Reflections

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, often presenting challenges that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. However, when you run out of ideas, it doesn’t mean there’s no way forward: there’s always something you haven’t thought of. The Rev Charles Burton reflects on where our trust lies. Just now, realising the washing machine had … Read more

I noticed something about myself just the other week as I prepared to journey to, across and out of London on public transport.  I had to be that much more deliberate in my planning, careful in looking for directions and assuring of myself that it would be OK! Maybe I surprised myself on the outward journey … Read more

Have you ever noticed signs appearing on newly planted tree guards saying…’’please water me!’  Maybe our hotter summers, times of drought and/or less parks and gardens staff means that after these saplings are planted out they are left to the benevolence, care, local interest, thought and help of strangers and passers-by to keep them watered and … Read more

Now, there was no burning bush moment for me, but I do deeply sympathise with Moses’s protestations in Exodus as God asked him, a humble shepherd, to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, because, although I am not totally “slow of speech and tongue”, I do struggle to share my story verbally.   I guess that … Read more

How often do we berate ourselves when we realise our reactions to others can so often be unhelpful to them and us.   This has got me thinking how stubborn I can be at times – yes this is often a kneejerk reaction, but before we have had time to consider a more mellow and easy … Read more

Stress: a simple word but one which can bring about feelings of burden, not coping and labouring under pressure.  I hear another brother of mine is now taking time off due to stress and we are so thankful it wasn’t a more sinister diagnosis!   Hopefully as someone wrote in a birthday card of mine ‘get some … Read more

For five years now we’ve been driving around with a fault message on our car dash board fearing that to rectify it would cost more than the car was worth.  Today I’m celebrating because a garage has carried out a simple cost effective remedy, so hopefully no more error messages, and a new lease of life … Read more

The Mission Statement for our Parish is: To follow Jesus in every area of our lives, by:Being a welcoming churchWorshipping and growing in faith togetherPraying and learning togetherSharing the good news of JesusServing our community I will never forget a previous boss of mine saying ‘stick to the knitting!’ in the context of his continued … Read more

I hope you have had a restorative summer!  For many families, it was a time to break from daily routines, including school runs, homework, and planning, to a more relaxed, easy-going pace.  For others, days and weeks may have changed little, except for less heavy rush-hour traffic and more time outside, enjoying fair weather and warm summer … Read more

How quickly the seasons of the year progress and pass by – you sometimes have to stop and really notice the abundance of growth around you to appreciate the beauty, fullness and splendour of spring/early summer.   Not long ago we were waiting for buds to burst open, blossom to display its colours and lawns to … Read more