Category Archives: story

Guarding the dead

An earlier version of this post was published at the Episcopal Cafe on September 27, 2017 I had been traveling in a country not previously visited; we drove past houses, both small and a little larger, surrounded by fortressed fences, … Continue reading

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A prayer for the end of the world

Make all things new; but do not rush forward to your new creation. Do not leave us alone at the end of the world. Continue reading

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Religion and politics: a match made in heaven

The one who pulls us out of the pit is Jesus; himself not unfamiliar with politics and prayer. Continue reading

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Heaven on earth

Looking ahead to Sunday’s Transfiguration and the disciples’ awe-filled witness to the glory of God revealed in Christ, I have been thinking about religious experiences; extraordinary revelations of the divine. I occasionally wonder if I was “done out of” a … Continue reading

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Jacob’s ladder

This gallery contains 11 photos.

I made a simple board book to retell the story of Jacob’s dream to the children in church tomorrow. The reading is from Genesis 28:10-19. If you want to make your own, please retain the author credit, feel free to … Continue reading

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Holding fast to an ordinary peace

Whenever we visit the in-laws in the British midlands, my husband’s extended family gathers in a local Indian restaurant for a curry. On one such evening a couple of years ago, the service was, uncharacteristically, rubbish. We were beginning to … Continue reading

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Sunday morning

It’s Sunday morning. I had thought maybe of retracing my steps to my childhood church, twenty miles away; but the moment passed. I will stay in the village. In fact, I am locked in my father’s house; he may or … Continue reading

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Forgiving Jesus

The readings for the third Sunday in Lent include Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well, and Moses’ miraculous striking water from stone. In the old stories, this encounter beside a well would have ended in marriage. Jacob’s … Continue reading

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Seeking sanctuary

Last week, the office set of church keys went missing. We tried hard to discover them, but after a decent interval of searching and waiting for a miraculous appearance, I gave in and called the food pantry guest who had … Continue reading

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Beating a retreat

Saturday, daybreak. It is a rare day on which I wake up alone, with no plan except to write, and read, and dream. I am still dreaming at daybreak (of cabinets in the church basement, and their mysterious removal) when … Continue reading

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