Cal Sullivan

Christmas can be quite a lonely period filled with the stresses that come with it, from finances to planning get-togethers, meals and gifts. The result of this can be that the real purpose of the celebration of Christmas sometimes gets a bit drowned out.

Lucy Holt

This reflection is sent out after schools finish for the holidays. So I write it in the carol, jumper, pantomime filled chaos which is the end of term. Many of the extras are joyful and wonderful, but it can also be overwhelming and leave us desperate for a rest.

Ian Revie

We’ve had a lot of family weddings this year. We’re also seeing a few older friends' relationships falling out of love and into turmoil. Why do relationships form and fail? Does this apply to husbands and wives, are other relationships equally as valued and sensitive?

Helen Francis

Delight in Me, as I delight in you.I brought all this to be,because it was a joyful thing to do, and joy is woven into every part, not least in the believer's heart, where it will live and light and warm, throughout the cold, and dark and harm.

Louise Harris

Just like the weather, life in my family is very variable right now. There are good days and bad days, sunshine one minute and rain the next and the forecast is uncertain. The last few weeks have been particularly challenging.

Joy Revie

My friend’s mother was getting frail and moving into an assisted living home. She was both happy and sad at the same time. Sad that her mother was no longer able to look after herself, but happy she was closer to her and would now be safe both day and night.

David Francis

The ‘Celebrity Traitors’ has just finished and the parting words (“I was, and always have been, a Faithful!”) sent the remaining participants into dismay - realising they had voted incorrectly to banish the one they were certain was a definitely a traitor.

Cal Sullivan

Over time I have been reminded of the grace of God and His true love for us. It would be so easy for Him to rule over us with fear, to force us to follow His ways and to make salvation by works the only way to experience eternal life.

Lucy Holt

This week I've felt very aware of the changing season. Modern life insulates us from many of the seasonal changes. Still, it is a healthy rhythm to notice the seasons and how traditions and spiritual life can resonate with nature.

Ian Revie

Most of my working life just now is about identifying and supporting small corrections to people's intended direction, and giving them encouragement by looking back at the journey to find that what we had previously worked on had become successful.

Helen Francis

Recently, the book I'm reading focussed on words from some of the carols and, despite having heard them repeated every year for decades, something new jumped out at me. The carol in question was "While Shepherds watched".

Louise Harris

Feeling weary can come in many different forms, it may be physical tiredness, mental exhaustion or perhaps a spiritual struggle. We may just simply feel we have too much on our plates as we juggle a whole host of responsibilities.

Joy Revie

I wonder what it was like to live with Jesus and to share in the routine of daily life both before and during His ministry. I imagine He was fun to be with; kind, gentle, inspiring, funny, authentic, full of integrity and fearless when calling out hypocrisy.

David Francis

Monopoly is a game that should cement families and friends together, but often intense disputes can arise! It’s only a game but bitter rows and arguments can occur. Real life relationships, involving houses and money can get even more serious.

Cal Sullivan

It’s been another week in the world filled with stories of a lot of people expressing their views, being angry at a person or group of people. In times like these it is important to remember that we follow a loving God, who loves and sacrificed His only Son for all.

Lucy Holt

Over the summer someone recommended the book ‘Naked Spirituality’ to me. (Spoiler - it’s not about being actually naked!) It’s about meeting God with honesty in different seasons of life. Looking at different prayerful interactions we may have with God.

Sheree Morris

I was reading Genesis the other day and came to the scene where Lot’s wife was turned to salt. I first thought that seemed a bit harsh but, the more I read and pondered, the more I realised that actually this was a really important message that God wanted us to hear.

Ian Revie

I have enjoyed the summer church out in our communities, we have seen and been involved in getting to know each other better over this summer - we have spent much more time sharing than we do when we normally meet in our school venue.

Helen Francis

At the beginning of August I unexpectedly had time at home alone, four days in fact. For me this was a first. I’d had one previous experience of two nights away on my own, but I was in a retreat situation so not really alone.

Lucy Holt

Our family have just returned from a wonderful week away. The holiday gave me a wonderful space to develop, practice and discuss the different rhythms in work and rest I have been reading and reflecting about recently.