It's a really scary thing to write a book, especially a fictional book. It's like opening a door in your mind and letting everyone see inside! So I am full of admiration for my friend Cathy Hemsley who has published this story, which you can buy here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gifts-Cathy-Hemsley/dp/B0962N5GRJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2T3CL2SJ0Q01B&dchild=1&keywords=the+gifts+cathy+hemsley&qid=1628244016&sprefix=The+Gifts+Cathy%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 It's a fantasy type story in that... Continue Reading →
Something that holds everything together
Physicists have been looking for some time for the 'theory of everything'. The theory of everything is a hypothetical framework explaining all known physical phenomena in the universe. Basically there are a set of scientific rules that explain very large objects (relativity) and there are another set of understandings (quantum mechanics) which 'explains' how very... Continue Reading →
Outward Change
What makes a new place feel like 'home'? After the last blog on 'inward change' this one is simply about our recent changes with not too much in the way of deeper reflection. It's mostly for those of you who have followed our progress through our recent move but haven't managed to visit us yet.... Continue Reading →
Inward Change
Part book review (The Midnight Library by Matt Haig) part reflection on finding yourself in a new location. When it comes to moving, I do have fair amount of experience: I think I moved 5 times before the age of 10, most of which were over thousands of miles and since we've been married we... Continue Reading →
A ‘silent’ retreat at beautiful St Beuno’s
If the idea of a 'silent' retreat doesn't appeal... let me try to persuade you and clarify. Firstly you are not totally silent. You do speak to a spiritual director once a day at the same time each day and he/she helps you attend to your inner world and attend to how God may be... Continue Reading →
Grief and glory: the thief on the cross
In case any of you want to revisit one of the first sermons I gave at St Peter and St John's in Nov 2013 (how lovely that St Andrews Benn school featured right at the start and right at the end of my ministry here) One of my first sermons here Nov 2013 This week... Continue Reading →
Is the promise enough?
This is the text of my last Sermon May 16, 2021 Sheila’s final Sunday at St Peter and St John’s This morning as we are all too acutely aware we are thinking about leavings and endings. And our two readings address those two themes. Jesus at the end of 40 days of appearances to his... Continue Reading →
10 Reasons why the world is better than you think
This is a review of the book Factfulness by Hans Rosling which was published in 2018. But if ever there was a time to read this book it is NOW! Yes, okay, it was written pre-pandemic, but it addresses 10 of our most basic human instincts and why, if we trust our instincts rather than... Continue Reading →
God is a ‘who’ not a ‘what’ and why that matters
Earlier this week I had an interesting conversation with someone from generation Z. They didn't announce themselves as being part of that generation but later the same day I was reading about the characteristics of this generation and I realised that the young man I had met was most likely a Z-er - a post-millennial... Continue Reading →
Remembering or forgetting – which is better?
Today is a national day of Reflection in the UK. There will be a minutes silence at 12 noon. This day has been chosen as it marks the first anniversary from the first lockdown in response to the pandemic. Other countries will have their own anniversaries and key dates but this is ours. And we... Continue Reading →
