I love the part of a baptism service liturgy when the congregation are invited to remember their own baptism. I remember mine, at the age of 16, at Southfield Road Gospel Hall in our small town in North Somerset, back in the ‘80s. I remember approaching Len, one of the elders at our Baptist Church,…
My favourite ceanothus is alive this morning with a dozen bees. This is its peak week, its bright, deep blue flowers visible from way down the street. As I watch, I can hear the buzz of the bees, and a squabble of honeyeaters in the roses down the side of the house. Right now, there’s…
Tolstoy wrote, “rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.” Folks often miss out the “love for one’s neighbour” part when quoting it. I myself was quite happy to carry the “love for one’s neighbour part” with me on my retreat, but only on the condition that I…
Earlier this year, I found myself in my mum and dad’s dining room back in England, sorting through a collection of old report cards, artwork and memorabilia from my childhood. Here in Australia, I keep two shoeboxes of my own, full of concert ticket stubs, cards and letters – a story of old relationships and…
Yesterday, I had an appointment with the periodontist, then an appointment with the medical imaging nurse, and then an appointment with the doctor in fairly close succession. There was though, the briefest opportunity to stop off between appointments and wander out to a spot I know in Belair National Park. Here the first blue fairy…
My little cottage is near the eastern end of a row of six narrow cottages. None of us have fences to speak of, so at sunset I can stand in my front garden and look across all the gardens at the flowers and shrubs and the setting sun. Over the years, I think I’ve seen…
Just the other day was an anniversary of sorts. It was exactly six years since I stepped out in faith, leaving behind a 30-year career in data analytics, and followed a call to ordained ministry. I’d already been moonlighting with Kairos prison ministry and using up all my leave to be a student chaplain at…
I’m probably showing my age, but I do love Facebook. It helps me to keep in contact with friends and family overseas, it holds hundreds of photos and stories from the past 17 years, and I follow many advocacy and social justice groups – so it helps me keep informed about legislation or rallies or…
For the last twenty-five years, every time I’ve been on holiday, I’ve bought something for the Christmas tree. It has become something of a tradition. Each year, shortly before Christmas, as I decorate the tree, I remember all the places that I’ve been, the adventures, and the people. One by one, the ornaments come out…
Today is my first day “back to work” after a month’s leave, which saw me return home to England. Today has been a busy but typical Monday. I’ve reviewed this coming Sunday’s sermon which I’d written some weeks ago, selected the hymns and liturgy for Sunday, prepared next week’s service for a residential home, thought…