Anniversaries and Birthdays I recently had a week of annual leave and, while I didn’t travel very far, it gave me the opportunity to mark a few special anniversaries and birthdays. On 9th June 1996, I was ordained deacon in Dromore Cathedral. My year had hoped to mark our 25th anniversary of ordination by getting […]
Mind Matters One of the things that we have become much more conscious of since the pandemic is the state of our mental health. Many people went through very traumatic things over that time and there was a growing consciousness of how important it is to be able to speak to someone about these struggles. […]
Trying to Make Things Grow I don’t know if it was a rush of blood to the head or some things I have been reading, but we have started to take a bit more interest in the garden recently. Last summer, one of our projects was to dig up a bed at the front of […]
Farewell to Jurgen, Planning for Succession There were emotional scenes at Anfield, the home of Liverpool Football Club on Sunday past, as Jurgen Klopp took charge as manager for the last time. Liverpool beat Wolves in the last fixture of the season and many were in tears as they saluted the contribution of one of […]
The Fabric of Our Lives Do you ever find yourself thinking about those people and places that are part of the fabric of our lives? For most of us the people and places we think about will be unique to us and to our circumstances. I found myself flicking through an old photograph album I […]
Going for Growth A social media post caught my eye earlier this week from the writer, theologian and pastor, Pete Greig. He observed some happenings in recent times which had encouraged him after 25 years of 24/7 Prayer, the prayer movement that he has been involved in leading across the globe. Last Friday in Hackney, […]
Good Losing When it comes to late April and the bank holiday weekend in May, there are a lot of eyes glued to events in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield where the World Snooker Championship has been played for many years. There has been talk in recent years about moving away from this iconic venue, […]
World Earth Day Yesterday, 22nd April, was World Earth Day. I’m not sure I would have been aware of this fact unless I had listened to a wonderful daily Bible reading App called Lectio 365, which is available to download for free. I have recommended it before in the blog because I find it so […]
Reviving Houses and People There’s a fantastic show on RTE television called the Great House Revival. It’s presented by an architect called, Hugh Wallace, who accompanies people on a journey of restoration of old properties. Often these properties have fallen into a state of disrepair and, for all intents and purposes, look like a ruin. […]
Losing Your Voice So, Easter Sunday came, the pinnacle of the preacher’s year. ‘Christ is Risen!’ declares the famous Easter greeting. ‘The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!’ comes the congregational response and then those glorious Easter hymns ring out proclaiming hope, the new life that Christ brings, the transformation that is possible through his risen […]