Charles Plumb was a navy jet pilot. On his seventy-sixth combat mission, he was shot down and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured and spent six years in prison. He survived and now lectures on the lessons he learned from his experiences. One day, a man approached Plumb and his wife in a restaurant,…
Here we are in what should be the depth of Winter. Plenty of hard frosts but no sign of snow yet in East Anglia. Christmas is over and we are into a New Year. Already the bulbs are coming up – a sure sign of Spring. The birds are eating me out of house and…
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 5th February 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 58 v1-9a; Psalm 112 v1-9; 1 Corinthians 2 v1-12; Matthew 5 v13-20 Understanding the mind of God. Jesus said, “Don’t suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the prophets. I did not come to do away with…
The Old Testament reading set for today is the introduction to the life of Ruth. Naomi and her husband are forced to live in Moab because of famine in the land of Judah. They have two sons who marry women native to the country of Moab. Sadly Naomi’s husband dies and around 10 years after…
We have a wonderful event at one of the Churches in the Ipswich Circuit. Tea and Toast happens on a Friday morning and offers a free breakfast to people in the large residential estates around the Church, and it is good to see families from the neighbourhood coming into the Church and having a lovely…
When my husband and I moved to Felixstowe over seven years ago I started walking every day. One day I walked from Martello Tower to the Spa Theatre. It was about 4.30 and quite a pleasant afternoon. When I turned at the Spa to go home, I was astounded by the most amazing sunset. The…
On 27th January every year we are asked to remember the Holocaust and the theme this year is “Ordinary People”. It is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and recognise that genocide does not take place on its own; it is a steady process which can begin if discrimination,…
I have previously referred to the sound of a woodpecker busying itself in a tree across the road from my study window. Noisy but rarely visible these pretty little birds are strangely alluring (to me). Over the last few weeks one of these friends has become braver and now feeds on the bird feeder that…
The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel and Garry Pooledvd Zondervan, 2006 8o minutes £17.50 This is a well produced, six-session investigation of the scientific evidence that points towards a creator of the universe. It is built around the possibility of group discussions following each session although the group discussions are easily omitted. The…
I’ve just re-read the story of Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. I love this story. It’s not a life and death situation. It’s to do with someone not doing their job properly, not ordering enough wine and Jesus stepping in to save their embarrassment. It’s a story of…