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The preacher at my ordination service was my College Principal, Revd Dr Barrie White. In a section of his sermon aimed specifically at me, he warned that ministry wouldn’t always be easy. There’d be times when I might feel completely out of my depth, worn out by the responsibility, empty of anything useful to give […]

We are now well into Lent: time to picture Jesus after the commissioning of His baptism being driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. That meant climbing up from the lush green Jordan valley to the dusty dry heights of the Judaean wilderness. This place and history were significant for the Jews, reminding them […]

In the last few days, those of us residing in South Gloucestershire have seen the return of our recycling collection, after several weeks of doing without while a pay dispute rumbled on. The latest offer to the union involved has gone to members’ ballot for acceptance (or not!), so we still don’t know if we’re […]

It’s only a little bird, this pipit, no bigger than a Robin, fairly undistinguished in appearance, grey brown-above, slightly speckled and almost white underneath. But it’s rather special, for it’s only found on the Canary Islands and Madeira. It’s called Berthelot’s Pipit, named after the 19th century Frenchman Sabin Berthelot who was one of the […]

In Bristol’s academic year, January certainly lives up to its namesake, the two-faced Roman God Janus. On the one hand, piles of marking from the first semester are hitting my desk, bringing the usual mix of delight and disappointment as I see how well (or otherwise!) students have responded to the previous semester’s work; on […]

So today we launch into Human-Animal Relationship week. Who knew? I suppose it fits in nicely with COP26 and is another aspect of our relationship with those creatures who we share the earth with and it’s fair to say, couldn’t do without. In so many ways, the circle of life reminds us of just how […]

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil… If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all… if your enemies are hungry, feed them; it they are thirsty, give them something to drink… overcome evil with good” (Romans 12.17–21, NRSV). Paul was writing to Christians in Rome at a time […]

There is a small slip of paper blu-tacked to the tiles on my kitchen wall. It’s been there for three years or more. It came home in my pocket after clearing up at Tyndale when during a service we were asked to write what we wanted to pray for on a piece of paper and […]