For many years I resisted the temptation to watch ‘Strictly’. Eventually I was an outsider in so many conversations from October to Christmas, that I took my sister’s advice and began to watch – first on a Saturday evening, then on a Sunday and finally succumbing to watching the spin off ‘It takes Two’ every…
Matthew 14:34-36 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him 36 and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it…
I don’t think any of us would choose to have a dose of covid, even though the illness is not generally as severe now. I recently isolated for 11 days with it, and in some ways the enforced rest did me good. I was able to spend more time reading and one of the things…
A recent Facebook post reminded me of the day I attended a bank talk on marketing by one of the executives, and he told the following story. A vicar of a parish church was delighted when his Bishop attended a Sunday morning service unannounced, especially as the church had almost a full attendance. Afterwards, as part of the conversation with the Bishop,…
A couple of weeks ago whilst we were visiting my son and daughter-in-law, my husband took the opportunity to get his camera out and take some photos of the new family. Bill, who had been quietly wandering around, was not happy and started barking at the camera, trying to chase it away. (Apparently the hoover…
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 26th October 2025 Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 14 v7-10, 19-22; Psalm 84 v1-7; 2 Timothy 4 v6-8, 16-18; Luke 18 v9-14. Better? ‘Jesus told a story to some people who thought they were better than others and who looked down on everyone else.’ (Luke 18 v9) The story…
As I reflect on my three-year journey in the Methodist Church in the UK, I find myself filled with gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been given to actively participate in our communities. Originally from Zimbabwe, attending the annual conference, providing feedback at Synod, and leading devotions at the Ipswich circuit meeting have all been pivotal…
When I pulled back my kitchen curtains on Wednesday morning I was surprised and delighted to see a beautiful robin sitting on my fence. We very seldom see small birds in our garden as there are so many seagulls and pigeons. When I lived in Northern Ireland there were two robins who seemed to spend most…
In Luke 7: 31-35 we have an amazing little parable of Jesus, where he compares the people around him to children playing. A modern day version might be: The people are like children playing at a party. First, they play musical chairs but some wont join in saying they want to play ‘pass the parcel’.…
Read: Matthew 13:36-43 It is bewildering to wonder why good and bad people are able to co-exist in the world. I am writing this on the day following the cold-blooded assault on the worship of people in a Manchester Synagogue on the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur. Today’s reading from the gospel sheds light…