Amazing as it now seems, when I first was a minister of a church, there was nobody to guide me.
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Letters of condolence
I am at the stage of life when I seem to be constantly writing letters of condolence to friends who
Continue readingWho would true valour see: a great hymn for a funeral
[In this blog I have drawn upon Hymns That Live (Hodder & Stoughton 2008) by Frank Colqhoun] In a recent
Continue readingRites of passage and pastoral care
It was Arnold van Gennep, a French anthropologist, who in 1909 coined the phrase ‘rite of passage’. He noticed, as
Continue readingWe need new rites of passage
The three major events of life – birth, marriage, and death – are marked by three traditional Christian rites of
Continue readingContentment has to be learned
I have just returned from visiting a care home. Every Tuesday afternoon, unless otherwise prevented, I go to see a
Continue readingBooks for Today – July 2018
Book of the month The Hardest Part: A Centenary Critical Edition (SCM, London 2018. 231pp: £25) edited by Thomas O’Loughlin
Continue readingMinistry convictions – a taster of This is My Story
I am excited, for my latest book, This Is My Story: A Story of Life, Faith, and Ministry (ISBN 13:
Continue readingGo for walks
I confess that I have never been sporty – I only played for the school second XV. But I have
Continue readingGrowing older
In my twenties I thought that anybody over the age of 40 was old. From the perspective of ancient society,
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