Thought for the week

A peace I’d never experienced before

Siya Kolisi is the first black captain of the Springboks, the South African team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019. In his recently published autobiography “Rise”, Siya tells how he grew up in Zwide, Port Elizabeth, where he experienced hunger and violence. He said, “I would scream with hunger. It went past being…

March 28, 2022
The God of creation

The Spring has come. After the dark, wet days of winter we are enjoying bright, sunny, blue-sky days. The snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, and magnolias are blooming. People are out walking and cycling. Our spirits are lifted as we look forward to the long, warm days of summer. Seeing nature coming to life reminds us of…

March 21, 2022
The courage of Henriette Hanotte

In the dark days of war heroes and heroines often emerge who demonstrate outstanding courage. Recently Henriette Hanotte died at the age of 101. During World War II this brave Belgian lady, known by the code name ‘Monique’, assisted 100 Allied airmen to evade capture by the Germans. She escorted them along the Comet Escape…

March 14, 2022
Light shines in the darkness

The war on the people of Ukraine is appalling. The relentless bombing of cities and smaller communities wreaks mindless destruction of property and kills men, women and children. It is heart-breaking to see people leaving their homes carrying a few precious possessions with them. Little children carrying only a favourite toy. Thousands of people sheltering…

March 7, 2022
Christian faith in Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine has started as the Russian army obeys the command of President Putin. The response of the Ukrainian people has been inspiring. President Zelensky has led his people with courage, the Ukrainian army has shown skill and determination and ordinary people, both men and women, have volunteered to serve in the fight.…

February 28, 2022
The Forgiveness Project

On the morning of 14 December 2012, a young man shot his mother and then walked into Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut where he shot dead 20 children and 6 staff before turning the gun on himself. It was the deadliest mass shooting at a school in U.S. history. One of the children who…

February 21, 2022
Loving our children and grandchildren

We are all conscious of the seriousness of climate change. What we are doing now will have serious implications for future generations – our children and grandchildren. Children who have contributed the least to the climate crisis will pay the highest price. Higher temperatures will leave many families living in poverty with less food, less…

February 14, 2022
The Servant Queen

On 6 February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 70 years since she acceded to the throne on the death of her father George VI. She has reigned longer than any other British Monarch and is also Queen of 14 Commonwealth realms. The words of the National Anthem, which are a prayer, have been fulfilled in…

February 7, 2022
The Plight of Afghan People

Afghanistan is no longer in the headlines, but the plight of the Afghan people is desperate. NATO forces, who were there for 20 years, have been withdrawn. The Taliban are in power. Many people have lost their jobs, the economy collapsed after foreign aid ended overnight, the currency has lost almost half its value, the…

January 31, 2022
The story of Lisala Folau

Early in the morning on 15 January a volcano near Tonga erupted produced a colossal explosion that triggered a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. A shockwave radiated outward at close to the speed of sound eventually travelling halfway around the world. The sonic boom was heard in parts of New Zealand more than 1,300 miles away. A…

January 24, 2022