Goodhand in Banbury

Our day began with the early morning grandparent duty to pick up and take our grandson to pre-school, that is a 6.45am start, and entertainment of said youngster till 8.45 when we drive him for drop off. Once home we had time for a spot of late breakfast and coffee before we began our lenten journey by gathering at St Hugh's for the Ash Wednesday service at 10am. There was a good turn out and once more to be able to participate in an act of worship without leading was a joy. With the right level of solemnity we marked the start of this season and received our ash cross on foreheads with the familiar but haunting words. Our time of commitment and fellowship concluded with conversation over tea and coffee.  This year the Lenten theme is 'Dust + Glory' and with the C of E app downloaded on the phone each day provides food for thought.  So the journey begins towards the cross. There will be Lenten lunches on Tuesdays (12.30-1.30pm) to support Christian Aid and Thursday evening ...

Approaching moving house meant a massive downsizing and major clear out. All over the house, let alone my study, sat numerous books purchased over the years. Books are like friends and the thought of letting them go, let alone disposing of them did not appeal. Thankfully many of my theological ones found a home in Ghana where a small library was being created. Then some books had to go on the basis that I no longer thought anyone should read them, yes a little bit of censorship. Some books went via free cycle, some on Antonio Gramsci went to a good home though it was hard to let those ones go. But some how we have kept rather a lot on the basis of a challenge to "lets re read them all!!!"  The thing about our Kindles which are great to store loads of books, and make travel easier and lighter, is that our novel's have just sat there collecting dust over the years. The move however has meant, because the house is smaller, they need to earn their place in the space. So we ha...

When staying with the Iona community on the wonderful island of Iona the service on the first evening is one of welcome and often incorporates the words..... We saw a stranger yesterday We put food in the eating place Drink in the drinking place, Music in the listening place and, with the sacred name of the triune God He blessed us and our house, Our cattle and our dear ones. As the lark says in her song Often, often, often, goes the Christ in the strangers guise. (Iona Worship Book) These words over the years have increasingly meant a lot to me. A constant challenge to my preconceived ideas. A prod not to judge people when I meet them by what they look like or how they behave, and thats a tough one. Oh how I long to have that gracious acceptance of others working out from a belief that in this individual I am encountering Jesus. This continues to be a life times work.  My involvement with the Iona community has been one of the most important influences on my life of faith. I grew ...

We had a great turn out Thursday evening at the 'Table Talk' gathering. The theme being "Light a candle in the darkness" Our first challenge was to share how we use candles and what they can represent. So from birthdays to Advent, baptisms and confirmation, to remembrances and vigils, to diwali and so many other uses, we were reminded how candles help us to express hope, to recall loved ones, promises  made and so much more. Of course it was a helpful way to get people engaged in the theme. Then before we could eat we had opportunity to make candles using sheets of beeswax. It was a lovely idea and meant that they could then be used in the worship after we had eaten. After good food we shared in a liturgy which was a delight for me. Beginning with familiar words used in an Iona liturgy as three lights/candles are lit to remind us of the Trinity. Then we passed the light from one person to another with the words "May Christ bring you light' and while we did th...

Luke 4: 18-20 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me   to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour" I made a phone call to the surgery and after the expected wait a polite and helpful receptionist responded. There was then a call back from a clinician seeking information with clear questions. An appointment was made for later that afternoon. Into the surgery having done a Covid test first, negative. A wait and then a thorough examination. Prescription given, other advice and a referral to have an x ray. An appointment made to check my blood. A trip to pharmacist and collection of prescription. Next day walk into hospital and x ray taken. two days later bloods taken.  All free at the point of need. Always happy to pay my taxes that I or others when they need it can access health care. All the healt...

It seems wherever we have lived we end up changing which supermarket we go to, preferring to shop at our nearest.  In moving to Banbury we sort of had a choice but have opted for Sainsbury's. There are other supermarkets available!!! We are all aware that such companies gather information about our shopping habits. This can be a little disconcerting to know so much information is held by such companies.  So I should not have been surprised when a message came in on their app revealing a breakdown of our shopping habits since we moved here. It's amazing as it breaks down the number of total shops we have made. It tells us how much we spend on various areas from fruit and veg , dairy, bakery, household and cleaning. Then it told us our top three purchases through these weeks.  But we laughed out loud to see that we are the number one buyers of Staffordshire Oatcakes in Banbury. They represent part of our past. For we had lived in the potteries at one stage for twelve  ...

 It felt like a packed house at this month's Table Talk gathering at St Hugh's where numbers continue to grow. A real buzz in the air and once again there was an abundance of food to keep us going. The focus was John Rutter's music. So with a couple of John Rutter clips speaking about how he felt music has an ability to create community, we then listened to and attempted to sing some pieces he had written. We had in our minds and conversation how important music was to our well being, our spiritual journey, our faith.  Now I may be no singer, and when I have been leading worship, someone close to me has said "mime"   I always remind myself that John Bell of the Iona Community would never have it that someone cannot sing, "We all have the voice of an angel"!  I do enjoy music, hymns and songs, and words are very important to me. While I understood where John Rutter was coming from, and that music can enable community, I equally know that in Church life it...

 It's a common statement that people who thought they were about to die had their lives flash before their eyes. It must be a very quick movie if you're getting on in years!!  Well it was a bit like that for me at church while attending the Christmas midnight communion. As I have commented previously it's my favourite service of the Advent and Christmas period. As I sat savouring the atmosphere my mind played back a rich variety of services from the annual carol service of the Cambridge Fire Service at St Ives, to images of young people at Highlands with their 5pm service, right through to I think every church I have ever been Minister of. It was a kind of taking stock, of being thankful and knowing I've done my bit. So I immersed myself in the sense of waiting and watching knowing all that could be done had been. But one little thought kept coming to my mind. Who would light the final white candle of the advent ring? For 38 years I have taken the opportunity of lightin...

  Well having written about the houses looking very much the same a short stroll around the estate at night gives another feel to our new area. People in places have gone to a lot of trouble to bring some colour to the exterior of their homes and so bring a little festive delight to those who pass by. You can only hope that the lights are all LED's otherwise some folk will be increasing their electric bills this Advent and Christmas season. Not everyone has splashed out to the extent of these homes, many are more subtle.  I wonder how the lights reflect the personalties inside? What is clear is that while in so many ways "the little boxes" look the same, seeing the houses lit up in different reminds me the lives lived within will be varied and rich. I hope people are all able to enjoy this important time and maybe, just maybe, the true light that comes into the world will illuminate both little box and lives within.

Over the years people would say to me "It's your busy time of the year"  Well these characters were well used over the years in many places and now left in Sheffield for the BB to use. I wonder if they have appeared? Advent and Christmas has meant for 38 years being 'extra busy' with additional services and activities on top of everything else. In my first appointment there would be Midnight Communion at my Hilton Chapel and at least two services on Christmas morning at my village chapels Somersham and Earith before back to St Ives for a third service a united act of worship with the local URC. No wonder I always enjoyed Boxing Day more.  Of course many of the Advent and Christmas services were special not least because we used to have children and young people involved. The 5pm Christmas Eve service at Highlands was always full and candlelit.  Wherever we have lived Midnight communion has always been the most special service for me as we wait knowing all that can...

Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes made of ticky-tacky Little boxes on the hillside Little boxes all the same There's a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same And the people in the houses All went to the university Where they were put in boxes And they came out all the same And there's doctors and lawyers And business executives And they're all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same And they all play on the golf course And drink their martinis dry And they all have pretty children And the children go to school And the children go to summer camp And then to the university Where they are put in boxes And they come out all the same And the boys go into business And marry and raise a family In boxes made of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same There's a pink one and a green one And a blue one and a yellow one And they're all made out of ticky-tack...