Learning to Nourish the Human Spirit

by Dr Beth Dodd In times of crisis poetry speaks into matters of enduring concern, the great themes of life and death. At the same time poetry speaks directly into our current context where the use and abuse of words, … Read more

In her vision, the beads of blood/life-force dripping from Jesus’ crown of thorns were as plentiful, Julian said, as raindrops falling off the eaves of a thatched roof after a heavy shower.  So, walking through long wet grass > renewed appreciation of God’s love raining down on His universe.  … Read more

By Helen Holtam The origami group in HMP Erlestoke started in July 2017 with a regular Friday morning class in the Education Department from 8:30 to 12. The aim was simply to make origami greeting cards for the men in Erlestoke to send to friends and families and to learn more origami models. We … Read more

Prayer God, give me the grace to see myself as others see me, but not all at once!   Thank You that, seeing us more truly than anyone else does, You love as we are, because You take us  for what we shall be in You.  Amen | Action We … Read more

We never do know, do we, what the future holds?  And, of course, what transpires does not depend on how we’re feeling!  Prediction is an inexact business even at the level of meteorology.  Especially in Britain, where we don’t have a climate: we have weather.  (So why bother?)  When she was ill – … Read more

Reflection “It’s only just sinking in that I haven’t been inside a church since March,” remarked the chap next to me in the pew – on the occasion of attending a service in person. The stained glass, though artistically not … Read more

Reflection ‘Where are all the anglers?’ I had wondered earlier in the year. | Angling was one of the first sports to have restrictions lifted after the great Cov19 shut-down, but the banks of the Thames remained bare.  What had … Read more

Reflection At first sight, it seems that one of these cows is patently facing the wrong way. All the other animals, having gathered by the gate where their grazier would shortly arrive bearing nice extra tidbits (feed supplements), are lined … Read more

Reflection “Look! someone’s changed one of the stars on the war memorial,” my walking-companion pointed out to me: “they’ve painted it blue, and added continents to make it Planet Earth – and spikes to turn it into a SARS-CoV-2 virion.” The … Read more