While I don’t usually take part in social media trends, this one seemed worthwhile, as this past ten years has been particularly significant for me.
Let justice and peace flow – A Creationtide reflection
It’s September, the Season of Creation. It’s a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation, through celebration, prayer and action, together with the whole human family, for the good of our common home.
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Surprising outcasts – Joseph and the Canaanite woman
In 2021, a Black woman became the President of the Methodist Church In Britain for the first time. In her presidential address at Conference, Revd Sonia Hicks told the story of her Aunt Lize, a life-long Methodist who came from Jamaica to the UK. On her first Sunday in this country, Lize attended the local Methodist church but, although she brought her membership ticket, the minister turned her away.
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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 …
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When the stranger becomes the host – On the road to Emmaus
THE COMMUNITY in which I joined the Methodist Church last year hosts a short telephone service on Sunday afternoons – like a Christian conference call! Today I was invited to offer a five-minute reflection on the Gospel …
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A face for radio
On Sunday 2nd April I spoke to Paul Beesley at BBC Radio Merseyside about my journey, from London to Liverpool, in and out of Christianity and back again, coming out as gay and Christian, and the growth of the Open …
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Palm Sunday: Holy Week began with a peace protest
TODAY is an extraordinary day – Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, the most impact-full time in the whole Gospel story. On Palm Sunday, Christians remember Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem for the final days …
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Eating with outcasts – The Inclusive Church journey to radical welcome
TODAY in the community where I joined the Methodist Church last year, I led the morning service for the first time, as I am now training as a local preacher. A national Methodist Church resource called …
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The Trouble With The Pope: On Benedict XVI’s 2010 visit to Britain
POPE EMERITUS Benedict XVI died on 31st December 2022, and was buried in the Vatican this week. His legacy is long, though he resigned in 2013, the first Pope to do so for 600 years. …
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I am no longer my own – The Methodist Covenant Prayer
AT THE START of the new year, Methodists make a distinctive resolution. The Covenant Service, often celebrated on the first Sunday of the year, is at the heart of Methodists’ devotion, discipleship, and dedication to social justice. In the service the Church joyfully celebrates God’s offer of loving relationship.
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The persistent widow – Power of prayer in action
THE COMMUNITY in which I joined the Methodist Church earlier this year hosts a short telephone service on Sunday afternoons – like a Christian conference call! Yesterday I was invited to offer a five-minute reflection on the Gospel reading of the day: The persistent widow and the unjust judge
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Sergius and Bacchus – Saints united in brother-making
TODAY, 7th October, is celebrated in many Eastern and Western churches as the feast day of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, (died c. 303, Syria), who are among the earliest authenticated and most celebrated Christian martyrs. Their story also …
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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, …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2020/01/09/enjoy-your-achievements-as-well-as-your-plans-what-i-learned-from-the-10yearchallenge/
Dec 24
A prayer for Christmas morning
AT A carol service this month, hosted by the Open Table inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the prayers, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. It’s a prayer for Christmas morning produced by enfleshed.com, a website which provides resources ‘that matter most. that addresses honestly, tenderly, and directly, the …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/12/24/a-prayer-for-christmas-morning/
Dec 13
Will you welcome #HomelessJesus this Christmas?
TODAY the YMCAs in the Liverpool City Region gathered for a carol service in the city’s Parish Church, opposite the world famous Liver Building. As the chaplain for YMCA Liverpool and YMCA St Helens, I gave a reflection on the Christmas story and what it means for the people the YMCA supports
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/12/13/will-you-welcome-homelessjesus-this-christmas/
Dec 02
Queer Faith Voices: Is faith inherently queer?
AS PART of the tour of Merseyside by Queer Virtue author Liz Edman last month, I took part in a panel discussion called ‘Queer Faith Voices’. Liz uses the term ‘queer’ in the academic sense, as a verb meaning ‘to disturb / disrupt false binaries’. These binaries can relate to gender (male/female) or sexuality (heterosexual/homosexual), …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/12/02/queer-faith-voices-is-faith-inherently-queer/
Nov 19
US Episcopal priest Liz Edman visits Liverpool for tour of events celebrating queer and faith identity
Next weekend I am privileged to be taking part in a panel discussion called ‘Queer Faith Voices’ as part of a tour by a visiting US priest and political strategist Liz Edman. She is the author of Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity (Beacon Press, 2016). This is a guest post by Jen Williams promoting the tour.
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/11/19/us-episcopal-priest-liz-edman-visits-liverpool-for-tour-of-events-celebrating-queer-and-faith-identity/
Nov 11
‘So what is a chaplain then?’ – Inspiration from St Martin
As the chaplain at YMCA Liverpool and YMCA St Helens, I am often asked this question by residents.
Rather than get into complicated church jargon with people whose experience of church may be limited or negative, I have found it helpful to share a story that is often told to illustrate the origin of the word ‘chaplain’ and an example of chaplaincy in action.
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/11/11/so-what-is-a-chaplain-then-inspiration-from-st-martin/
Oct 11
Gone, never forgotten – Remembering with thanks on #WorldHomelessDay
As part of YMCA Liverpool’s commemoration of World Homeless Day 2019, residents and staff gathered to celebrate the opening of a new Memorial Garden at its headquarters, Hope House. As chaplain for this extraordinary community which offers supported accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, it was my privilege to dedicate the garden to the memory of YMCA members who are no longer with us.
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/10/11/gone-never-forgotten-remembering-with-thanks-on-worldhomelessday/
Aug 22
#ComeAsYouAre – Christians At Pride In Liverpool
For the past three years, the Open Table LGBT+ Christian community based at St Bride’s in Toxteth has coordinated the Christians At Pride group in the Liverpool march.
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/08/22/comeasyouare-christians-at-pride-in-liverpool/
Aug 13
Everyone’s Chapel – Plans to re-open creative worship space after 20+ years #YMCA175
SINCE January 2019, I have worked part-time as chaplain for the community at YMCA St Helens. There I discovered a hidden gem, of which many of the hostel’s residents and staff were unaware. The chapel, on the second floor of the early 20th Century building on North Road, has not been used regularly for more than …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/08/13/everyones-chapel-plans-to-re-open-worship-space-after-20-years-ymca175/
Jul 12
Peace, reconciliation & activism – My reflection from my #JourneyOfHope #ActionAtHome
THIS was the reflection I gave as part of my Action At Home – Module 5 of the Journey of Hope pilgrimage in Christian peacemaking and reconciliation. Read more about the Action At Home here or listen to a recording of this reflection here (15 mins). Tonight as we consider how we might make peace, …
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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/07/12/peace-reconciliation-activism-my-reflection-from-my-journeyofhope-actionathome/
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