I started university in 2001. That seems like an impossibly long time ago now, although I regularly believe that I am still 19 years old. I arrived at Edinburgh University not really knowing what to expect, just happy to be in a big city far from home. Before leaving home, I was given all the... Continue Reading →
Unexpected good-ness
I really did not want to have church in our house last night. I had been in Birmingham the day before (on a day-course on church and gender post-Christendom - interesting stuff) and I still had Halloween costumes to make (!), so I really could have done without church. But one faithful soldier turned up... Continue Reading →
Multi-body part expression church…*
Catchy, no? Today I was hanging out with the Mennonites and Anabaptists who were co-hosting an event entitled “Multi-voiced Church”, led by Sian and Stuart Murray Williams who co-authored a book with the same name. I have read the book and enjoyed both the style and content, so today seemed like a good opportunity to... Continue Reading →
Looking for wisdom
I found this lovely little piece of writing while researching for my talks at Fleet Camp this weekend. It is an ancient story, told by the author and spiritual leader Joan Chittister: "Where shall I look for enlightenment?" the disciple asked. "Here," the wise one said. "When will it happen?" the disciple asked. "It is... Continue Reading →
Doing it wrong…
As I get back into my normal 'working' week after being away in Northern Ireland with our friends visiting DH's family, I read this post from Jamie Wright and it really resonated. The picture of church that Jamie paints of kids running everywhere, people chatting (I mean, really telling you how they feel) and general... Continue Reading →
For the love of Prague
I arrived in Prague in the sweaty heat of August 2006. DH and I had been married just over a year and we were here to try to figure out what we should be doing with our lives (obviously that was going to only take a year or so!) I began my Masters in Applied... Continue Reading →
Rhythms, neighbours and food…
Living in TH naturally means that I have Muslim neighbours. It is part of the reason that our family moved to Tower Hamlets: to live our lives alongside people of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds to us. I love that my children will grow up with children from such different places and cultures than their... Continue Reading →
The BBC making me cry… again
I never normally cry watching documentaries about cabbies. But this evening I ended up watching 'Toughest Place to be a Taxi Driver' from the BBC. A number of people had commented on Facebook about it and my curiosity got the better of me... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r9yw6/Toughest_Place_to_be_a..._Series_4_Taxi_Driver/ It's the story of Mason, a London cabbie, who goes to... Continue Reading →
Speed prophecy?
I have been away at a training course this weekend that focuses on training people in marginalised places for church planting and ministry. I have really enjoyed this weekend and the people that I have met and connected with. In particular I have felt challenged about how I actually connect with people in my neighbourhood... Continue Reading →
Church… simples!
On Saturday I went down to Bristol for an event entitled ‘Simply Church’, asking the question, “have we made things too complicated”. It was an interesting day, thought-provoking and also a bit weird. Stuart Murray Williams was one of the main contributors, with Ben Taylor and Nick Bradshaw also leading sessions. As always, Stuart’s thoughts,... Continue Reading →
stumbling hopefully in the right direction 