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
Love
TDOR 2019
"The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. With so many seeking to erase transgender people - sometimes in the most brutal ways possible - it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice"Gwendolyn Ann Smith…Read more TDOR 2019
Which glasses to choose?
Once some animals went to Heaven. The Golden Labrador asked God if it could sit on his left side, to keep him company. The Alsatian asked God if it could sit at his right side, to protect him. The cat said to God "you are in my seat". We have a cat. We live in…Read more Which glasses to choose?
Where to go? Walk on by?
I'm on holiday. The weather is fair, the people wonderful and the language very confusing. I have learnt the word pansement this year, as it has been useful to help with the blisters that have ensued. The trains have been so punctual, and clean! OK an attempt at picking our pockets occurred on the first…Read more Where to go? Walk on by?
Going on Holiday?
As we possibly consider a ‘staycation’ or ‘vacation’ this Summer, I wonder how we see ourselves. The English are often known for grasping the finest intricacies of the foreign language, by speaking ‘s l o w e r and louder’ - ‘that should do it we think’… Well our own language is a mixture of…Read more Going on Holiday?
Ashing to Go?
The day after Shrove Tuesday (a la Pancake day) is Ash Wednesday. It seems that this is either noted in ecclesial circles with an Ash Wednesday Service including the Ashes or is forgotten about altogether. It may not have strict biblical foundations but it can be seen as providing symbolic resonance to the start of…Read more Ashing to Go?
Where do we fit?
For some people they have lived in the valley all their life, for others they have moved every few years. When I left education it was expected that we should enter a profession for life. Now, for many, we can move between jobs to gain additional opportunities, despite that causing possible difficulties with stability. But…Read more Where do we fit?
Todmorden Faith : Same Sex Marriage
Welcome to the first meeting of the monthly 'Faith' group where we look to establish a way to become an even stronger community in Todmorden, willing to engage constructively with matters of faith. But first: Is faith relevant today? What does faith actually mean to you, to others? One aspect of any successful community is…Read more Todmorden Faith : Same Sex Marriage
Spies
If you were a spy, what information might you be looking to gain, to bring back? Who would you be delivering that information to? How might you gain that information? In the Old Testament we hear of Joshua, Caleb and others leaving the safe confines of the Desert of Paran to secretly go into Canaan…Read more Spies
Redefining Church for today?
I read this Tweet yesterday : "When did we see you at the border and turn you away?" And Jesus said, "Whatever you did to the thousands of Guatemalan men, women, and children at the Texas border, you did to me." @NathanIRoberts How should the Church react to such a plea? The writer of the…Read more Redefining Church for today?
Bums on seats?
On 28th October 312 Christendom was born. That battle between Constantine 1 and Maxentius saw the former seeing a vision of a cross of light and the words “in this sign, conquer”. Many centuries later, the Enlightenment occurred, reasoning was used with science to critique Christianity. Perhaps in John 17: 15-16 where we read “in…Read more Bums on seats?
For my friends setting out in ministry
This blog has really engaged me, positively, as I prepare for ministry myself. It contains wise words, from the other side, from within ministry and it speaks back to those who are starting out and also for those within ministry. It also highlights the need for all to be watchful over our mental health -…Read more For my friends setting out in ministry
Pride afterthoughts
It was an incredible day, one we will remember for a long, long time. We go to Pride each year to celebrate the diversity in people’s lives, to show that the Church really does care and value everyone, be willing to be vulnerable and apologise for past (and possibly current) behaviour - it wants to…Read more Pride afterthoughts
London Pride 2018
Someone turned up the heat, added an alternative such as #SweEng and STILL the people, possibly a million, thronged London's streets to celebrate humanities diversity...and with so much joy. Here we reflect on what we saw of Pride, trying to capture what we saw, felt, experienced. This year's Pride march definitely contained more of a protest…Read more London Pride 2018
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