Welcome to St Clare’s Blog
The Old Testament in Ten
A ten-session bible study course designed to help people have a clear grasp of the Old Testament story and the most important themes, events and people. Introduction In 20 years of ministry both in parishes and now as a pioneer minister, one thing seems consistent. People lack confidence about the bible and in particular theContinue reading “The Old Testament in Ten”
Christ the King Meditation
Sunday 22nd November is the Feast of Christ the King. This meditation has been written to be used with the image on one of our Gazing Cards, copies of which are available to purchase from our online shop, or the image could be shared on a screen. The text is below or you can downloadContinue reading “Christ the King Meditation”
Love Thy Neighbour
Helen, a member of St Clare’s Community asks: What does it means to love our neighbour? In turning to God and responding to his grace we are called, in love, to love and be loved. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us a lot about love, love is not the emotion it is often diluted to, itContinue reading “Love Thy Neighbour”
Finger Prayers
Sometimes, it’s not until something is taken away from you, that you realise how important it is. I hadn’t realised until lockdown, how much touch was an important aspect of our worship at St Clare’s. The hugs and handshakes as we arrive and at the peace; the feel of the bread in your hands andContinue reading “Finger Prayers”
Gazing Prayers 2020
2020 has been an extraordinary year. Knowing how to process, how to reflect, how to pray about everything that has happened is challenging. As St Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans (chapter 8, verse 26), “we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep forContinue reading “Gazing Prayers 2020”
Good Friday 2020
Matthew 27: 45-54 45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘ThisContinue reading “Good Friday 2020”
Maundy Thursday 2020
Matthew 26: 36-46 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved,Continue reading “Maundy Thursday 2020”
Wednesday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 26: 6-16 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why thisContinue reading “Wednesday of Holy Week 2020”
Tuesday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 22: 34-40 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and withContinue reading “Tuesday of Holy Week 2020”
Monday of Holy Week 2020
Matthew 21: 2-14 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”; but you areContinue reading “Monday of Holy Week 2020”
Prayer Trees
Our worship idea for March is hardly new… Prayer Trees! Lots of people use prayer trees in their churches or in worship, and our prayer trees were one of the most popular items on our stall at the Christian Resources Exhibition.Wanting to have a physical expression of our prayers is nothing new. Lighting candles is probablyContinue reading “Prayer Trees”
Paul the Polar Prayer Bear
Our February ‘worship idea’ is the story of Paul the Polar Prayer Bear, who began as a way to help us pray, but has become so much more… You will need: A cuddly toy A great name Your imagination… Introduction It all began when Naomi, one of our clergy heard about Bob the Intercessorsaurus, whoContinue reading “Paul the Polar Prayer Bear”
A Story of Coming and Going, led by angels.
This is the story of one of our very first members at St Clare’s. A story of how she found us, and left us; a story of angels and of God’s healing love. It shouldn’t be like this but sometimes it’s very difficult going to church. Especially if there are tough things happening in yourContinue reading “A Story of Coming and Going, led by angels.”
A box of blessings – Saying goodbye well in church
During 2020, we will be trying each month to share an idea for worship that has worked well at St Clare’s. We have often adapted other good ideas we have stumbled on, and you will no doubt do the same with our thoughts. This first idea is ‘A service of sending on’ for when someoneContinue reading “A box of blessings – Saying goodbye well in church”
The Trauma of the Cross
Listening to the Passion Narrative on Palm Sunday, I winced at the description of Jesus’ humiliation, torture and death. It is a painful story for anyone, Christian or not to enter into, but perhaps as a trauma survivor it is particularly triggering. I still find it difficult to watch atrocities on the news, or readContinue reading “The Trauma of the Cross”
Worship at Home on Christmas Day
For many reasons, not everyone can make it to church on Christmas Day. But we can all find a few minutes to remember God with us, to hear the Christmas story, to give thanks, and to pray for the world. This simple liturgy is designed to help us do this. It can be prayed aloneContinue reading “Worship at Home on Christmas Day”
Christ the King
This time last week I was in Berlin. I was privileged to be part of a group of clergy from the Diocese of Coventry visiting communities of the Cross of Nails in that great city. For four days we heard extraordinary stories of people working so hard to bring reconciliation to that great city. Stories of past,Continue reading “Christ the King”
Why I Love Board Games
I love board games. I always have done. I still remember the glorious triumph of finally beating my Auntie Pat at Scrabble for the first time when I was seventeen (it’s possible I’m a bit competitive). I was in hospital at the time, but she wasn’t going to let a small thing like that stopContinue reading “Why I Love Board Games”
Gazing Prayers
How do you connect to God? It won’t be the same answer for everyone, so at St Clare’s we like to try lots of different ways of praying. One thing we’ve found is that most of us really value having something visual to focus on, and one idea that has really worked is ‘Gazing Prayers’. InContinue reading “Gazing Prayers”
I came back to God in a wetsuit!
My journey to St Clare’s by Ruth Nelson Thirteen years ago I was a member of my local parish church and even in a leadership role. However, I wanted a more relational type of church gathering and what did all that church thing mean anyway? Locally there was a group of people in their twenties whoContinue reading “I came back to God in a wetsuit!”
Stations of the Cross
INTRODUCTION Reflecting on Christ’s death is an important part of our spiritual journey. We can do this at any time, but Holy Week is the week in the church calendar when many Christians put aside time to think about Jesus’ last days and crucifixion, culminating of course with Good Friday. One way that many Christians use toContinue reading “Stations of the Cross”
The Tale of the Travelling Beech Tree
All sorts of interesting people pop in to St Clare’s during the week; to shop, to browse or just to chat. Last week, an older man came in and had a quick look around, before settling himself down into one of our lovely chairs, clearly ready to pass some time with me. We got chatting,Continue reading “The Tale of the Travelling Beech Tree”
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.