Ryan Sirmons
@preachsirmons.bsky.social
father, husband, minister in the United Reformed Church. Past in the United Church of Christ, organiser with the Industrial Areas Foundation (now Just Power Alliance), and US Navy officer. From Orlando, Florida, but now in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
Jesus’ display of power [with poor people] seems absurd to us ...Yet absurdity might very well be the currency of our faith.
Jesus’ display of power [with poor people] seems absurd to us ...Yet absurdity might very well be the currency of our faith.
April 13, 2025 at 8:39 AM
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
Jesus’ display of power [with poor people] seems absurd to us ...Yet absurdity might very well be the currency of our faith.
Jesus’ display of power [with poor people] seems absurd to us ...Yet absurdity might very well be the currency of our faith.
Reposted by Ryan Sirmons
Rowan Williams asks the key (lethal) question: "Who specifically wants this?" And by "this" I think he means.... [gestures at the things]
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When politicians tell us to focus on growth we need to ask: ‘Why, and for whom?’
Isolate growth from public good and you are simply planning for breakdown. My research shows that a resilient society should be rooted in wellbeing, not wealth, says former archbishop of Canterbury Ro...
www.theguardian.com
March 9, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Rowan Williams asks the key (lethal) question: "Who specifically wants this?" And by "this" I think he means.... [gestures at the things]
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It was good to be at @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social and break bread across faiths!
Fabulous evening celebrating a community Iftar in Newcastle Cathedral. Joined by colleagues from our city and region: here with @chionwurah.bsky.social Lucy Winskill, Lord Lieutenant Tyne & Wear and @bishopstephen.bsky.social 🎉
March 9, 2025 at 6:02 PM
It was good to be at @newcastlecathedral.bsky.social and break bread across faiths!
“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”
― Augustine of Hippo
― Augustine of Hippo
March 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM
“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”
― Augustine of Hippo
― Augustine of Hippo
Reposted by Ryan Sirmons
'Our world is so filled with violence that we have to stop it in its tracks.'
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
February 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
'Our world is so filled with violence that we have to stop it in its tracks.'
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
God is greater! An inspiring story.
God is greater! An inspiring story.
Opinion | How My Dad Reconciled His God and His Gay Son (Gift Article)
How did my dad go from hating homosexuality to imploding his church by embracing me? His journal entries show how he changed his mind.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 11:36 AM
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
God is greater! An inspiring story.
God is greater! An inspiring story.
‘If God is love, what does love look like? Feel like? How much of it is the emotional energy we feel toward another person with whom we ‘fall in love’? How much of it is how we treat each other? And how much of it is woven into the fabric of the lives we lead?
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
What is love?
Not a riff on the 1993 Haddaway song, but an invitation
open.substack.com
February 2, 2025 at 9:42 AM
‘If God is love, what does love look like? Feel like? How much of it is the emotional energy we feel toward another person with whom we ‘fall in love’? How much of it is how we treat each other? And how much of it is woven into the fabric of the lives we lead?
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
Reposted by Ryan Sirmons
A new exhibition opens at Hatton Gallery Newcastle 1st Feb - 'Sustainable Clay'.
Industrial production of ceramics once thrived in the North East. Artists are taking an experimental approach to using clay/sustainability.
hattongallery.org.uk
📷 Cumbrian Blue(s), Sellafield No:9, 5/5. Paul Scott.
Industrial production of ceramics once thrived in the North East. Artists are taking an experimental approach to using clay/sustainability.
hattongallery.org.uk
📷 Cumbrian Blue(s), Sellafield No:9, 5/5. Paul Scott.
January 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
A new exhibition opens at Hatton Gallery Newcastle 1st Feb - 'Sustainable Clay'.
Industrial production of ceramics once thrived in the North East. Artists are taking an experimental approach to using clay/sustainability.
hattongallery.org.uk
📷 Cumbrian Blue(s), Sellafield No:9, 5/5. Paul Scott.
Industrial production of ceramics once thrived in the North East. Artists are taking an experimental approach to using clay/sustainability.
hattongallery.org.uk
📷 Cumbrian Blue(s), Sellafield No:9, 5/5. Paul Scott.
What does the kingdom of heaven look like? Perhaps it is to know you have ‘enough.’
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
January 26, 2025 at 9:55 AM
What does the kingdom of heaven look like? Perhaps it is to know you have ‘enough.’
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
Reposted by Ryan Sirmons
Exclusive: Gen Z much less likely to say they are atheist than their parents or grandparents
And much more likely to identify as 'spiritual'
But not necessarily more likely to follow a religion
Middle-aged Gen Xers are most irreligious, study finds ⬇️
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
And much more likely to identify as 'spiritual'
But not necessarily more likely to follow a religion
Middle-aged Gen Xers are most irreligious, study finds ⬇️
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Gen Z half as likely as their parents to identify as atheists
Those aged in their teens and early twenties are more likely to identify as ‘spiritual’ than older generations
www.thetimes.com
January 25, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Exclusive: Gen Z much less likely to say they are atheist than their parents or grandparents
And much more likely to identify as 'spiritual'
But not necessarily more likely to follow a religion
Middle-aged Gen Xers are most irreligious, study finds ⬇️
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
And much more likely to identify as 'spiritual'
But not necessarily more likely to follow a religion
Middle-aged Gen Xers are most irreligious, study finds ⬇️
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Reposted by Ryan Sirmons
Seems like the right day to start this. #booksky app.thestorygraph.com/books/0385c0...
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
This acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel of hope and terror from an award-winning author "pairs well...
app.thestorygraph.com
January 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Seems like the right day to start this. #booksky app.thestorygraph.com/books/0385c0...
'When our churches become the places where sacred stories are not just told, but participated in; where vulnerable adults and children can be fully participant in the life of a holy community; ... then we are letting Jesus make us into what he is, really real...'
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
The God who insists on relationships
A reflection on the Nicene Creed for Churches Together Sunday
open.substack.com
January 19, 2025 at 9:54 AM
'When our churches become the places where sacred stories are not just told, but participated in; where vulnerable adults and children can be fully participant in the life of a holy community; ... then we are letting Jesus make us into what he is, really real...'
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...
open.substack.com/pub/newcastl...