"ASECLUDEDPLACE"

As part of my little boys bedtime routine each night we make space for 2 stories before settling down for sleep. One of the books we were reading recently was the well known children’s book Kipper and on the inside page I saw the author had written a note to their readers: “What any author wants is for his books to become dog-eared and familiar ...”. There is something sacred about a book that invites us back. Some books are written to be consumed once — quickly, lightly, lik

Are you good at waiting? Are you good at listening? Are you good at taking notice of what you hear and acting on it? It can be difficult in our busy lives to take the time to wait, to listen and then act on what we hear, can't it? I wonder if that is how the disciples felt as they sat in that room, waiting, listening and ready to act. After all they had experienced so much at Easter and after it. The sadness of thinking they had lost their friend and then the joy when Jesus w

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 I have recently been journeying through the CF Resource All for Jesus, Jesus for All, beginning with the first session, The Divine Community. This time has invited me not only to learn, but to pause and reflect more deeply on the very foundation of my faith — who Jesus is, and what I truly believe. At the heart of the Christian sto

Happy Monday! Hope you have had a great weekend. I love listening to Premier Praise - especially Josh Carr in the afternoons. He always asks on a Monday what was your takeaway from the weekend? What did you learn at church or what will help you through the week? I was at Brierley Green celebrating their 200th Anniversary last Sunday and at the end the Minister Rob Cross said: "As you go remember we haven’t just been to church, we are the church and when the church is the Chu

As I write, my mind is in turmoil because the spouse of a friend of mine has passed away. Although they were extremely ill, the end came quickly and at home. This type of death requires a medical professional to arrive, undertake tests and confirm death. After this, the police arrive, secure the scene, and gather evidence, in case there was foul play. Not surprisingly, the process was very upsetting for my friend. Thankfully, the process has been completed, and the death cert

Scripture Reading: John 20:24–29 Eight days after the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were gathered again behind closed doors. The excitement of the empty tomb had begun to settle, yet uncertainty still lingered in their hearts. Among them was Thomas the Apostle, who had not been present when Jesus first appeared. Thomas carried a burden many of us understand—he could not simply accept what others had experienced. He needed to see for himself. He said, “Unless I see the

Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Today, Easter Monday, may feel a bit of an anticlimax after the joy of Easter Day but it is still Easter and as Christians we are ‘Easter’ people. As the phrase goes, Jesus isn’t just for Christmas. Likewise, the resurrection isn’t just for Easter, resurrection hope is for every day. Jesus is for every day. Looking back on Lent, the events of Holy week and Easter Sunday, let us take time to reflect. Our personal Lenten

Read Psalm 139:1-18 So what is mindfulness? Google offers us a description: “Mindfulness is the practice of consciously focussing on the present moment with openness, curiosity and without judgement”. My mind is usually so full of activity that mindfulness is not something that I naturally or easily achieve. However, I sometimes feel I get near a state of mindfulness when I go for a walk and rather than focussing on my feelings and thoughts, I try to focus on God. I will ask

“Why does it always happen to me?” “Why does it always rain on me?” “Its just my luck.” “Things can’t get any worse.” I am sure we have all said these things, haven’t we? Said a prayer to God: “I cannot take anymore Lord.” From a personal point of view, 2025 was one of the hardest years of my life for one reason or another. However, my faith always remained strong, believing in the Lord that he would support my family and I through whatever may come. How many peoples in the

In the busyness of daily life, we often rush from task to task, carrying responsibilities, worries, and expectations. During Lent, we are trying to slow down, reflect, and return our hearts to God. The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42 offers a gentle but powerful invitation during this sacred season: to pause, to listen, and to rediscover what truly matters. In the story, Jesus enters the home of two sisters. Martha welcomes Him warmly and immediately begins preparin

So we have entered that time again - Lent, Holy Week, Easter and the aftermath. It doesn't seem all that long ago we were putting the Christmas decorations away, and now the shops are full of Easter eggs and all around us we just see the first glimpses of promised spring. This is such a special time of year. I mean don't get me wrong Christmas is great - all those festivities and lights, food and parties, but as a Christian people, for us, Easter is where it really is at. For

Lent is often described as a journey through the wilderness. Whether you approach Lent from deep faith or simple curiosity, you likely understand what a “wilderness” season feels like — times of uncertainty, stretching, waiting, or letting go. Lent invites us to slow down and pay attention in those spaces. It asks gentle but searching questions: What do I rely on? What do I hold too tightly? Where am I being invited to trust? Two short biblical stories shine a light on faithf

When I am stressed, my wife tells me to “take a chill pill" . This is not a request, option, or choice. It is a clear signal that I need to stop what I am doing, take a break and assess the situation impartially. By impartial, I mean as a detached observer who gathers all they can see, hear, and feel. I also need to note my reactions. This is the essence of mindfulness. You live in the present and take note of what is happening by using all your senses from a non-judgemental