I’ve just returned from a week in Taizé, the community of brothers in France who welcome thousands of young people and pilgrims each year. This was my second visit – different from the first, and yet somehow the same. Different people, same God. Different theme, same rhythm. Different worries, same peace. As I journey home,Continue reading “Singing Faith, Sharing Hope”
Tag Archives: peace
Lent 2025: Anointing, Abandonment and a Peace that holds
It’s been another busy day. This morning we held a Chrism Mass – a service where the oils used for anointing are blessed, and clergy and lay people have the opportunity to renew their vows of commitment to God. There were hundreds of people on site; the car park was full, the congregation sang withContinue reading “Lent 2025: Anointing, Abandonment and a Peace that holds”
Lent 2025: Our Fruit
Some days, a passing comment can stay with you, nudging your heart, stirring a quiet reflection. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he writes about life by the Spirit, and the fruit that shows in our lives as a result. It’s one of those Bible lists I learnt by heart growing up: “The fruit ofContinue reading “Lent 2025: Our Fruit”
Lent 2025: The most common command
If you had to guess the most common command in the Bible, what would you say? Love your neighbor? Pray? Actually, it’s ‘Do not be afraid!’ Throughout the Bible, that command is given over 200 times (people disagree on the exact number, and I haven’t counted them all). That seems like a pretty significant commandContinue reading “Lent 2025: The most common command”
Music soothes the savage breast – lent 2023
I once asked a friend what they did when everything got too much, on those days where basic functioning was difficult. There are times I’m sure when most people will experience that. Stress can trigger it or grief or disappointment or… well, let’s just go with the knocks of life. My friend told me thatContinue reading “Music soothes the savage breast – lent 2023”
An oasis of tranquility – lent 2023
There is a story of a king who offered a prize for the best painting of peace. I may have told this tale before. Thousands entered and there were paintings of sunsets, of beautiful summers days, of rivers lazily winding their way between trees, of mirror like lakes with perfect reflections, of the night skyContinue reading “An oasis of tranquility – lent 2023”
Bigger picture – lent 2023
Sunday has come around again already, so another comic from ‘Joyful Toons’ – this one for anyone who is struggling. Its easy to loom at the things that are going wrong and focus on them, but if you want, look around at the good stuff as well. Try and remember that God has a biggerContinue reading “Bigger picture – lent 2023”
40 day challenge day 11.5: ‘Seek him in his temple’
So apparently, in order to make lent last 40 days and stretch from Ash Wednesday to Easter, it doesn’t include Sundays… So, post 11.5. Rather than a full blown post, I’m gonna keep it simple. I was reading Psalm 27, and verse 4 stuck with me: One thing I ask from the Lord, this onlyContinue reading “40 day challenge day 11.5: ‘Seek him in his temple’”
40 day challenge day 1: The Power of Prayer
OK, so off to a good start. One day, one post. Can I keep this up? I hope so! I know I’ll feel richer for it at the end and hopefully some of you reading will to. Spending a little while each day focusing on who God is certainly can’t do any harm… So, whereContinue reading “40 day challenge day 1: The Power of Prayer”
Hunting for God: Worship 4 (a little late!)
So, I’m back! Got the final week of exploring worship to write about, so I’ll start there. I had a really interesting conversation with a friend about what counts as a song of worship. There are a lot of Christian songs out there, but do they all count as worship songs? My friend made theContinue reading “Hunting for God: Worship 4 (a little late!)”
The Reason for my Hope Blog 