Updates from Whirlow
Jesus and the two disciples On the Road to Emmaus, by Duccio, 1308–1311, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
Pieter Breughel the Elder
Advent is the season when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. In the world we live in it can be a busy and full time, with parties, shows and lots of shopping. It can be hard to find the time and space to watch and wait for signs that God is with us and to listen to the promptings of the Spirit.
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Jerome Jones, 2002. Image found on Sundays with CWM (17 Jul): Be Still and know that I am God - Council for World Mission (cwmission.org)
“Martha-work” can be repetitive and unexciting. Whether it’s cleaning, cooking and caring in our own homes or tasks that feel repetitive and humdrum in our workplaces. So how do we feel when Jesus responds to Martha’s frustration at the lack of help from Mary by commending Mary’s choice to prioritise sitting and listening to him?
Read MoreThe natural tidal rhythm of ebb and flow can be a metaphor for the rhythm of our lives.
Do you feel you have a balance between business and quietness in your life?
Do you find times for quiet and reflection?
Read MoreAs you know our Chaplain, Joy Adams, retired at the end of May and we have been so fortunate to have benefitted from her ministry over the last 8 years.
Thanks to Joy's work, the outreach of Whirlow and the extent of its ministry have increased substantially, and the Board have felt it right that we should advertise for a new Chaplain on the basis that this will be a paid post (4 days per week). In recent years Whirlow Grange Ltd has been in the fortunate position of making surpluses in its annual accounts. Our main source of income is from our Endowment Fund, and this has been supplemented by generous donations from a number of our supporters. Ticketed events have broken even in the last few years.
Our expenditure includes the upkeep of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and adjoining rooms, and we are grateful to share these costs in our Partnership with the Parish of All Saints Ecclesall. The cost of free events including worship is borne by the Partnership. In addition, Whirlow Grange Ltd bears the overhead costs of staff salaries, hospitality and IT and office expenses.
Although our finances will be significantly challenged by additionally funding the salary and pension of our new Chaplain, the Board has felt it right to take this step after prayerful discernment that we should move forward in faith and with confidence in God’s future purposes for Whirlow. In order to secure this new model of Chaplaincy, as well as planning and developing future programmes, we would be happier if more income came from regular donations. If you are able to give monthly or increase your regular giving – that would be wonderful.
A gift aid declaration enhances your donation by 25%. If you have any queries please contact John in the office,
We are blessed in many ways - and aim to share that with all our visitors. Thank you.
Richard Blackburn David Booker
Chairman Director
Photography by Michael Dysart
November is a month of grey days, misty rain, and shortened darker days. Seemingly a month where colours are grey and dull. However, like the sudden appearance of a rainbow, there can be times of rainbow moments, a burst of colour, and memories which stay with us. For this Whirlow blog, I would like us to think of times when images surprised us, made us stop and think, maybe even changed us.
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Photo by Craig Bradford on Unsplash
The cycle of nature turns once more to Autumn. For some, a favourite season of vibrant colour and warming spices; to others a time of trepidation and fear as the cost of living and heating their homes rises. For this feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the Whirlow blog reflects on our shared kinship with each other, and with the cosmos, inviting us to follow the example of St Francis in becoming buds of hope beyond the leaf fall.
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Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash
As summer once more gives way to autumn, our daily routines can bring frustration as well as comfort. This Whirlow guest blog by textile artist Karen Herrick considers the different ways God might be calling us to ‘press on’ through the ‘creases’ in our lives – or inviting us to simply ‘take hold’ whilst he lovingly transforms our wrinkles, preparing us for what lies ahead. We are invited to respond.
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Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash
Summer reading is a popular way to relax during the holiday season – at home in the garden, away in the countryside or sitting on the beach. Some access their reading through modern technology, others prefer to turn the pages of a real book. This Whirlow blog considers the different ways God might be speaking to us through His written Word, and the words he may be calling us to write in the living books of our lives. We are invited to respond.
Read MoreThe cusp of midsummer: a time when many who live, work or study in cities and towns look forward to taking time out from their usual daily routines to enjoy a change of scenery, make new memories, gain fresh perspectives. This Whirlow blog considers urgent new perspectives waiting to be experienced through our imagination and other senses, how these may enable us to see Jesus more clearly, draw closer to him and labour in his harvest.
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Bank Ground, Coniston
As we approach midsummer and longer hours of daylight, life can seem lighter, easier and warmer. Amidst the lushness of nature, all is green and growing. This Whirlow reflection ponders on how our Faith in the goodness of the world might be strengthened at this time.
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Photo by Sebastian Bill on Unsplash
We understand the meaning of the phrase ‘when the penny drops’ as being a moment of sudden realisation – a new way of seeing. Our latest Whirlow blog reflects on a story from the apostle John, on how we might see Christ and understand his call to love others in our day to day lives.
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Photo by Barb Canale on Unsplash
Many books have been written to encourage reflections during Advent and Lent, but few to guide us during Eastertide – this period between Easter and Pentecost. Our latest Whirlow blog wonders how we might celebrate this time, encouraging one another to become ‘living books’ of gratitude.
Read MoreThis Easter week, our Whirlow blog reflects on the radical promise made to those first converts to Christianity at Pentecost – the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift was promised not only to them, but to ‘all who are far away’. We reflect on how we might carry this promised Spirit to the many who are suffering in our world today; and on how we might carry it within our own hearts. We are invited to respond…
Read MoreUnderneath the momentous events of Holy week, sits the Passover. Jesus, as a Jew, would have celebrated this festival every year of his life. In this post, we share a selection of poems to help us reflect on the last Passover Jesus celebrated with his closest friends – and how this vibrant drama continues to speak to every generation. We are invited to respond.
Read MoreWhatever our age, we have a need for our questions to be answered – but do we always listen to the answers we are given? In this reflection, we wonder what the Apostle John might be saying to us about this Jesus who listens and answers even ‘the question behind the question’.
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