Steve Morris

• Loneliness in older people is a scandal. Here's what one church is doing about it

  There is an epidemic of elder-loneliness on our doorsteps. Churches can set up memory cafes and do something about it – and create new communities at the same time.

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  Does preaching work? A thought-provoking conversation at the crematorium

  Preaching is harder than you think. Especially as people don't seem to remember what you say.

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  If we were allowed to vote by majority on the existence of God, who would win?

  'To honour any person in a discussion about God, for instance, we need to be prepared to change our own mind if we realise that we are wrong.' Theatre review – Four star review for Majority at the Dorfman, National Theatre London

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  The things people say – snapshots from a parish priest

  Sometimes I wonder if it's people getting tongue-tied or intimidated by the dog collar. Perhaps it is the one occasion where the sheep can have a bite at the shepherd.

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  Vicars need to challenge us, like Jesus did. So how can they stop telling bad jokes and start telling good ones?

  As we face the uncertainties of Brexit and Trump we all need a good laugh it seems. But there's much more to it than that. What can we learn from the art of stand-up? What has comedy got to offer and can stand-ups help us to reinvigorate the way we speak into the situations and challenges faced by our communities?