Dear Friends
Summer is upon us. I hope there is some time for rest and relaxation for you. Summer is a time to re-charge and re-energise. A time for journeys, followed by stories of those journeys, whether far or near. Life around the church is often quieter during the summer, giving an opportunity to pause and reflect on holy living.
The Methodist movement holds holy living at its heart. In the eighteenth century, two Anglican priests and brothers, John and Charles Wesley, came together with like-minded friends in Oxford to meet regularly for prayer, Bible study and Holy Communion, and to visit prisons and workhouses. They earned themselves the nick name ‘Methodist’s’ because of the very methodical way they approached prayer and bible study. This group was also called the Holy Club.
This longing for holiness was not about wanting to be 'holier than thou'. It was more about wanting the love of God to infuse all of life, and for that love to be shown through their lives to other people.
The third person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit, comes to us as gift from God. When we respond to that gift, there is no limit to what the grace of God is able to do in a human life. John Wesley taught about 'Christian perfection.' He believed that a mature Christian can reach a state where the love of God reigns supreme in our heart. Of course we can't be perfect in an absolute way, as God is. But we can be made perfect in love.
John Wesley was keen to point out, we do not become holy all on our own. He coined the phrase: 'social holiness'. What he meant by this is: we cannot be lone Christians. It is vital to meet, study and worship with other Christians in order to grow in the Christian life and to understand what is God's will for us and for our community. All that said, holiness is not just about personal spirituality and prayer. It is also expressed through a commitment to social justice (working for fair distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within society) and to enabling others to find themselves within the family of God.  
So, this summer, may you find the time to reflect on what holy living might look like for you, so that God’s love may be more deeply known and grown in you and through you others.
Go well
Karen
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Dear Friends
 
On June 8th we celebrate Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind and set the early followers of Jesus on fire—not with destruction, but with love, courage, and peace. That moment changed everything. It turned a small, frightened group of disciples into bold messengers who shared Jesus’ message with the whole world.
 
But Pentecost isn’t just something that happened long ago. It still matters today—especially in a world filled with war, hatred, and injustice. When we look at the news, when we hear stories of people suffering, or when we experience conflict in our own lives, we might wonder: Can anything really bring peace? The message of Pentecost answers with a bold yes.
 
Pentecost is a message for all People. One of the most powerful parts of the Pentecost story is how people from many different countries and languages all heard the message of Jesus in their own language. God didn’t force everyone to speak the same way— God helped everyone understand each other. That’s what peace is really about. Peace isn’t about making everyone the same. It’s about learning to listen and care for one another, even when we’re different. The Holy Spirit brings that kind of peace—the kind that makes strangers into friends and enemies into family.
 
Real Peace Starts with the Spirit. It doesn’t just mean “no fighting.” Real peace, the kind the Bible calls shalom, means wholeness. It means justice, safety, health, and joy for everyone. It means people being treated fairly, children growing up with hope, and communities working together.
 
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, it didn’t just give the disciples new languages. It gave them new hearts. Suddenly they were sharing everything they had, feeding the hungry, caring for widows and orphans, and loving people they used to ignore or avoid. That’s what the Spirit does—it changes us from the inside out.
 
So what about today? The world we live in has many of the same problems as the world the early Christians faced. There’s still poverty, war, racism, greed, and loneliness. People are still divided by politics, class, and fear.  But Pentecost reminds us that the Church, the people of God, was made for times like this. We’re not here to hide or escape the world’s problems. We’re here to face them with love, led by the Spirit. That means standing up for what’s right, helping those in need, forgiving others, and building bridges between people who don’t agree.
 
So what might it mean to be a “Pentecost Church” in today’s world? Maybe it means we try to be a place of peace—where everyone is welcome, where we listen more than we argue, and where we serve others instead of just thinking about ourselves. Maybe it means we speak up for people who are treated unfairly, even when it’s hard. Maybe it means we build friendships with people who are different from us—different races, cultures, incomes, or backgrounds. Maybe it means we care about people who are hurting, lonely, or forgotten. Maybe it means we pray not just for our own comfort, but for healing in our neighbourhoods, our country, and our world. And maybe we do all this not because we’re perfect or powerful, but because the Holy Spirit is with us—guiding us, comforting us, and giving us strength.
 
Real peace takes courage. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s easier to stay angry or silent. Sometimes it’s easier to avoid people who think differently from us. But the Spirit gives us courage—the same courage that helped Peter preach in front of a huge crowd. The same courage that helped the early Christians stand up to powerful leaders.
 
The peace Jesus brings is active. It means doing the hard work of forgiving, of listening, of standing up for justice, of simply just being kind in a very unkind world. That’s not weakness, that’s Spirit-powered strength. There’s a beautiful old idea that God’s name is as close as our breath. On Pentecost, the Spirit came like a mighty wind. Every time we take a breath; we’re reminded of that Spirit living inside us. When we’re angry, the Spirit helps us breathe and calm down. When we’re afraid, the Spirit gives us peace and confidence. When we’re unsure what to say, the Spirit gives us the right words. When the world seems hopeless, the Spirit reminds us of God’s promise to make all things new.
 
Pentecost isn’t just a holiday. It’s a way of life. Every time we choose peace over fighting, kindness over hate, hope over fear—we’re living out the message of Pentecost. We’re letting the Spirit shine through us. So let’s keep asking: What does the Spirit want to do through me today? How can I bring peace to someone’s life? Who can I listen to, forgive, or stand beside?
Because when the Church really lives in the Spirit, the world starts to change. So, may we breathe in that Spirit. May we live with that fire. May we be the Church the world needs—full of peace, full of love, full of God.
 
Go well
 
Karen
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Dear Friends,
 
As we continue to navigate a world marked by uncertainty and challenge—be it conflict abroad, pressures at home, or quiet personal struggles—May arrives with its own quiet grace. In the Church calendar, we are journeying through the Easter season, still holding onto the hope of the Resurrection, and looking ahead to Pentecost. And in the world around us, signs of new life are everywhere.
 
Here in the UK, May brings us longer days, blooming gardens, and the gentle hum of life returning to the land. Buebells carpet our woods, birdsong fills the early mornings, and everything seems to whisper a message we so need to hear: life endures, and God is still at work.
 
It’s a month rich in tradition—beginning with May Day, historically a time of celebrating the land and its rhythms, and marked today by rest, reflection, and a pause from our daily routines. There are two Bank Holidays offering moments to breathe, to gather, and to reconnect.
 
In many communities, this is also the season for community gatherings—fairs, teas, and garden openings. These moments, though small, carry great significance. They are acts of faith in their own way: expressions of fellowship, hospitality, and shared joy. After all, Jesus often chose the ordinary, a shared meal, a walk through the fields, a conversation by a well, to reveal something extraordinary.
 
May is also traditionally the month of Mary in many Christian traditions, especially in Catholic and Anglican churches. She is honoured not just as the mother of Jesus, but as a symbol of quiet strength, faithfulness, and hope. In Mary, we see the beauty of a life attuned to God’s purposes, even when the path is uncertain.
 
In these troubled times, May invites us to remember who we are as Easter people.
People of hope. People of light. People rooted in the truth that Christ is risen, and that even the darkest seasons are not the end of the story. Just as the land revives, so can our spirits. Just as nature blooms again, so too can our faith be renewed.
 
May we see this month as a time to pray, to rest, to reach out to those who are struggling, and to take joy in the gifts God is still giving each day. May we trust that even when we cannot see the whole path ahead, the One who made the seasons is still guiding our steps.
 
Go well
 
Karen

Dear Friends
 
As we continue through our Lenten journey and into Easter, the Methodist theme for Lent and Easter, Soul Food, continues to offer us new insights and food for thought. Soul food has been the overarching focus, with each week having a particular theme. So far, we’ve covered, soul food, soul shelter, soul rest and soul repair. But we still have a few weeks left, so I thought I would just spend some time here mulling over the themes for the remailing weeks up to and including Easter.
 
 
Week 5. Soul Mates
Have you ever met someone, and it felt you had known them all your life? Almost like the universe had engineered your meeting long before you even arrived at this moment. I think maybe this is the essence of soul mates—those people who come into our lives not just by chance, but by some kind of cosmic design.
 
Soul mates aren’t just romantic partners; they are the friends, family members, mentors, and even fleeting strangers who leave an indelible mark on our lives. Sometimes, they mirror our strengths, challenge our weaknesses, and often, even remind us of who we are. Some stay for our whole lifetime, while others stay just for a season, offering us the lessons we need to change and grow before gracefully exiting. But no matter how long they walk with us, their presence shapes our journey in profound ways. May we thank God for Soul mates, whoever and whatever shape or form they take.
 
Week 6. Soul Songs
If soul mates are the people who shape us, soul songs are the tunes and melodies that guide us. We all have songs that resonate with something deep inside us, a vibrational match to the emotions we sometimes struggle to name. Whether it’s a popular love song that mirrors our longing, a ballad of heartbreak, or a classical anthem of empowerment, music is, as the saying goes, ‘food for the soul.’
 
I wonder what your soul song is. That one piece of music that, when you hear it played, reminds you of your essence, your purpose and your journey? It will no doubt change over time because we are all evolving and changing too, but there is usually, always a song or piece of music that speaks to our current experiences. Sometimes, these songs come to us just when we need them most, almost like a Godly whisper reminding us that we are not alone, or, that someone, somewhere, has felt exactly what we are feeling in that moment. And when that happens, music is much more than sound, it’s pure connection. May we thank God for the soul songs that resonate and reverberate, bringing healing hope and peace when we need it most.
 
Good Friday - Soul Support
In the vast, intricate web of human connection, soul support is the invisible chord that holds us all together. It’s the gentle voice of a friend when our own inner dialogue isn’t being very kind. It’s the unexpected kindness of a stranger when we are having a really bad day. It’s that one person who believes in us when we are struggling to see our own worth.
 
Soul support usually isn’t very loud. Sometimes it can even be a silent presence, an unspoken understanding, a moment of being truly seen and heard. In truth, we are both givers and receivers of this sacred energy. Have you ever considered how you support those around you with a kind word, a listening ear, or a simple smile? All of these are small gestures, but they have the power to ripple, like a pebble in a pond, through the universe in ways we may never fully comprehend. May we thank God for soul support and may we always seek to be a soul support for others.
 
Easter Day - Soul Stories
Every unique soul carries a story—a history of love and loss, joy and sorrow, triumph and transformation. Some stories are told in words, others in the way we walk, the way we laugh and the way we love. And all our stories weave together, to create the beautifully diverse tapestry of human experience.
 
What’s your soul’s story? Are you honouring it? More importantly, are you sharing it? There’s a great power in speaking our truth into the world. Our stories can heal not only ourselves but also those who need to hear them, those who seek meaning in shared experience.
 
So, as we continue to journey through the remainder of Lent and into the Resurrection hope of Easter, may we listen for our soul songs, embrace our soul mates, give and receive soul support, and fully embrace and honour the story our souls are writing. We are all threads in this vast, beautiful tapestry of existence, woven together by the unseen hands of the one who has ‘…woven us together in the depths of the earth…’ (Psalm 139, v15). The same one, who is creating something greater than we can ever fully understand.
 
Go well friends, for he his risen!
 
He is risen indeed!
 
Alleluia!
 
Peace
 
Karen
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Dear Friends
As the season of Lent approaches, we are, once again, invited into a sacred journey—a path where the hunger of the soul meets the abundance of God’s grace. Life, in many ways, is a feast, yet how often do we find ourselves filling our plates with things that do not satisfy? This year's Methodist theme, "Soul Food," calls us to reflect on the nourishment our spirits really crave and the sustenance that only Christ can provide.
Lent is more than a time of sacrifice; it is an opportunity for transformation. Imagine yourself wandering through a vast desert, as Jesus did, each step feeling heavier than the last. The thirst is unrelenting, and the mirages of the world—wealth, status, comfort—promise some relief, yet they never actually deliver. Then, like an oasis in the wilderness, Christ holds out His hand, offering water that quenches eternally. The 40 days of Lent serve as a reminder to turn away from all worldly mirages and drink deeply from the well of God’s love. Through fasting, prayer, and service, we empty ourselves of all temporary things, in order to be filled with the eternal. Let’s look at those individually:
Prayer
Prayer is much more than just words offered to God. Prayer is the very rhythm of our spirits aligning with God’s heart. Prayer is the quiet, whispered conversation in the morning light and also the desperate cry in the dark of night. Prayer is the bread that sustains us through our joys and also through our desperations. This Lent, may we embrace prayer, not simply as something we feel we are meant to do, but as invitation, a moment to sit at God’s table and be nourished by the presence of the Divine.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
Feasting
Imagine a banquet prepared with great love and care—a table overflowing with the yummiest of food.  This is what scripture offers: a feast for the soul, full of wisdom, hope, and the very essence of God’s voice. Yet, how often do we turn instead to the fast food of fleeting distractions? May we commit this Lent, to savour the richness of God’s word, allowing it to shape and strengthen us.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Serving
A meal is best enjoyed in community, and faith is no different. The abundance of Christ’s love is not meant to be hoarded but shared. Imagine a banquet where every seat is filled, where no one is left hungry or forgotten. This is God’s vision for each and every one of us, to serve one another, to feed the hungry, to extend the nourishment we have received to those in need.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.” (Matthew 25:35)
A Fasting and Feasting Challenge:
Rather than simply giving up a favourite treat, as we often do during Lent, maybe think of Lent as an opportunity to shift focus:
Fast from negativity – Feast on gratitude
Fast from busyness – Feast on stillness
Fast from selfishness – Feast on generosity
Fast from worry – Feast on trust in God
Each of us has a rich story, a testimony of how God has fed our weary souls. How has God provided for you in your moments of hunger? What has sustained you through trials? Who could you share your story with? It could well be the encouragement someone else needs.
As we walk the Lenten journey this year, may we remember, that true nourishment does not come from the fleeting offerings of the world, but from the abundant grace of God. May we feast on God’s presence, be filled with God’s Word, and share God’s love freely. Because, in Christ, our souls are fed, our thirst is quenched, and our spirits are renewed.
Go well
Karen 
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