Excess baggage
Excess Baggage Dear Friends, Jesus said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) I grew up with what has been described as the Protestant work ethic where being busy was high on the list of commendable behaviours. I’m not good at letting go of imagined desperately […]
July – Minister’s letter
July – Minister’s Letter Dear friends. During a holiday week early in June I took the opportunity of a sunny day to visit Rievaulx Abbey. It is a ruined Cistercian monastery in North Yorkshire and is a beautiful and peaceful place. Although much of its original splendour has been destroyed, the structures that remain have […]
Gardening
Gardening For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…a time to plant… (Ecclesiastes 3:1) As you may recall, I like gardening, although I am far from being an expert. I enjoy watching “Gardener’s World”, entranced by Monty Don’s expertise and passion, and, of course, his canine accomplices Nellie and Patty. […]
June – Minister’s Letter
June – Minister’s Letter Darwen is a Lancashire mill town, nestled in a narrow valley just south of Blackburn. The Tower (with spiral steps leading up to an observation platform) was opened in 1898, primarily commemorating Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, but also a victory for the local people over a landowner, re-establishing their right to […]
Creation – it is GOOD
A prayer by Christian Aid’s Global Theology Advisor, Bob Kikuyu Great God, Who makes the sun to rise, and opens the heavens Hear the cry of the people Who sow in hope for rain, but reap only despair Hear the cry of the people Seeking shelter from the storm, their hopes and homes submerged Hear […]
Mr & Mrs Cleopas
Mr and Mrs. Cleopas Musing on the story of Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas encountering the risen Jesus as they travelled the dusty road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, I came across this advice from an unexpected source. Charlie Chaplin lived for 88 years and left us the following statement: Nothing is for ever in this world, […]
May – Minister’s letter
May – Minister’s Letter This is a busy time of year for major festivals in the church, isn’t it? There is quite a lot to reflect on in the space of a couple of months, from life to death to resurrection to ascension. It must have been quite a roller-coaster of emotional energy for the […]
April – Minister’s letter
Dear friendsAn “inherited” saintpaulia (African Violet) had an old, thick stem sticking out of the pot, which had stopped flowering, and the leaves were wilting one by one. I carefully took off a couple of still healthy leaves and suspended them over a jar of water, placing them in the corner of a windowsill. […]