News

EXAMS

For a long time, I have considered it would be more sensible for those who are “educationally challenged”, that is, those having difficulty passing exams, to be allowed to leave school earlier and be employed as an apprentice or similar thus enabling them, hopefully, to enjoy paid employment rather than attending school. I suppose my…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 1st June 2025

Seventh Sunday of Easter                            Year C                                     1st June 2025 Lectionary Readings:  Acts 16 v16-34;   Psalm 97;   Revelation 22 v12-21;   John 17 v20-26. Jesus said, “I will be one with them”. In the reading from John’s gospel, Jesus is praying for us, his followers. Jesus said, “I told them what you are like and I…

New World

I play in our local orchestra, and I will admit, this TFTD is an obvious plug for our summer concert! The pieces include the well-known New World Symphony by the 19th century Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. He often used folk music from Moravia and his native Bohemia. In 1892 he became the Musical Director of…

Politicians!

I have much respect for politicians and what they try and do for the country and for us individually, but I do have problems with those who offer great promises knowing they cannot carry them out. We can get so easily sucked in because of their verbal skills and an ability to tell us things…

Big Brother?

Do you ever feel that “Big Brother” is watching you? A couple of weeks ago I wrote about wearing my nurse’s uniform with pride. Well, today a photo popped up on Facebook of newly qualified nurses standing in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. It was taken in the late 1960’s and…

Summer or winter?

‘Would you rather it always be winter or always be summer?’ was the question posed on a recent radio programme. It set me thinking. What were the advantages and disadvantages of each scenario – cold/heat; snow/sun; inside/outside; hot chocolate/ice cream; woolly jumpers/cotton tops; long nights/long days; grey/green; ………death/life?  Not sure that it’s that clear cut. …

Do something well

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Many years ago, my boss asked me to give oversight of a factory in Northern Ireland. It was geographically absurd and so far out of my skill set as to be risible. It would be ‘good for my development,’ was the strapline! In fact, there was no one else; I did…

Open

Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Mary Walsh, a solicitor and editor with an MA in Biblical and Pastoral Theology, and who co-leads a church in Radcliffe, Manchester www.christianaid.org.uk Open your heart and mind. Something to read You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you…