In Harare, Zimbabwe, Emma, a devoted Christian, found herself sharing a flat with three roommates: Nyasha, Tanaka, and Monty. Each had different views on faith, and their disdain for religion often left Emma feeling isolated and sometimes confused. Nyasha openly mocked Emma’s prayers, while Tanaka questioned the validity of her beliefs with subtle jabs. Monty,…
A while ago I watched a film which had subtitles. You had to really concentrate and read them to understand what was going on in the film. My family tells me that I doze off when watching TV at night but I definitely didn’t during this film. One of the phrases used was, “hopeful music playing.”…
After twenty years having the same middle aged single man living next door, we were surprised last Friday when a van arrived, collected his belongings and the house was empty. The next day, new neighbours arrived – an Eastern European family. Suddenly we have heard unfamiliar noises from next door – the pitter patter of…
If you are familiar with Asian culture, you may know that in some countries the giving of gifts is an important part of business and social etiquette. When I travelled regularly to China, I never went without taking something to give my hosts and all-important interpreters. Likewise I never returned empty handed. Earlier this summer…
(This thought was first published in July 2022) I could list several times that I felt I could not succeed. In my early years as a teacher, I came quite close to quitting. In the late 60’s the school leaving age was increased from 15 to 16. Those who just had to stay on another…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on John 13:34-35.
One definition (or example) of a hypocrite is “someone who says they have particular moral beliefs but behaves in a way that shows these are not sincere”. One I am more familiar with is “A person who says one thing and does another”. I don’t know if readers have ever been accused of being a…
Do you ever ask yourself what opportunities do I have to witness my faith? Here in Elmsett we have a friendly and caring village community. We often, as a community, ask what the needs of that community are. Perhaps we are complacent and comfortable enough to think we do not share the needs that become…
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 31st August 2025 Lectionary Readings: Proverbs 25 v6,7; Psalm 112; Hebrews 13 v1-8, 15,16; Luke 14 v1, 7-14. Hospitality Luke says, ‘One Sabbath, Jesus was having dinner in the home of an important Pharisee, and everyone was carefully watching Jesus’. (Luke 14 v1). ‘Jesus saw how the…
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…