The Singing Rev

​Hello everyone  Thank you for stopping by.  At the moment I’m finding it increasingly difficult to watch the news.  It just seems so full of anger and sadness. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Gaza war and the multitude of more bad news just makes me feel so down and depressed.   I don’t say this lightly as I know that there are many many people suffering and it saddens me to think of it. I’m so grateful to live in relative peace here in the UK and I know we are so blessed.  The thing with the war in Gaza is that I don’t even know how to pray. Do we pray for one side or the other?  Do we pray for Israel to win as they are Gods chosen people?  Do we pray for a ceasefire?  I just don’t know how to pray. And so I just pray Gods will is done.  I was asked today “where is God in all this war?”   The answer is I don’t know and to be honest I’ve asked myself the question too.  But the one thing I do know is God is saddened too...

  Thank you for agreeing to knit pencil cases for Uganda. Pencil cases should be posted to me no later than 3rd August 2024 to allow time for me to ship to Uganda. Here is the pattern. Pencil case for Uganda   4mm Needles and DK wool   Cast on 40 stitches   Knit one row   K2 YRN K2 Tog, knit to the end   Continue in knit but every 4 th row repeat row   Continue in knit stitch until the work measures 25cm (about 10in)   Cast off   Sew up the two open sides as directed in the picture   Cast on 120 stitches   Cast off   Thread the yarn through the holes in the opening to make a closure.   Fill with Pencil crayons and a sharpener (Not felt tips as they will dry up in the heat)   Thank you for taking the time to kn i t for this worthy cause. It will be such a treat for each child to get a filled pencil case at Christmas  

 In the last few days I have read such atrocities in the news. People on the brink of famine, war, women in Iraq being beaten, raped and murdered and a explosion at a petrol station resulting in ten deaths. This world is changing rapidly. We are at a stage where everyday there is some new report about climate change or wars on this planet. This is not Gods best. This is not what God wanted for the world. I’m making a pledge to do at least one kind thing for another person each day. It could be something little that seems insignificant or a bigger offering but I’m determined to live in a better time, a better place, a better world. Will you join me in my quest? 

 Yesterday along with millions of other people I watched the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  It was a sad somber occasion and it was amazing how many lives she touched. As a firm royalist I have followed the royal family and along with others am in awe of them. (Well most of them!  There is a certain Queens son who I dislike immensely!). For The Queens children to grieve her so publicly and with such dignity took a lot. A strong backbone. I watched as they honoured their mother and internalised their grief which surely must come out at some point.  The millions of people who joined the wait to pay their respects.  Who lined the streets for the processions and laid flowers at gates and in parks goes to show the publics love for their Queen. If ever there was a show of solidarity this was it.  It makes me wonder then why our churches stand half empty. Why I lead services in front of half a empty church. Why people don’t turn out en masse for the K...

 I started this blog to document my journey of minister in training in the UK Baptist church.   Unfortunately it turns out that I’m useless at remembering to blog!  I’m now in my third and final year at Baptist college and can honestly say I’m ready to finish. The last two years have been hard work, traumatic at times, enjoyable, fun, tinged with sadness , joyful and everything that comes in between. I love being a minister and all that entails but college has been hard for me. I have suffered grief (didn’t everyone over Covid) but also experienced the unfailing love of God. I’ve learnt nothing is too big for my God and that as long as I stay connected I can overcome.  September will see me returning to college to complete my training and I promise to try to be a better blogger this year!  At the very least I will attempt to blog more than my regular once a year!   Every blessing to you and yours x

 Hello lovely people.  It looks like summer may finally arrived here over the June bank holiday. As I type we are stuck in a huge traffic jam while on our way home from visiting family. We are so grateful that, even socially distanced, we are able to be friends and family when we can. The nice warm weather is making it easier to do this safely.  I have come to the end of my first year of bible college. It’s been a tough year that I didn’t think I’d get through if I’m honest. In March I was so depressed and stressed that I felt I couldn’t cope with not just college but life in general. I feel like I’m over that hump now but it has been a huge learning curve for me and I will try never to get like that again. I’ve always been predisposed to depression but have noticed the triggers before. Unfortunately I didn’t recognise the signs until it was all consuming this time. I felt like the worst person in the world with no self esteem or energy to achieve anything. Even having a ...