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	<title>connexions</title>
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	<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp</link>
	<description>The blog of Richard Hall, a Methodist Minister in Wales.</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 10:47:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Gay marriage</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13620</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13620#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 10:47:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Political Stuff]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I understand that gay marriage is controversial. I absolutely get that not everyone will agree that having gay marriage enshrined in British law is a Good Thing. Many conservatives don&#8217;t accept that parliament is entitled to pass such a law. Principled disagreement has to be quite proper, and questioning whether &#8216;marriage&#8217; is a proper term [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13620</wfw:commentRss>
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		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13618</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13618#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 May 2013 12:02:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[pentecost]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[whitsunday]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13618</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and thy truth we praise,
Thy goodness and thy truth we prove;
Thou hast, in honour of thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power, and love.
Send us the Spirit of thy Son
To make the depths of Godhead known,
To make us share the life divine;
Send him the sprinkled blood [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13618</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>James Hansen: &#8220;Global warming has not stalled&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13616</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13616#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 12:50:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Green stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13616</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Guardian
Suggestions that global warming has stalled are a &#8220;diversionary tactic&#8221; from &#8220;deniers&#8221; who want the public to be confused over climate change, according to the world&#8217;s best-known climate scientist. Prof James Hansen, who first alerted the world to climate change in 1988, said on Friday: &#8220;It is not true that the temperature has not [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13616</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>UK Supreme Court rules that Methodist Ministers are not employees</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 19:56:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[connexion]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[methodist church]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Methodist conference]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Preston]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13612</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s been a long story, but all&#8217;s well that ends well. On Wednesday the Supreme Court delivered it&#8217;s judgement that Methodist ministers are not not employees and do not have recourse to employment tribunals. Inevitably, the judgement is not light bedtime reading, but I was impressed by the obvious care that the judges had taken [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13612</wfw:commentRss>
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		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2013 12:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Jesus! the name high over all,
in hell, or earth, or sky!
Angels and men before it fall,
and devils fear and fly.
Jesus! the name to sinners dear,
the name to sinners given!
It scatters all their guilty fear,
it turns their hell to heaven.
Jesus! the prisoner&#8217;s fetters breaks,
and bruises Satan&#8217;s head;
Power into strengthless souls it speaks,
and life into the dead.
O [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13610</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13608</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13608#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:28:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13608</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[O thou who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart&#8217;s desire
To work and speak and think for thee;
Still let me guard the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13608</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Half English</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13606</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13606#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:16:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[nationalism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[patriotism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[St George]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s St George&#8217;s Day. This video seemed appropriate.

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13606</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:23:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13604</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[O Love divine, what hast thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father’s co-eternal Son
Bore all my sins upon the tree.
Th’immortal God for me hath died:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!
Is crucified for me and you,
To bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
Ye all are bought with Jesus’ blood.
Pardon for all [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13604</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Legacy</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13601</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13601#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:09:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[thatcher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13601</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[2 clips from Brassed Off seem appropriate today. No further commentary necessary.


]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13601</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The things we are not allowed to do in church any longer</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13597</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13597#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13597</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A new cartoon by the always-splendid Dave Walker
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13597</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Antarctic Melt Has Increased Tenfold Over Past 1,000 Years</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:51:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Green stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[antarctica]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13595</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From LiveScience
Summer ice melt has increased tenfold over the last millennium in the Antarctic Peninsula, with most of the melt occurring during the last several decades in conjunction with global warming, new research suggests.
Rapid melt can destabilize glaciers and ice shelves (the tongues of glaciers that float on the ocean), suggesting that there could be [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13595</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The sign of a dying church</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13573</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13573#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[church]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[dying]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dave Faulkner points to 5 signs of a dying church and asks &#8220;What does a dying church look like?&#8221;
This is a really simple question, assuming that we&#8217;re talking about the church as you can see it in our towns and villages. (The Church Triumphant is, of course, a different matter) It isn&#8217;t a matter of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13573</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Enough food if&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:30:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Green stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[poverty]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13590</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;governments keep their climate promise

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13590</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A question of calling</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13584</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13584#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:30:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[calling]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[methodist church]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[vocations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13584</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Matt Collins &#8212; a self-confessed &#8216;Methodist geek&#8217; &#8211;is called to be a bureaucrat
I am not a great ideas man, but I am happy to support those who are, to put frameworks in place, work on policy and procedure to facilitate great projects. As well as a meetings man, I am a bit of a techy. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13584</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13582</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13582#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:40:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13582</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Thou God of truth and love,
We seek thy perfect way,
Ready thy choice to approve,
Thy providence to obey:
Enter into thy wise design,
And sweetly lose our will in thine.
Why hast thou cast our lot
In the same age and place?
And why together brought
To see each other&#8217;s face?
To join with softest sympathy,
And mix our friendly souls in thee?
Didst thou [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13582</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>&#8220;I have no idea&#8221; - a prayer of Thomas Merton</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13577</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13577#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:40:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kim</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13577</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I do not know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13577</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Credit where it&#8217;s due</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13570</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13570#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:28:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Green stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Political Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13570</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;the threat to our world comes not only from tyrants and their tanks. It can be more insidious though less visible. The danger of global warming is as yet unseen, but real enough for us to make changes and sacrifices, so that we do not live at the expense of future generations.
Our ability to come [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13570</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dipsy doodlings</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13568</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13568#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:22:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Stuff]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[swansea university]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Kim&#8217;s been doodling again, though at least one paragraph is more a howl of angry despair:
In 2004, the Philosophy Department at Swansea University, once world renown as a Centre of Wittgenstein studies, was terminated (Wittgenstein’s “full stop” with a vengeance). Last summer, the front of the main administrative building, Fulton House, was renovated (it now [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13568</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mental illness and the gospel</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13565</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13565#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:18:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13565</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Following the death by suicide of Rick Warren&#8217;s son, Adrian Warnock asks Can a Christian get depressed?
Given that Adrian is a practising psychiatrist, his answer is an unsurprising &#8220;Yes, of course.&#8221; However, the fact that the question can even be raised is profoundly disturbing. Apart from the extremes of the &#8216;name it and claim it&#8217; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13565</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hymn of the day</title>
		<link>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13563</link>
		<comments>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13563#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:45:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Stuff]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=13563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[O for a thousand tongues to sing
My dear Redeemer&#8217;s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of Thy name.
Jesus! The name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
&#8216;Tis music in the sinner&#8217;s ears,
&#8216;Tis life, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theconnexion.net/wp/?feed=rss2&amp;p=13563</wfw:commentRss>
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