Surprised by grace: Discovering hidden treasures in Methodist vocation

Five octagonal boxes with silver lids arranged in a row on a windowsill, each with a yellow speech-bubble label handwritten with lyrics from Christian hymns. The boxes decrease in size from left to right. Beside the smallest box is a leaflet titled 'A Methodist Way of Life.'

TWO YEARS AGO this week, I found myself in a place I never imagined, at a Discerning Ordained Vocations [DOV] conference of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. It was part of a careful, prayerful process of listening for God’s call – a call that had already surprised me more than once.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2026/02/01/surprised-by-grace-discovering-hidden-treasures-in-methodist-vocation/

From resolution to relationship – Renewing the Methodist Covenant Prayer

Purple and pink sky at sunrise with soft rays of light. On the right, a black silhouette of a person kneeling in prayer on a hillside. Overlaid text reads: “I am no longer my own but yours!” with a smaller caption beneath: 'Methodist Covenant Prayer.'

THIS REFLECTION began as a sermon preached at a Methodist Covenant Service. I’ve adapted it here for anyone who has ever struggled with resolutions, commitments, or prayers that ask more of us than we feel able to give. At its heart is a simple conviction: covenant begins with God, not with us.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2026/01/18/from-resolution-to-relationship-renewing-the-methodist-covenant-prayer/

Light in the darkness: Prayers for a Christmas carol service

Responsive prayers for a Christmas carol service, rooted in Scripture and centred on the ancient Christian prayer Maranatha – holding together Christ’s coming at Christmas and the hope of his coming again.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/26/light-in-the-darkness-prayers-for-a-christmas-carol-service/

Listening to the music of the soul: The grandest and rawest outcry

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my eighth and final musical moment.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/24/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-the-grandest-and-rawest-outcry/

Listening to the music of the soul: I wanna see you be brave

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my seventh.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/23/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-7-i-wanna-see-you-be-brave/

Listening to the music of the soul: Wisdom in secret things

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my sixth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/22/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-6-wisdom-in-secret-things/

Listening to the music of the soul: Standing at the crossroads

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my fifth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/21/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-5-standing-at-the-crossroads/

Listening to the music of the soul: True Colors

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chaptersinspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my fourth.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/20/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-3-true-colors/

Listening to the music of the soul: Canon in D

Musical staff notation divided into sections, showing short melodic patterns written on treble staves. Each melody is color-coded (pink, orange, green, blue, and black) to distinguish different parts or voices, illustrating layered musical lines, representing variations in a canon.

INSPIRED by 8 pieces of music, Listening to the Music of the Soul by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my third.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/19/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-3-canon-in-d/

Listening to the music of the soul: Don’t give up

‘LISTENING to the Music of the Soul’ by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into 8 chapters inspired by 8 pieces of music. The author invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my second.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/18/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-dont-give-up/

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