Pearl of Hope

  There are some places that mean a tremendous amount to me. One of those places is The House of Retreat in Pleshey (you can find out about it here www.retreathousepleshey.com).  It means a lot to me because, when I am there, I spend with a wonderful group of people who hold a special place […]

Blue Monday

  As I checked my e-mails this morning, I discovered that today is known as “Blue Monday”.  Apparently this is known as the most depressing day of the year.  Pay day seems a long time ago, and there is still a wait for the next one.  The weather is miserable, even in the normally tropical […]

Heartfelt

  I have been away at a conference recently. The Fresh Streams conference is an absolute must for me. I have attended this conference for a number of years and, as soon as booking opens, I get my name on the list.  now and I try and get in as soon as booking opens.  I love […]

A New Year Revolution

I was catching up on a bit of reading the other day when, a passage really caught my imagination and I asked myself the question; shall I make this my resolution for 2018? I am sure I am not the only one out there who makes New Years Resolutions – I hope!  Over the years […]

How was Christmas for you?

The other day, it occurred to me, that there is a part of the nativity story that we are (perhaps not unsurprisingly) silent about.  It happens just after the Magi have been to see the infant Jesus (I know strictly speaking Epiphany).  Joseph is warned by an angel to flee with Mary and Jesus to […]

…and the angel danced

Nativity! As a minister, of a few years experience, I can tell you quite a few stories of church nativity plays.  I have seen quite a lot over the years!  I have seen Herod have full blown tantrums.  Mary sobbing at the site of an audience.  Baby Jesus dropped in a manger (I must point […]

I wanna be….

There used to be an advert for a well-known insurance company that began with the words I wanna be… my favourite ones were; A slug A tree A brain surgeon But my favouritist of all was the couple.  The man said “we wanna be together” and the woman’s face told a different story! I remember […]

Mind Your Language

Some of my readers may recall a situation comedy that was on TV in the mid to late 1970’s called “Mind Your Language”.  It was about a tutor faced with a class of foreign adult students learning basic English at an evening class.  Thankfully, this sort of program would no longer be made.  It’s racial […]

Tearing My Hair Out!

Have you ever felt like tearing your hair out?  I don’t have a great deal left but, this morning, that’s how I felt!  I felt completely overwhelmed by things today.  A lot to do, in fact, I dare not look at my to do list, a full diary and if there is any light at […]

Fireworks!

It’s the 5th November as I sit at my desk to write this reflection. I love bonfire night!  The big kid in me gets excited by fireworks – sad I know but, I cannot resist the colours and noise of this ‘celebration’.  You see, I am not sure if celebration is the right word when […]