Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘That may be the last time half the planet listen to one voice at one time’

01/11/2022 | Reform

Paul Kerensa on the sermon with the biggest audience

Imagine delivering a sermon to half the planet. This has only ever happened once, and it happened just a couple of months ago.

The state funeral of Elizabeth II was of … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘Lists are how I get things done. Write it down, strike it off’

03/10/2022 | Reform

Paul Kerensa loves a list

I’ve noticed I’m relying a little more on writing things down. Lists are how I get things done. Write it down, strike it off. Of course, there’s that age-old tip: Start every to-do list with … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘Remember those lockdown services where the minister would be the only one in church? This was the opposite.’

20/09/2022 | Reform 1

Paul Kerensa on the first church broadcast

It’s a big year for anniversaries. The URC celebrates its fiftieth this autumn, soon before the BBC turns one hundred.

2022 marks the centenary of not just Auntie Beeb, but British broadcasting as … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘As many nonconformists together as you can shake a bishop’s crozier at’

24/06/2022 | Reform

Paul Kerensa gets together in Nailsworth

In my day job as a stand-up (well, evening job), I tour the land doing comedy shows for churches – which this week led me to the delightful Cotswold town of Nailsworth. Winding down … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘Will this summer see the much fêted return of the fête?’

28/05/2022 | Reform

Paul Kerensa enjoys the return of the village fête

I wonder if your neck of the woods will be returning to outdoor gatherings of old this summer? No, not that old. Not druids at henges or ye ancient maypole.

I … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘We gravitate towards numbered lists. The Ten Commandments is still the most famous part of the Bible.’

27/04/2022 | Reform

If this article was on BuzzFeed, the home of internet lightweight clickbait, it would be entitled: ‘10 Reasons the Ten Commandments is the Original Biblical Listicle’. Even if it didn’t quite live up to the headline.

If you’re not familiar … Read More