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Scones

I love scones. However, they must be the most controversial treats available. People can’t even decide how to pronounce them – is it scone to rhyme with ‘gone’ (favoured in Northern England, Scotland, Southern England, Home Counties and East Anglia) or scone to rhyme with ‘tone’ (Eastern Midlands, Ireland, Essex, Cornwall)? The source of the…

Give me strength

Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. (NIV) Thinking I expect that you, like me, have from time to time used the expression, “Give me strength.” Perhaps you…

No moaning!

In 2003 a series of 4 TV programmes was recorded entitled “Grumpy Old Men”. The title was taken from the 1997 film which starred Jack Lemmon. In the TV programme, narrated by Geoffrey Palmer, a number of famous men between the ages of 35 and 54 aired their grievances about various aspects of modern life…

FATIGUE

Before I share a dictionary definition, let me ask a question. Do you ever suffer from Church fatigue?  One definition states “extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness,” but in the context of the question, I prefer a comment from an old man some years ago: “My get-up-and-go has got up and went”. This subject…

Pardon?

My family have been claiming that my hearing is deteriorating. I claim it is selective hearing! However I agreed to have a hearing assessment. As part of the assessment the audiologist asked many questions to try and illicit what sort of hearing loss I might have, if any. One of the things I have noticed…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 23rd August 2026

21st Sunday in ordinary Time                     Year A                                                 23rd August 2026 Lectionary Readings:  Isaiah 51 v1-6;    Psalm 138;     Romans 12 v1-8;    Matthew 16 v13-20           The Invisible Mentor The person of God not mentioned explicitly in today’s readings is the Holy Spirit. Jesus implies that the Holy Spirit is at work in the mind of…