As we approach Holy Week, I keep thinking of a comment made to me recently about the wealth of the Church. Whether that wealth is in the ornate buildings bequeathed to us from past generations or in the ownership of land and financial assets the point made applies just the same. The thought shared with…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on 1 John 4:9-12.
Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Dr Frances Clemson, Christian Aid’s Faith Communications and Just Scripture Specialist. First publication date on www.christianaid.org.uk May 2023 Living Stones Something to read …like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house… – 1 Peter 2:5. Something to think about What are you…
A TFTD, referring to active prayer, reminded me of the time I visited a church for possibly the first time. As I entered the church, each person was handed a blank piece of paper and a hymn book with the comment “I have no idea what this is for but the minister has asked us to…
Sixth Sunday in Lent/Palm Sunday Year C 13th April 2025 Lectionary readings: Isaiah 50 v4-9a; Psalm 31 v9-16; Philippians 2 v5-11; Luke 23 v1-49. Do we really listen to God’s servants? The prophet Isaiah says, “None of you respect the Lord or obey his servant. You walk in the dark instead of the light; you…
We recently held a “Vision Day” at Elmsett. It has been a long time in the preparation – the first suggestion that we hold such an event was over 5 years ago! We also received prompting and reminding along the way. Our opening questions included, Why? What? How? A common theme that came through was…
Luke 12:6-8 ‘Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn’t forget one of them. Even the hairs on your heard are counted. So don’t be afraid, you are worth much more than many sparrows.’ In a small, remote Mutenherwa village in Zimbabwe, there lived a young boy named Saul. Surrounded by vast…
Matthew 26 v 43 says, “When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.” Many years ago, I couldn’t understand why my mother had little catnaps in the afternoon. I am now my mother. So often, in the middle of the afternoon, when I’m watching a quiz show, just as…
There can’t be many people in the country who haven’t heard of the Netflix series ‘Adolescence’! Many will have watched it already; our children and grandchildren will be watching it in school as part of the discussion about the dangers of modern living. For me, the saddest part was when the father realised what his…
Isaiah (43:18-25) reminds us of some important key tenets of faith when he urges God’s people to ‘forget former things’ and urges them that God also ‘remembers former things no more’. In between these two important themes the prophet points out the people’s failure to approach God, whether in sacrifice or prayer. The United Free…