The Ponderings of a Meandering Minister…
This past weekend was Autumn Soul, the Irish Methodist event for teenagers that Kathryn and I were involved with at the very beginning (including dodging the name, “October Breakaway”!). It’s thirty years since the first one in 1996, held in the Epworth Hall of Wesley Centenary Methodist Church, Bangor. It has grown and moved over … Read moreA Blessing for Autumn Soul at 30
I took this image and it connected in my mind with part of Zechariah’s prophecy after his son, John, was born: “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide … Read moreA Sunrise Blessing
I wrote these prayers for use on Pentecost Sunday, and share them here in case you might find them helpful (feel free to use/amend in worship as you see fit). We’re going to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit, for us and for the world. The response to “Holy Spirit, fall on us … Read morePrayers for Pentecost
I was kindly invited by our local RBL group to be involved in an outdoor service marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion last weekend, along with some of my church leader friends from the town. The service began with a prayer from the Parish Priest and a great sermon from the Non-Subscribing … Read moreDedication for Peace
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 have two fridges in our house. A small one in the kitchen and a big one in our utility room to cope with the overflow for our big family! I went out to the utility room to put something in the fridge this evening. The picture above caught my eye and memories flooded my … Read moreTalking About Cancer
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
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
We replaced our caravan this summer, and while there are times when I miss hotel holidays in the sun – remember when you used to bring a pile of books to read by the pool, and children were the amusing distractions belonging to other people? – I am very grateful to have this way of … Read moreA Caravanner’s Prayer
This is a very different post to the one I’ve been dreading writing for the last few days. Many of you will have heard over the weekend, the devastating news that we expected our eldest son, Timothy, to be diagnosed today with leukaemia – it was just a question of which type. Since Saturday he … Read morePrayer Works, Keep Praying!