Author Archives: Dean Atkins

We continue our JUST LENT course this week, as we gather at St Paul’s Church Grangetown on Wednesday at 7pm. We explore justice for God’s Creation. Here’s a brief introduction. This monument, moved from just outside Central Railway Station to Cardiff Bay Wetland is intended to reflect the mountains which surround Cardiff, and the lifeContinue reading “Mountains and Molehills”

‘Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’ (see Luke 18:9-14) Kevin Maxwell was a dream candidate for the police force—passionate, hard-working and keen to serve his community.  And, as a gay black man from a working class family he could easily have been a poster boyContinue reading “Just Lent | March 18”

‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (see Mark 12:28-34) These days, far more people are aware of (and are open and honest about) Mental Health.  There have been so many campaigns encouraging people to talk about their feelings, and offering many ways in which we can improve our mental health andContinue reading “Just Lent | March 17”

‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’ (see Luke 11:14-23) There is a saying, favoured by Citizens UK, a Community Organising group, that goes, ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table then you’re probably on the menu.’  Citizens UK is made ofContinue reading “Just Lent | March 16”

In this week’s JUST LENT course, we explored poverty and how our Christian Faith compels us to respond to need, and the causes of poverty. This prayer wraps up our conversation as we reflect on the poverty of Christ. You were poorwhen they wrapped you in tight bands of cloth,and placed you in a feedingContinue reading “You were poor”

‘Do not forget the things your eyes have seen. Rather tell them to your children, and your children’s children.’ (see Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9) ) In a 2022, in a BBC documentary about the identity of Wales called ‘Who do We Think We Are?’ the broadcaster Huw Edwards interviewed Gaynor Legal, a Butetown resident and the firstContinue reading “Just Lent | March 15”

‘We have no leader, no prophet, no prince.. no place where we can offer you the first fruits and win your favour’ (see Daniel 3:25,34-43) Freedom of Religion of belief is a human right which has been guaranteed under international law since 1966.  Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted inContinue reading “Just Lent | March 14”

‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.’ (see Luke 4:24-30) In what turned out to be a humorous exchange between an MP and the Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of 2022 (as bishops preached about the decision of the UK Government to send refugees to Rwanda) a ToryContinue reading “Just Lent | March 13”

This week, our third session of our JUST LENT course aims to explore poverty, its presenting needs and the causes of poverty and how and why Christians should respond. Join us at St Saviour’s Church, Splott on Wednesday 15 March at 7pm. The following reflection sets the scene. In the shadow of the Wales MillenniumContinue reading “A Song for the Poor”

A meditation featured in our JUST LENT course focussing on the dignity of humanity and all of creation From the dust you raised us, breathing into our lungs as we emerged into a startling world, finding our way. You looked at us and saw that all was good. And as the first light reflected inContinue reading “You saw that all was good”