This thought was first published in October 2020 I have recently been reading “Rewilding the Church” by Steve Aisthorpe, a mission worker in the Scottish Highlands. Taking his cue from recent rewilding initiatives in agriculture & forestry Steve argues that something similar should be happening in the Church. “Rewilding” allows natural forces to “take the…
This thought was first published in June 2020 As we watch our tv screens, read newspapers, listen to radios follow our social media feeds the world can feel anything but peaceful. This can cause us deep unease at times – even as Christians. However, when all around us feels like absolute chaos we can depend…
November 2022 Preaching Plan
Cobwebs, of which there are many, are something to be be brushed away in my house. No sooner has one been removed, than another appears. However one misty morning recently I noticed this beautiful cobweb in our front garden. It was hanging complete between the stalks of various plants in a flower bed, and was…
Twenty-nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 16th October 2022 Lectionary readings: Genesis 32 v22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3 v14-4 v5; Luke 18 v1-8. Present or Future? Luke recalls a story that Jesus told his disciples about a crooked judge and a persistent widow in order to illustrate how the disciples should keep…
The Cross and the Swastika by FT Grossmith Word Publishing, 1988 125 pages out of print ISBN 978 0 850 091 526 The author presents an unusual insight and perspective on the Nuremberg trials held after the end of the Second World War. This is the story of Major Henry Gerecke, an American army chaplain…
Dear friends, Channel four are currently screening their modern adaptation of the James Herriot story “All creatures great and small” I loved reading the books, more than once and whilst I loved the original BBC story screened from 1978-1990 starring Christopher Timothy, I love the new series. I often find that when we have had…
Back in 2016 The BBC screened the first series of the BAFTA award winning drama series “The A Word” which tells the story of the Hughes family who live in Cumbria and are coming to terms with the truth that their little boy, Joe has been diagnosed with autism. Joe’s parents go through the agony…
I was brought up in the countryside in Northern Ireland and my uncles were farmers. I have many memories of very happy days running about the fields with my siblings but also of helping to work in those fields. This time of year was such an important time when the crops were harvested and 60…
As I reflect on the Queen’s funeral, two of the most enduring images are the little slip of paper that one of the clergy dropped accidentally by Her Majesty’s coffin and the amazing ‘Tall Man’ who led the procession in front of the hearse. The royal family were amazing, the pomp and tradition were awesome…