A lot of us find partings difficult to handle.  You only have to stand on a station platform or airport departure area to see people hugging, perhaps crying, and waving sadly as they go their separate ways. Looking back on my life experiences I think some of the hardest goodbyes I have said were to…

Do you think that food cooked outside tastes better? I have certainly enjoyed food cooked on barbecues on a number of occasions, though there have been one or two instances of my making discreet  use of someone’s kitchen bin to dispose of a burnt offering! Barbecues have certainly become more popular in Britain recently despite…

After we have changed the clocks at the end of March, I start looking forward to the light summer evenings and always hope to make the most of them while they last. Sometimes I do nothing more than water the garden and dead head a few plants, but it is so lovely to be outside…

In a previous “thought” I shared with you two of the stories Nigerian Christian women wrote down for us in the World Day of Prayer service.  They shared information about their lives, and how their faith has helped them to overcome challenges. Today I am covering another story from a woman who lives in the…

Are you a lark or an owl when it comes to times of rising and going to bed – or somewhere in between the two? I’ve never been a lover of early mornings. I was fortunate that, when I was working, my job did not require early mornings, just a 9am office start.  I was…

I can now greet you from the other side of Easter, hoping you have experienced something of the joy of that day from attending a service, reading something in a book or online, or listening to a Radio or TV programme in the last few days. I have continued to think about Jesus’ disciples and…

As I am writing this thought for Holy Week, I am continuing to think about the way Jesus was let down by his disciples in his most testing and agonising last hours before his crucifixion.  Following Judas’ exit from the Last Supper meal Jesus sings a hymn with his disciples and they go to the…

I am writing this thought knowing that it will come out as we prepare to go into Holy Week.  Some of you will already have planned to attend reflective services, where we aim to travel in remembrance with Jesus through this difficult and hugely testing period in his earthly life and others will be doing…

On March 7th I went to a World Day of Prayer service at a small chapel near to my home village. Once called the Women’s World Day of Prayer, the name has now been changed and it was good to see 5 or 6 men there, enjoying the privilege of sharing in this service which…

The artist Rembrandt painted a beautiful picture called “The Return of tbe Prodigal”, probably one of his last works, completed in the last 2 years before his death in 1669. In the picture the prodigal son kneels before his father receiving his blessing and forgiveness after his time of rebellion and absence. The picture portrays…