The Ponderings of a Meandering Minister…
I had the privilege of taking a Sabbatical along with holidays from July to October 2022. It had been delayed by four years due to moving station, caring for the family and covid, so it was great to finally have an extended period of leave after fourteen years on circuit and a fair amount of … Read moreSabbatical Reflections
We spent last weekend in a beautiful place with good company and wonderful weather. From our campsite the views were stunning and the sunsets were spectacular. I was completely awestruck by this beauty after a long winter of lockdown. I even volunteered to do the late night dog walking just to see the last glow … Read moreBoth/And
It’s time for a moment of honesty. I got up early this morning before the rest of the house. I had some work to do that required the quiet of a calm house and was planning to get a head start. As I often do when I plan to work early I end up spending … Read moreRuins
Often during Lent I either give up something or take up a new practice. One year I gave up sugar in my coffee and never took it up again. One year Ross and I gave up TV – a habit we resumed very quickly as soon as Lent was over. Then there was the year … Read moreHouse of Miracles
We went on a little trip on a ferry today to visit Donegal. We took the boys to Malin Head and then visited a beautiful beach just outside the village of Culdaff. When I was 16 or 17, one of my friends in school had a caravan beside this beach and we used to go … Read moreWe didn’t know…
It’s a beautiful morning and I’m sitting outside with coffee and breakfast in the sunshine before the noise of the day starts. It’s a Bank Holiday weekend. It should be the perfect, relaxing day… However, it’s not! Even sitting in the sunshine that’s warm already at 8.30am there’s no escaping what’s going on in the … Read moreAsk, Seek, Knock
Ross and I have worked from home in various capacities during our adult life. This has changed as we have added more kids to our brood and while we have dealt with childhood cancer in our household. We’ve had to learn how to make it work in the middle of difficult situations – sometimes this … Read moreThe wonders of working from home!
On Remembrance Sunday 2016 I was standing at the war memorial in Ballynahinch, chatting with another minister before the Remembrance Ceremony about getting ready for the birth of our fourth child, who was due almost a month later. Little did we know, that by the following Sunday the baby would be born and our eldest … Read morePreacher, Preach to Yourself
When life is challenging it is not unusual for people to talk about the goodness of God. One person says… “How can you still think God is good?” Another says… “God has planned this for good”… I’m going to clear this up to begin with… There are a few things that I don’t believe to be … Read moreThe Goodness of God
Another great post from Kathryn! Yesterday was my last day in the office before Christmas. We had our Christmas party and some of us won’t see each other again until 2020. Others have a few days’ work left yet! As I drove home, rather than feeling the usual excitement of finishing work for Christmas, I … Read moreThe Best Christmas Possible