Category: Reflections

By Revd George Mwaura As Europe experiences record-breaking heat, forests burn across continents, rivers shrink under relentless drought, and floods devastate communities with increasing regularity, one truth has become impossible to ignore: climate change is no longer a prediction for future generations. It is the defining reality of our own. The scientific evidence is now overwhelming....

Isaiah 55: 10–13; Matthew 13: 1–9 & 18–23 The Stories That Know Us By Revd Dr Margaret Goodall Introduction We live in an age of constant noise, saturated by notifications, media, and endless updates. Yet, despite the information overload, we often find ourselves starving for true meaning. Two thousand years ago, Jesus walked into a similarly...

Appointment of Anglican Minister to Christ the Cornerstone On behalf of Bishop Dave, the Diocese of Oxford and all those involved in the recent appointment process, I am very glad to be able to tell you that, following a rigorous interview day, the Bishop has offered the Anglican Incumbency of the Parish of Christ the Cornerstone,...

Joshua 1: 1–10, John 10: 7–11 By Revd George Mwaura Today’s readings invite us into a journey – a journey from slavery to promise, from wandering to settling, from survival to abundance. And as we celebrate Father’s Day, it is fitting that we reflect on the heart of God as our Father. A Father who does...

At Christ the Cornerstone we stand, Upon the Rock of God’s own hand; Through years gone by and days to come, His faithfulness will lead us on. We look ahead with hope and prayer, Trusting God’s Spirit’s loving care, As we seek one whom He will call To walk beside and serve us all. A faithful...

Genesis 18: 1–15, Matthew 9: 35 – 10: 8 By Grace Hunting LLM Have you ever waited so long for something that you stopped believing it would ever happen? Perhaps it was a prayer that seemed unanswered, a dream that never materialised, a healing that never came, or a promise that appeared impossible. You know what...

Psalm 65:4–13, Matthew 6: 25–34 By Revd George Mwaura In our reading this morning, the psalmist praises the Creator whose generosity sustains the earth – listen: ‘The river of God is full of water. The pastures of the wilderness overflow. The valleys deck themselves with grain.’ Creation in this psalm is not silent. It sings. It...

The Earth is not silent. She speaks in melting ice, in rivers that run too warm, in forests burning where green once breathed. She speaks in storms that arrive without warning, in winds that carry dust across fields where crops once grew. But still, there are voices who say, “There is nothing to fear.” Still, there...

Genesis 1: 1 – 2: 4a, Matthew 28: 16–20 By Revd George Mwaura There’s a story of a Sunday school teacher who asked the class, ‘Can anyone explain the Trinity for me?’ An eight-year-old girl seated at the front thought for a moment and said, ‘Well… God is kind of like a 3-in-1 shampoo: Father, Son,...

1 Peter 2: 2–10, John 14: 1–14 By Rt Revd Katrina Scott, Archdeacon of Cheltenham and Acting Archdeacon of Gloucester God of love, Open our ears to hear your word afresh And open our hearts to respond in our lives. Amen ‘Heaven itself cannot contain you.’ Those were the first words in the Dedication Service for...

Inspired by Luke 24:13-35-the Road to Emmaus – a post-resurrection poem. On the road where hope had thinned to thread, and grief spoke louder than memory, you came, unnoticed. Not in lightning or triumph, but in questions, gentle, insistent, opening the sealed rooms of the heart. You walked our pace, held our silence, gathered our fragments...

1 Peter 2: 2–10, John 14: 1–14 By Revd George Mwaura There is something deeply human about wanting stability. We long for something that does not move when everything else does, something we can rely on when life becomes unpredictable, when health falters, relationships strain, or the future feels unclear. Many of us know what it...

Acts 2: 14a, 22–32 & 1 Peter 1: 3–9 By Tom Donoghue, URC East Midlands Mission Development Officer In the Easter 2 Lectionary readings for today I was intrigued by the New Testament passages which have been read for us. We have a rather intriguing perspective which take us straight to times after Pentecost, after the...

Psalm 95 & John 4: 5–42 By Revd Michael Burns, Chaplain for Younger People 1992–2000 Exactly 34 years ago next Friday, this Ecumenical City Centre Church was dedicated by the Presidents of Churches Together in England in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2. Those of us present that morning knew it was the culmination...

Acts 10: 34–38 & Matthew 3: 13–17 No Favourites: God’s Radical Welcome By Revd George Mwaura It’s no secret that people want to belong. We want to be seen, known, and welcomed – well, I do.  But if we’re honest, most of us have, at some point, walked into a room, maybe even a church, and...