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”
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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”
A Three Week Transformation
It’s just three weeks since we were given the keys to the building that would be St Clare’s. We had just three weeks to transform a tired and somewhat neglected building into a warm and hospitable space, ready to open our doors on St Clare’s day. It’s amazing what you can achieve in three weeksContinue reading “A Three Week Transformation”
An Ending and a Beginning
This morning we told our current parishes in Leamington that we would be soon moving on. This is the sermon Charlotte preached to explain where and why… You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world, you, God’s precious people in this church. This morning I have some importantContinue reading “An Ending and a Beginning”