Discernming the people, the communities and the church we are called to be at this time and place
Discernming the people, the communities and the church we are called to be at this time and place
Last New Year’s Eve my friends were staying. My closest friend married 20 years ago and the three of us have journeyed together since. Our friendship has been enriching and challenging, joyous and stressful, with all the potential imbalances of…
I was walking through Yeovil to spend Boxing Day afternoon with friends. This poem caught my eye in the window of an empty shop. Yeovil is a small rundown town once the home of glove-making – covered the hands of…
As well as setting off with a new group of students, I’ve invited the last cohort to tell me about their experience of the CMS Certificate. I’ve got a questionnaire called Pathways which they get in advance, and then I…
From St Ives they came… from Poole, Bath, villages across seven counties. A half-excited half-apprehensive crew of dreamers caught up in the movement of God’s Spirit. Preparing to set off on a learning journey to an unknown destination. Less poetically…
What causes that sense of awe? One thing is how far ahead God can plan. All our rational thoughts deny that God could set something in motion that will happen across millions or trillions of minutes. How could God ensure…
We started the Bath and Wells annual Grand Rumpus Meet yesterday with 20 minutes of awe and wonder. Everyone present was invited to share a moment of awe they had experienced recently in connection with pioneering. It was a feast…
Over and over again I heard people writing about this ‘strange’ Easter…and about how we wouldn’t be able to celebrate it in the ‘usual way’. And I wondered – with some frustration – when did Easter become unstrange? and usual?…
It happened again. It always happens when I’m on a course. However insightful it is, however much I learn, I always end up feeling on edge and dissatisfied and mildly envious of the contributors. Then my customary self-liking dries up…
I’ve been in Russia at Easter three times, and I’m thankful for the experience of a Russian Orthodox Easter. I’m thankful for the mysterious pageantry of the Easter vigil, the priests in their gold and white robes, engaged in a…
Re-reading yesterday’s post today I realise how quickly I slipped out of ‘thankful’ mode into ‘appraisal’ mode. Thursday’s post was a ‘thank you’ letter, that came from a place of gratitude and shone a light on the people who had…