M&M (1)
Magnificent. Not a word most of us would identify with but I’ve heard it twice over the Christmas season in different contexts. Firstly a Church of England bishop thanked his diocesan staff for their work throughout the year in a…
Clone of Tina Site
Sneaking a peek over God’s shoulder to see what He is up to: thoughts on future church
Clone of Tina Site
Sneaking a peek over God’s shoulder to see what He is up to: thoughts on future church
Tina
I’m 47, unmarried, with lots of beautiful loyal friends and supportive family. I’m known for my outrageous laughter and unrestrained tears, and love to play, walk, sing, cook and eat in communion with others. Main obsessions: The West Wing and anything written by Aaron Sorkin; sugar in all its forms.
A word to grow into
Last New Year’s Eve my friends were staying. My closest friend married 20 years ago and the three of us have journeyed together since. Our friendship has been enriching and challenging, joyous and stressful, with all the potential imbalances of…
Bring the hidden out
I was walking through Yeovil to spend Boxing Day afternoon with friends. This poem caught my eye in the window of an empty shop. Yeovil is a small rundown town once the home of glove-making – covered the hands of…
Confidence to act
As well as setting off with a new group of students, I’ve invited the last cohort to tell me about their experience of the CMS Certificate. I’ve got a questionnaire called Pathways which they get in advance, and then I…
Preparing to head off
From St Ives they came… from Poole, Bath, villages across seven counties. A half-excited half-apprehensive crew of dreamers caught up in the movement of God’s Spirit. Preparing to set off on a learning journey to an unknown destination. Less poetically…
Awe and wonder 2
What causes that sense of awe? One thing is how far ahead God can plan. All our rational thoughts deny that God could set something in motion that will happen across millions or trillions of minutes. How could God ensure…
Awe and wonder 1
We started the Bath and Wells annual Grand Rumpus Meet yesterday with 20 minutes of awe and wonder. Everyone present was invited to share a moment of awe they had experienced recently in connection with pioneering. It was a feast…
The Easter message I didn’t hear
Over and over again I heard people writing about this ‘strange’ Easter…and about how we wouldn’t be able to celebrate it in the ‘usual way’. And I wondered – with some frustration – when did Easter become unstrange? and usual?…
What we have to do to save our lives
It happened again. It always happens when I’m on a course. However insightful it is, however much I learn, I always end up feeling on edge and dissatisfied and mildly envious of the contributors. Then my customary self-liking dries up…
Easter in Moscow
I’ve been in Russia at Easter three times, and I’m thankful for the experience of a Russian Orthodox Easter. I’m thankful for the mysterious pageantry of the Easter vigil, the priests in their gold and white robes, engaged in a…