I’m old enough to recall the battlelines drawn in the 1980s over church worship. The church that Karen and I attended back then was still using the 1936 Methodist Hymn Book together with the original edition of Songs of Fellowship. I remember vividly those people who would enter the church; approach the table stacked with…
You may well be wondering why there’s a photo of a tube of toothpaste with this thought. For nearly two weeks I’ve thought this tube is almost empty. Every time I go to brush my teeth, I think that this is bound to be the very last bit of toothpaste but each time there’s always…
While visiting my daughter and her children last week, my youngest grandson tripped and fell onto their hard stone kitchen floor. Later we found out that he had put his top teeth through his bottom lip. At the time, all we and he could see was lots of blood. Through his tears and sobs, he…
One last thought about the remains of our cherry tree. When the tree was felled, we decided to leave the main part of the trunk and some limbs as a place to secure bird feeders and on which to train something else. It took a few months to stop dithering between roses, honeysuckles and wisteria…
Today’s thought for the day is brought to us by Dr Frances Clemson, Faith Communications and Just Scripture Specialist at Christian Aid. www.christianaid.org.uk Something to read Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come!” Luke 17.1. Something to think about Our faith doesn’t…
This week, our bite sized service reflects on Psalm 103:1.
Reading an article a little while ago, I was amazed to read a comment that referred to a well-known politician as “a committed Christian.” I found myself questioning why I was surprised. Was it his politics, the way he spoke, the policies he supported – or sadly, how he looked? In the following few days,…
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 24th August 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 58 v9b-14; Psalm 103 v1-8; Hebrews 12 v18-29; Luke 13 v10-17 Compassion trumps ‘Religion’ In today’s gospel reading, Luke recalls an incident where Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath and upsets the local worship leader! The man in charge of…
Have you ever stopped to think how really busy this time of year is? For many of us, for differing reasons, time must seem in short supply. For some there is the harvest, endlessly ensuring you beat the rain, rushing to cut the crop whilst the sun shines. For Methodist’s, September onwards brings endless meetings,…
“You’re not alone and you’re not the one in charge. Ask for help when you need it and give help when you can. I think that is how we serve God–and each other and ourselves–in times as dark as these.” These are words from a book I’m reading at the minute. My friend Jean loaned…