Jesus asked: ‘who do you say that I am?’

These reflections were first offered on 27 August 2017 at a communion service in Dry Drayton and a service of Morning Worship in Caldecote in a series on ‘classic gospel stories’ (following the Revised Common Lectionary).  The gospel reading for the day was Matthew 16: 13-20.

Over the last few months and week by week on a Sunday we have been hearing classic stories of Jesus.  Some stories that Jesus himself told; some stories of words of wisdom that he imparted to his disciples and the crowds; some stories of conversations that he had with others around him. 

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Mindful of September

This article was written for Dry Drayton News, September 2017.

The summer holidays have ended and new terms are starting. In the villages we hear again the voices of children in the school field. The farm fields are cut to stubble, or even ploughed and seeded, already anticipating a new start. The cornucopia of summer is now focusing down to the last few squashes, darkly purple blackberries and a bumper crop of apples.

She knelt saying, ‘Lord, help me…’

This is one in a series of reflections under the title ‘Classic gospel stories’.  It followed a reading of Matthew 15:21-28 and was first delivered in Hardwick and Dry Drayton churches in their communion services on 20 August 2017.  This particular Sunday followed a week in which neo-Nazi demonstrators clashed violently with others in Charlottesville, Virginia, and a terrorist suicide bomber killed a number of civilians in Spain.

They devoted themselves to prayer

These are reflections I offered at a 9.30 service of Communion in St Peter and St Paul’s in Dry Drayton for Sunday 28 May 2017, the Sunday that fell in the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost and during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ call to pray.  The day’s Bible passage was Acts 1:6-14.

They were all there, Peter, and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,

Easter ‘Faith at Home’ with the family

Here are two ideas for exploring the Easter story at home this weekend.

Some of you will have seen the animation The Super Cool Story of Jesus at the Easter Fun Morning in Hardwick.  Following on from The Well Good News of Christmas, Dai Woolridge and Emma Randall have teamed up again to bring you this captivating account of how Jesus

4 ideas for things to do in Lent

This short article was originally published in the March 2017 editions of the village newsletters the Dry Drayton News and, in slightly adapted form, the Hardwick Happenings.

Lent begins this year on 1 March.  Here are some ideas for things to do in Lent for families and all ages.

At the start of Lent, traditional Christians read the story of Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4: 1-11). Remind yourself to step aside from busy activity if only for a moment by making a Lenten ‘desert’ sand tray and placing it somewhere in your house where you can pause each day for a mindful moment as you feel the sand.

More book ideas for Lent

These book recommendations were first published in the Feb-Mar 2017 edition of Lordsbridge Life.

Beth is interested in forming an informal discussion group after Easter with anyone reading Justin Welby’s book.  Get in touch with her direct if you are interested via bethcope@lordsbridge.org

Feast + Fast by Christina Rees (published 2010)
A spiritual and culinary exploration of Christian traditions around fasting and feast in Lent and Easter. A fascinating book, which is both accessible and thought-provoking – and has good recipes!