Anthony of Egypt

St Anthony lived for over a hundred years from 250 to 355. These were turbulent times for Christianity. The first half of his life was during the reign of the emperor Diocletian, who put many Christians to death in an attempt to stamp out a religion that would not bow to the authority of the state … More Anthony of Egypt

Being disciples of Jesus

William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury during the 1630 and 1640’s, this was a very tumultuous period of English history right before the English Civil War when to two rival factions were fighting for dominance, (sorry I’m a historian and I love this period, I’ve really had to restrain myself here), I think it’s fair to say that these factions have several different names … More Being disciples of Jesus

He Ain’t Heavy

On Monday 19 July we heard the story of Albert and Albrecht Duerer, which was followed by a reading from the Gospel of John, in which Jesus commands us to love each other as He has loved us, and that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends; and we are Jesus’ friends if we do as He commands. One of the comments in response to this was, “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” … More He Ain’t Heavy

Lockdown Blessings

This article first appeared in the July 2020 issue of the parish magazine. Here it is again for you to reflect on:
For many, lockdown has been an incredibly difficult time of worry, isolation, ill-health, boredom and captivity. It has been tough, and will continue to be so for many months to come.
For others it has offered opportunities and blessings. I am fortunate to be in this group … More Lockdown Blessings

Celtic Spirituality

The Christian life is one of continuous conversions and crises as we deepen our faith. Throughout our life, we undergo a number of conversions with regard to our relationship with God. Spirituality is the process of allowing ourselves to grow in Christ through these conversions and ultimately, it allows us to grow in love by reflecting the divine. Spirituality focusses on how we live out our lives as Christians – it is something that cannot be seen as separate from our everyday lives. As Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words”. In other words, spirituality is a way of life … More Celtic Spirituality