Category: Gratitude

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/

Gifts that change us: An Advent reflection

6th December is the feast of St Nicholas, patron saint of children. In the Middle Ages, there was a tradition of electing a Boy Bishop – a reminder to hear the wisdom of the young.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/09/gifts-that-change-us-an-advent-reflection/

Faithful and humble: Living the Gospel when no-one’s watching

Every church has them – the quiet heroes. The ones who turn up early, serve faithfully, and never seek attention. In a world that prizes recognition, Paul’s letter to Timothy and Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector remind us of something different: that God values faithfulness and humility, even – and especially – when no one’s watching.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/11/01/faithful-and-humble-living-the-gospel-when-no-ones-watching/

Encouraging words build community spirit

LAST MONTH, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this reflection about the inmportance of sharing encouragement when we can, not waiting until someone leaves or has died to say how we really feel.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/08/04/encouraging-words-build-community-spirit/

Giving thanks for this phenomenal journey

AT THE ANNUAL MEETING this weekend of the parish where the first Open Table community began, I spoke about my journey with this community over the last 15 years, and the new stage I am now entering, which would not have happened without their support. This is what I shared: This church has been my …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2023/04/30/giving-thanks-for-this-phenomenal-journey/

An introspective retrospective – 10 years of blogging

TEN YEARS AGO today (as I turned 42) I began this blog. I wrote a brief retrospective after five years. Here’s an update on the next five: having ‘come out of the Catholic church‘ in 2011, then authorised as a lay leader in  Church of England, I have now become a Methodist thanks to its commitment …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2022/08/31/an-introspective-retrospective-10-years-of-blogging/

‘Infinitely more than we can ask or imagine’ – Sharing my faith journey in podcast

THIS WEEK, in My Faithful Ally, the podcast that shares the stories and testimonies from queer people of faith, I share my journey from teaching and training for priesthood to a new call to support LGBTQIA+ #Christians

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2022/04/16/infinitely-more-than-we-can-ask-or-imagine-sharing-my-faith-journey-in-podcast/

Living Stones – Sharing our story at St Bride’s Liverpool

THE CHURCH which has become my spiritual home for much of my time in Liverpool – 19 years this month – is hosting reflections on Sundays called Living Stones, introducing people who’ve been here a long time and people who are new. The aim is to get to know people better and help reconnect us …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2022/01/14/living-stones-sharing-our-story-at-st-brides-liverpool/

‘A little tiny bit of what the world should be like’ – Open Table Network on BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship

THIS MORNING, one of the new Patrons of the Open Table Network, Rachel Mann, led BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship on the theme of ‘Urban Harvest’, and invited me as the Network Co-ordinator to share a short reflection. Traditionally harvest is a time to celebrate and offer thanksgiving for God’s bounty in nature. Rachel reflected on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2020/09/27/a-little-tiny-bit-of-what-the-world-should-be-like-open-table-network-on-bbc-radio-4-sunday-worship/

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