. There is no telling what damage it may wreak"

Trump’s attacks show the US being led by #Israel, argues Paul Vallely ✍️

#Iran #MiddleEastConflict #Trump #US

#MorningPrayer
Fill us with confidence,
Lord Jesus,
in the assurance of
your promises to us,
your welcome of us,
your love for us,
and your call upon us.
May we know ourselves
to be adopted into your family,
heirs of your covenant,
citizens of your kingdom,
as we follow your way.

Communities must be given the right to own environmental assets like rivers, woods & peat bogs

Thanks to @jenny4suffcoast.bsky.social & other MPs for writing this letter to Ministers, urging them to amend Community Right to Buy rules whilst there's still time:
www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/defaul...

Hopefully they're planning to come 'up north' to Teesside in the near future.

male priest speaking to a group gathered in church

This morning, we're at St Chad's, York, talking all-things-evangelism with Neil Short, Sweetline Burnell, Matt Woodcock, and Robin Gamble.

Together, they have created a project called 'Evangelism North' to offer inspiration, encouragement and equipping to Northern churches 🙏⛪

Pray with us. 🙏

Today's prayer is available in plain text and audio formats at cofe.io/TodaysPrayer.
@churchofengland.org

#MorningPrayer
Nourish us, Lord Jesus, in your love;
may we be good soil
in which the seed of your gospel
may take root and grow.
May our lives become
a nursery for knowledge of you,
a greenhouse for your grace,
a vineyard for the values of your kingdom,
a pasture for your peace.

🚨 NEW: The Government has announced the first V-levels will be in education, digital and finance from 2027

V-levels will sit alongside A-levels and T-levels and be equivalent to one A-level to let students combine academic and vocational subjects

Thanks to Sam and the team at BIG KIDS for their tremendous work with our youngsters.

Another full house at Cafe Church. Amazing worship, prayers and sharing about healing. Come and join us from 4 o'clock in 2 weeks time.

Another great result. UTBW @borowomen.bsky.social

Looking forward to being at St Nicholas, Guisborough (9:30am) this morning, 8th March.

Then Family Church @ 4 in Marton (at 4pm!) this afternoon to mark their 5th birthday.

All welcome.

A joy to license Fr Malcolm Lockey as Priest in Charge of St John, South Bank in Middlesbrough tonight. Exciting times. God at work.

Be glad of Starmer’s caution over Iran Bellicose critics of the UK prime minister have learnt nothing from the recent past

"On the foreign front, Labour has fixed some of the vandalism of the post-Cameron Tories through such innovative ploys as deigning to visit the second-biggest economy on Earth."

Be glad of Starmer’s caution over Iran Bellicose critics of the UK prime minister have learnt nothing from the recent past

I feel like Conservative foreign policy is one of those things that I *know* to be in an utterly terrible place, then you read it written down and go 'oh yeah, their position is literally that the UK have the most China-hostile policy of any nation in the world'. Great column:

Old City of Jerusalem needs an economic boost and recognition of its Palestinian heritage, says WCC THE future of Jerusalem’s Old City will be determined internationally, and there is a “moral imperative” to protect its vulnerable Palestinians, a report from the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and ...

The future of Jerusalem’s Old City will be determined internationally, and there is a “moral imperative” to protect its vulnerable Palestinians, a report from the World Council of Churches (WCC) has said

#Palestine #wcc #jerusalem #churchnews #churchtimes

For the 165 grieving mothers and families after a stray missile hit Shajareh Tayyebeh girls school last Saturday morning; one the first day of Trump’s war on Iran. (The Iran school week runs from Saturday-Thursday). Trump is no Noble Peace Prize candidate.

Archbishop Stephen addresses a group of clergy in a church building

Good to share with @archbishopofyork.org in leading a quiet day for clergy from across @dioceseofyork.bsky.social in Northallerton on praying the Psalms this Lent.

We're going tomorrow

🙏🙏🙏

Archbishop of Jerusalem & the Middle East shares pastoral letter in light of escalating conflict Anglican Communion News Service

A pastoral letter from the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

www.anglicannews.org/news/2026/02...

There's a Welbeck tennis club at Workshop (near Nottingham), but no evidence that Danny ever played there.🤣

Seagrass meadows are among the most widespread and valuable marine ecosystems on Earth.

Yet every 30 minutes, a football field’s worth of seagrass disappears.

This #WorldSeagrassDay, discover why these often overlooked meadows matter more than you imagine.

www.unep.org/news-and-sto...

When Israel and America claim that this war is God’s will, remember that Jesus said that peacemakers are the children of God, not the warmongers.