I'm not really made from pink wool, and I don't live in outer space, but I DO like knitting! I'm a Bible-reading, maths-teaching, theology-studying, resource-writing, terribly untidy mum-of-three currently located in the middle of England. Occasionally, God gives me a thwack round the head with a rolled-up newspaper, and I try to listen. Sometimes.
There is no status in the kingdom of God. A call to ordained ministry is not more important than a call to sit with a troubled neighbour. In fact, I’d say we are crying out for the latter in modern western society. It’s a gifting I greatly admire – I’m pants at it myself. … More Jeremiah 1:4-10
Have you seen the film ‘The Bucket List’? It’s about two terminally-ill, grumpy guys who create a list of things to do before they kick the bucket, and the knowledge that it’s a limited-time offer focusses their minds. They start off with thrills like riding motorcycles on the Great Wall of China, but at the … More Activity – Bucket List
This is not a comforting part of the Bible. These passages don’t get onto inspirational posters and facebook memes. This is hard. But so is life, sometimes. … More Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
We can use coloured ‘reins’ to help us visualise and mediate on places where we have, or don’t have, control. We are going to use the fingers of the hand to represent the areas of our lives that God has entrusted to our care. It is good to take responsibility for the things given to us, but it … More Activity – Who is in charge?
You can really hear the frustration in Abraham’s voice as he points out to God the elephant in the room. ‘It’s all very well you telling me I’m going to have so many children that I’ll have to barcode them to keep track, but in case you hadn’t noticed, the total so far is zero. … More Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16
In the film ‘Johnny English’, the Archbishop of Canterbury has (somewhat inexplicably) the words ‘Jesus is coming, look busy’ tattooed upon his nether regions. This activity helps us to be aware of how we are living – ready for Jesus or not so much? You will need paper, pencil and a clock. Jesus said that we … More Activity – Time and Date
This is a beautiful passage of God’s love for his children. And this is not some distant father dashing out of his study to pat the washed and brushed children on the head before nanny puts them to bed. This is one who lifts infants to his cheeks, who bends down to them and feeds them. This a hands-on, story-reading, nappy-changing dad. … More Hosea 11:1-11
This activity helps us to explore our worth in God’s sight, and how that differs from how we often see ourselves. You will need a tall piece of paper such as ½ a sheet of A4 or a shopping list, and a pen. At the top of the sheet write ‘People like me because …’, then … More Activity -God likes me because …
The first child is called Jezreel. That probably means nothing to you (I had to go look it up) but it meant a lot back then. Today, it would be like calling a child Auschwitz or Hiroshima or Nine-Eleven. Ouch. … More Hosea 1:2-10
use the double-sided medals to tell the story of two Japanese pole vaulters at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Their names were Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe.
The winning height was 4.35m, cleared by an American athlete, and he won the gold medal. Nishida and Oe both cleared 4.25m and so the second place was a tie. The Olympic rules said that one person had to beat the other to win the silver medal, but the two athletes were friends and did not want to compete against the other. Neither would be happy to win if it meant that their friend would lose. … More Assembly – Running the Race
The Reflectionary 