Every day we post a Thought for the day written by someone within the circuit. Some are very light hearted and some are very deep theologically with all bases between covered.
We hope these will encourage, uplift and make you reflect but most of all we hope you enjoy reading these small daily snippets and take some inspiration on your daily journey
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15)
What do you think about Mary the Mother of Jesus? In the Middle Ages Mary was always shown as golden- haired, clothed in white and blue with white skin; she would quite literally be placed on a pedestal in so many shrines and churches . The idea was believers needed her to pray for them…
About thirty years ago, when our girls were very little, the Church in Bradford that we used to attend held a Christingle service at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Over the years, the Christingle service became a part of our Christmas tradition and we would attend every year, then spend the rest of Christmas Eve with…
On the day that covid vaccines began arriving in the UK my wife, Dawn, saw a newspaper headline which said ‘The day that hope arrived’ and had a picture of a lorry disembarking from a ferry – presumably carrying vials of vaccine. Dawn subsequently used this in an on-line talk and pointed out that in…
A hundred years ago my grandparents, and many like them, were having their first family Christmas. They had been married for just over a year and had a new baby (though I am not sure I like to think of the revered aunt Mary like that). Christmas 1918 was close to the end of the…
With cranberries, it’s the bounce that counts. According to Science Digest, processing cranberries involves pouring freshly picked berries down a series of step-like boards. At each level, only the berries that bounce over an eight-to-ten-inch barrier pass the test. Each berry gets eleven chances. Those that fail are discarded. Some fruits are judged by their…
Alongside this reflection is a picture of one of our Hampers of Hope. These Hampers will be delivered over the next couple weeks to some Nursing Homes in the Felixstowe Mission Area of the Ipswich Circuit and also to anyone who requests one for themselves or requests one on behalf of a neighbour who might…
When Charles II entered London on 29th May 1660 to reclaim the throne which his father lost, hewas preceded by a kettle drummer and four trumpeters. The musicians acted as heralds announcingthe imminent arrival of someone of great importance – the King of England.John the Baptizer performed a similar function for the imminent arrival of…
Why do we remember John the Baptist at this time? Doesn’t he belong in Lent with the Baptism of Christ? John reminds us of the need for self-examination and for saying we are sorry. John ‘s baptism was one of repentance. This gives us comfort and hope – God is always ready to forgive us…
I mentioned a few weeks ago my love for the James Herriott books and over the years I have enjoyed reading the books and watching the films and two television series based on his stories. Alf Wight, the author is reputed to have been a very entertaining story teller, recounting his early experiences as a…
This year social interaction has changed for us all. We can no longer greet our friends with a hug or even a hand shake. We have learnt to socially distance, we have experienced more outside gatherings and historically, it has been the birth of video telephony. All of these changes have meant an absence of…