Greetings … On Wednesday night some of us gathered for an Ash Wednesday service.  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the season when the church remembers the life and ministry of Jesus and renews its commitment. While the destination of Easter Day is a cause for celebration, in the season of Lent we journey…

Greetings … As the business of the year rolls along, we are recognising those people from our congregation who have taken on roles within our community, both here and further afield.  This week we will commission our Sunday School and Kids Hope leaders, and next week we will be joined by Rev Deacon Jenny Preston…

Greetings … It has been devastating to see the catastrophic scenes which have emerged after the huge earthquakes in the Republic of Türkiye and Syria this week.  In response, the following prayer has been shared by Assembly National Consultant Rev Dr Apwee Ting.                      We pray to God                        with deep concern                        for Turkey…

In some ways the first week in February marks the beginning of things for 2023.  Our summer holidays are over and some are returning to work or the usual weekly routine.  It is also the time that our young people return to school.  This prayer for the new school year comes to us from Daniel…

Advent Greetings … This being the last Community News for the year, I feel that I should have some particularly profound thoughts to share as I reflect on the last twelve months.  What I can say is that 2022 has been a full year, a year that has brought with it difficulties and blessings.  Yet…

Advent Greetings … The theme for the third week of Advent is Joy.   I wonder if it is only a coincidence that this week, when I was thinking about joy, I should have stumbled upon this poweful quote.  ‘It is not joy that makes us grateful.  It is gratitude that makes us joyful.’, says Catholic…

Advent Greetings … The second week of Advent we light the candle of peace … but what comes to mind when you hear the word “peace”?  Is it calm surroundings, a tidy home, or people behaving well?  Maybe it’s relaxing on a beach, being away on holidays, financial security, soft music, no strained relationships, or…

Advent Greetings … Advent is a special time of year.  It is a season of waiting and preparation.  It is a time when we begin to tell again the story and celebrate the incarnation that comes into our world. The stories, scriptures, and traditions of the Christmas season have been passed down to us throughout…

Greetings … For the last few weeks we have been seeing churches who have discovered new ways of being at mission in their local communities.  These discoveries were made when people were willing to make small changes and build and develop relationships.  In light of this, I thought I’d share with you a change that…

Greetings … Did you wear a poppy on Friday?  The tradition of wearing a poppy on Remembrance Day began with a poem written in the trenches.  A Canadian doctor, Major John McCrae, penned the poem in 1915 after becoming devastated by the death of a young soldier.                      In Flanders fields the poppies blow                     …