The Ponderings of a Meandering Minister…
Ross 
Last Friday night, as I lay down in a sleeping bag and on an airbed in a church hall, knowing I’d have to get up several times to quieten the boys in the next room, I found my heart and head simply filled with praise to God for the privilege of being there. [‘There’ was … Read moreSoul Mates Weekend 2016
I just signed a few petitions and sent a letter to our MP regarding the mounting crisis facing people attempting to escape war, persecution and poverty in their own countries, by travelling to Europe. What if every church in the UK and Ireland took in just one family? Here’s the letter:————————————— Dear Mr Shannon, My … Read moreRefugees
I had a birthday recently – not a particularly significant one but it’s been well celebrated and I’ve appreciated the warm wishes coming from friends and family that we’ve connected with over the years. I have a facebook policy where I don’t tend to post birthday greetings on other folks’ walls because I’d only miss … Read moreA Discipline Disaster
Allow me to let you into a secret – I’m shy. I know in the past I’ve found an outlet for humour, creativity and energy through drama and kids’ action songs on a conference stage, but those days are a fair bit into the past now. I enjoy preaching and leading worship and pastoral calls, … Read moreEvery Little Thing’s Gonna Be Alright
Well, there’s a title to get the twitter bots to follow me! As anyone who has ever played or sung with me in a band will tell you, I can’t remember lyrics. I wouldn’t stand a chance on the X-Factor/American Idol/The Voice. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the fifth or the five hundredth time, or … Read moreThe Story of My Life through The Best Songs Ever
I’ve been at JMC – the Junior Ministers Conference – for the last three days. It’s fairly strange to realise that I’m now in my seventh year of ministry (at least, this sort of ministry anyway): it’s like I’m in Upper Sixth of the school of post-college life already! The conference took the form of … Read moreThe Gift of Still and Thankful Presence
Forgive the Methodisty nature of this one – I was at a day of teaching and reflection on the nature and calling of the church on Saturday. As a denomination (a family of over two hundred congregations), we’re hearing a call to fluidity, relying on our identity in Christ, being ready to set aside yesterday’s … Read moreStatues of Liberty
As the song goes, I could feel it coming in the air – the friendship noose was coming ever closer as person after person succumbed to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Started as a prank nomination thing on the internet, it took on a charity edge when an American organisation related to Motor Neurone Disease was … Read moreIce Bucket Challenge
There have been a number of suicides in our area recently, a tragedy that has reared its head before but had been more calm for a while. Our church is connected to one of the grieving families and so I was present for the funeral of a beautiful young woman the other day. The depth … Read moreHelp and Hope
You may have heard of ‘Back to Church Sunday‘ – it started in England about ten years ago, encouraging local churches to have one Sunday a year where every member had the chance to be an evangelist in a low-intensity manner: invite a friend to go to church with them. There was an initial flurry … Read moreInvite, Welcome, Befriend