The popular phrase Family Comes First can be a helpful ethical steer for humans trying to allocate limited emotional and material resources. In today’s reading from the bible, Jesus appears to turn the notion on its head. In our reflection, we examine the feelings this triggers in us.

The Church of England has a lectionary of daily readings that often inspire this blog’s Reflections. Recently, a chapter focused on female leadership was omitted from the chronological order. Why did this happen - and what do we have to learn from it?

Today is the Feast Day of St Clare of Assisi.

Her story prompts us to consider what it might be that we are drawn to give our lives to, in response to the stirrings of our souls; to a loving call from the Divine?

This week, Christians remember the mysterious gospel accounts of Jesus’ Transfiguration. Before his friends’ eyes, he appears shining white, speaking with dead saints, on a mountain top. Bizarre and supernatural, we might say. What is in this story for us?

Can we see these days as the most sacred of times?

In today’s reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet Jeremiah paints a despairing picture. He describes suffering, dashed hopes, a sense of separation from all that is good. But there is more…..

Today, on the eve of Mary Magdalene’s feast day, we reflect on her example and story and what it has to offer.

The title could be a government soundbite …… but these are the words of Yahweh, God of the Jews, to the people of Judah at a time when war threatened to devastate them.

Do you feel a tug towards that ‘other’ shore, the safe side of the Jordan, where pandemic and disruption are left behind? This is a living metaphor for human existence: we yearn for safe haven. Today, we reflect on simply living in the midst of rapids …

A challenging message from the Prophet Amos - known by some as the ‘prophet of doom’ - offers us chance to examine ourselves and what is happening in our world at a deep, spiritual level. Amos is not comforting - but offers a reality check when we’re at risk of distraction from the things that really matter.

Today, we are invited to find the Yes, the Celebration, the Life - even in the midst of a lockdown that does strange things to our sense of time. Every day can seem the same, the future stretching out formless ahead, but we can still lift our eyes….

There is a challenging message about generosity in today’s reading from Luke’s gospel. We reflect on the connections between our wealth, our worries and our tendency to share.

Also, please find resources for structuring your own Simple Quiet Day at the end of this post.

Change and growth continue during challenging times!

At today’s AGM, we welcomed Richard Blackburn as the new Chair of the Whirlow Grange Limited board. Watch our video announcement here!

Jesus suggests that who we are today is salt and light enough to change the world, in his beautiful and challenging Sermon on the Mount.

Sunday was the Christian festival of Pentecost. This weekend we mark Trinity Sunday, contemplating the relationship of three persons at the heart of our understanding of the Christian God. These are fertile moments, offering both inspiration and grounding.