This is a question I’ve overheard several times during this past week. Our Church tree arrived last weekend and was set up on Tuesday. Hopefully it will be decorated by some of the younger church members on Saturday, ready for Sunday. Every family has their own tradition as to when the tree goes up and…
Looking back just over a fortnight I am still thinking about something that happened, almost unnoticeable but significant. I prepared a short address for the Remembrance Sunday Service that included a reflection on the Latin words from which are derived the word ‘Armistice.’ On the Friday night I turned up at the Church to rehearse…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on John 8-12.
Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Cath Taylor (Reproduced from ‘Seeds of the Kingdom’ www.ellel.uk) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10, NIV Our twin Grand babies are one year…
I recall preaching at an evening service at a church in Colchester, and at the end of the service, an elderly gentleman walked slowly to the front and, after the closing Amen, knelt and said, several times, “Lord save me”. No, it wasn’t the result of dynamic preaching, as this man had faithfully served as…
I was preaching recently at a local church and my theme was “are you half empty or half full?” One of the hymns I chose was that well known hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal: Take my life, and let it be…, The hymn proceeds through various parts of the body including hands, voices, lips, brain…
First Sunday in Advent Year A 30th November 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 2 v1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13 v11-14; Matthew 24 v36-44. Living in the light. The apostle Paul wrote these timeless words, You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up.…
I have to confess to being a Bruce Springsteen fan, at least a fan of his earlier albums back in the 1970s and early 80s. The turning point was the release of his sixth album, Nebraska, in 1982. This was very different to what had gone before. Rolling Stone reviewed it like this: After ten…
The other evening, I decided to bin some of my thousands of emails. It all started very well but then it slowed down because I started to read the email before binning it. Needless to say, progress was not good and I need to get back to doing more. One email which stood out for…
A year or two ago, I hunted for a new nativity scene decoration in the shops. I could get Father Christmases on trains, deers and elves. Now I know I could shop on line, but I like to see, touch and get an idea of size and make a stand for wanting Jesus to be…