Unanswered Prayers – Why?
Wow, I feel this is an area which we are all experts but rarely do we speak about this. These sessions were designed to help our prayer life, where previously...
All within 24 hours
In these days of lockdown, 24 hours feels an age. So it may be surprising to find that Mark appears to record Jesus' activity all within 24 hours! Here, we...
Hands together, eyes closed…
I always used to add "Don't forget to blow your nose"... The traditional form of prayer is one that is led from the front, but where today 'the front' is...
What a community!
Within Scripture there's a community which is described in Acts 2 which is something we might want to emulate. They don't go to a church or a synagogue primarily as...
Can Ctrl Alt Delete be a new start for us?
The National Lockdown has started...again. At least there is some certainty beyond the tiers. Nevertheless, all these restrictions do also bring more human tears, tears from misunderstanding, that burden we...
Great things which have changed us
Normally we might set New Year's Resolutions, in a vain hope to escape the clutches of the past year. And who wouldn't want to drive away from this "unprecedented" howler...
A Different Christmas?
As we celebrate Christmas in 2020 ...differently, what of the original Christmas, the first one? Imagine the scene, where two 'older' characters meet up: Two people chatting Have you seen...
It reconnects one with another
The Deacon Phoebe is commended to those who receive this letter from Paul (Romans 16:1-16). The name Phoebe is quite apt for the Season as it means Shining. She was...
Keep it Simple
Advent - a time of waiting: ours or God? The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus which does mean coming. It was understood that in the 4th and...
As we grow older we might expect the Church to develop also
Could this be Church today for the 0-100 age gap?There are some lovely models of Church. Yes, these are good but relate to the past, the way it was. Such...
Where’s God?
No, it's not a where's Wally post. Amidst this sunny weather, resembling some of the southern European holiday destinations - and with views of Yorkshire hills - this strange "unprecedented"...
The Language Barrier
Have we ever have found language to be a barrier before? As a family we once went to Dunkirk for the day. Arriving at a cafe, I took a deep...
Breaking Fast…as a community
Time of Spiritual Reflection As with many religious ceremonies and festivals, they come around each and every year. One that is beguiling in its spiritual understanding and dedication is the...
Anxiety on the footpath
But this is just the start - where we continue this and - to use the Government phrase - "ramp it up" after lockdown - to make it 'normal'. There...
Interfaith dialogue to build a stronger community
Today will be the first of four online sessions where we discuss #Hardstuff. Not 'who is eventually going to win the Premier League'; or 'when will we see yeast or...
Churches are A-Zooming!
What might we be willing to change now, and as we, hopefully, move towards the relaxation of 'lockdown'? Where as previously ministers, pastors, call them what you will, were possibly...
Jesus on a #BorisWalk
“The first words of the risen Christ in Luke’s gospel are, “What are you two talking about?” The second: “You idiots!” Pulpit Fiction - Easter 3 As we journey through...
Anxiety throughout our time
Is there a link between our past, the present and the future? I was reading the part when Jesus has come out of the tomb (or grave according to Bond...
Aisle Anxiety
I survived. Venturing into the supermarket, after queueing in the rain for a while, I surveyed the supermarket I was once familiar with but now appeared so distant. We walk...
Where do ‘we’ go from lockdown?
What are the things we need to learn from this lockdown situation? How do we support the return to normality? Currently our buildings are locked, people are not permitted to...
Is this a pivotal moment
Every Easter we may come to this time of the year with our understanding firm. We know why Jesus died, what it means to us. Easter isn’t just one day...
Which way?
As we enter the supermarket, if permitted out of the house these days, we need to follow the way. One out of the shop, then one can enter the shop....
Hello, God that I don’t believe in, do you cry?
This week is, as the one before, unprecedented. Unsure of what to do, how to be, we face "lockdown" probably for the first time in our lives. We certainly have...
Listening to the silence beyond
The rhythmic two-tone notes of the passing train is replaced by the heavy trundling of the lorries along the Halifax Road, where I live in Todmorden. The cat, awakened by...
Reflections – Saliva anyone?
Rather than a candle this week, I thought we might start with a transformative GIF. If we are stressed, it can be good to have that framework, a visible reference...
Church – a change?
We may soon be inundated with ideas on how to spend time whilst in self-isolation: be that knitting, praying, drawing or writing - even finding time to complete that 2000...
The Samaritan Women
If you can we might like to light a candle, to pause and watch as it flickers. It allows us to note our breathing, to intentionally give this time to...