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 *1) and speaks to Mary. How does that relate to me? "Don't touch me for I have yet to ascend to my Father"John's Gospel Chapter…Read more Anxiety throughout our time

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 down each aisle, in a trance: watching for that separation of 6 feet - equivalent to an expensive sofa or couch - trying desperately to…Read more Aisle Anxiety

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 congregate, our lives are "not normal". Well, what is normal? We may see that Nature, in this crisis, positively heals. The lagoons of Venice, the…Read more Where do ‘we’ go from lockdown?

This Easter is so different

Welcome to this, a framework for a Reflective Zoom service, as we consider what Maundy Thursday might mean to us today. We will hear some words, take time to ponder on our day. We will hear some Scripture, praise God in song, reflect upon a modern day perspective of the traditions of today, and then…Read more This Easter is so different

Living it not just talking it

This post was originally written prior to the #CoronaVirus Crisis. Hence consideration should be given to how we might consider this in the future, rather than in the here and now. John Wesley once got into hot water because he questioned whether the very people who were teaching the next generation of leaders were living…Read more Living it not just talking it

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 the inner rumblings of its stomach, I don't doubt, slowly meanders across the room in search of someone to feed her. And amidst this noise,…Read more Listening to the silence beyond

Can we look forward to more one-to-one contact?

Popped into Asda today to find people giving every one a wide berth but sharing stories as they inspected the hand sanitiser shelves, devoid of any container other than some shampoo someone had discarded. We have also seen incidents of people fighting over the last few rolls of toilet paper - necessitating arrest! This was…Read more Can we look forward to more one-to-one contact?

Choppy water anyone?

I recall, back in 1989, flying from Mount Pleasant airport to the South Georgia as a navigator in the Hercules C-130 to drop airmail. As we descended into the bay (right to left, below) the pilots flew the aircraft towards the centre of the expanse of water, where an inflatable boat was positioned nearby. The…Read more Choppy water anyone?

It was never about fear and shame

Do you remember playing in the street? In my childhood, a few years ago, I recall playing cricket with my best friend, Paul. We played every day. The wicket was the entrance to the coal bunker in the car port. How we didn’t drive my Mum mad with the ball repeatedly hitting the walls and…Read more It was never about fear and shame

I am ready to go…

Are we ready to go? When we speak of death we talk in hushed tones, or do we look at our feet not wishing to engage eye-to-eye with the one we are in conversation with. Why is that? The Todmorden Death Cafe met today at Todmorden Central Methodist Church - it's a great venue for…Read more I am ready to go…

Are we ready for Foreigners?

From this morning's service at Todmorden: Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.Nations shall come to your light, and…Read more Are we ready for Foreigners?

The Source for 2020

I was driving through the Derbyshire Dales recently. The road snaked through the valleys, perhaps not as pronounced as the ones near to where I live in West Yorkshire; nevertheless, you could see the natural beauty. The colours of the hills, fresh from further rainfall, were a mixture of greens and the rich autumnal blend…Read more The Source for 2020

What story might we tell?

This was today's Christmas Day service at Todmorden. We welcome you all here today to celebrate Christ’s birth. At the end of this service we will depart to tell others of Jesus’ story.  Lord Jesus Christ, your birth at Bethlehem draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth: accept our heartfelt praise as…Read more What story might we tell?

Blue Christmas 2019

What if the Christmas celebrations are not 'for you' this year? The anniversary of a loved one passing on still brings tears, or that it is so difficult to keep up with the demands of 'buy, buy, buy', or you just want to withdraw from everything as 'you feel worthless'. The Blue Christmas time of…Read more Blue Christmas 2019

What Christmas are you looking for this year?

It's Christmas time when the churches are bedecked with tinsel on Christmas Trees, oranges with cloves poking from every side and candles adorning, and a myriad of different Carol services or midnight Mass'. It is one of the special times of the year when people do 'flock' to the church. Isn't it weddings, deaths, Easter…Read more What Christmas are you looking for this year?