As we move into the winter season in the Northern hemisphere we may be finding the darker, shorter days in tune with concern and despair about matters that trouble us. It might be the presidential election in the United States or ongoing warfare and conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan, or something that troubles us closer to home.
Read MoreReflections
Updates from Whirlow
Unshakable
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Read MoreReflections from Praying without Words
Someone from the group will provide a prompt to aid us in our reflection. This in turn may lead to written as well as spoken responses.
In September we shared a prayer by Mother Teresa and Joy Tobler wrote in response.
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Photo by Zaur Ibrahimov on Unsplash
Make me an instrument of your peace
As I write, bombing and violent attacks are increasing around the Middle East. As one side bombs or assassinates so the other feels compelled to respond in kind and the violence escalates and spreads. On each occasion those who have no power or control are killed, injured and made homeless. I don’t have to look far around the world to see the same cycles playing out, even if not covered so intensively by the media.
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Photo by John Jennings via Unplash
Stones and Stars
Autumn can remind us of aging, decay and endings. It can feel like a turning away from the light and into the dark. It can be a good time for slowing down and reflecting. As the evenings draw in we perhaps have more time to reflect and notice what is around us and within us in the darkness.
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A coat of hopes
What would your prayer or hope be for our world?
Image taken from Simply Living Well blog
Slow down...
There are many mentions in both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures of the need to take time to reflect and meditate.
Read More“Hope” is the thing with feathers
How do we keep praying and hoping when faced with seemingly unresolvable situations?
Read MoreDoing and Being
It’s easy to think that the natural world indicates the virtue of busyness and activity. We live in a culture where doing is prized and where we may well have learnt that we have to strive to thrive, but Jesus saw things differently.
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Jesus and the two disciples On the Road to Emmaus, by Duccio, 1308–1311, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
Walking Together
How might we offer accompaniment to those who are going through difficult times?
How might we share our experience or understanding of the risen Christ?
How might we offer hospitality to a stranger?
The Coming of the Light - Video Recordings
Following our winter Zoom series, you are invited to join us in listening to conversations between our Chaplain Alison, and friends.
Read MoreThe Coming of the Light
Candlemas is the mid-point between the winter and spring equinoxes when we start to have a sense of turning again to the light.
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Another way home...?
Pieter Breughel the Elder
Watching and Waiting
Advent is the season when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. In the world we live in it can be a busy and full time, with parties, shows and lots of shopping. It can be hard to find the time and space to watch and wait for signs that God is with us and to listen to the promptings of the Spirit.
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A Candle in the Dark
Jerome Jones, 2002. Image found on Sundays with CWM (17 Jul): Be Still and know that I am God - Council for World Mission (cwmission.org)
Sister Act
“Martha-work” can be repetitive and unexciting. Whether it’s cleaning, cooking and caring in our own homes or tasks that feel repetitive and humdrum in our workplaces. So how do we feel when Jesus responds to Martha’s frustration at the lack of help from Mary by commending Mary’s choice to prioritise sitting and listening to him?
Read MoreEbb and Flow
The natural tidal rhythm of ebb and flow can be a metaphor for the rhythm of our lives.
Do you feel you have a balance between business and quietness in your life?
Do you find times for quiet and reflection?
Read MoreLet’s Talk About Money
As you know our Chaplain, Joy Adams, retired at the end of May and we have been so fortunate to have benefitted from her ministry over the last 8 years.
Thanks to Joy's work, the outreach of Whirlow and the extent of its ministry have increased substantially, and the Board have felt it right that we should advertise for a new Chaplain on the basis that this will be a paid post (4 days per week). In recent years Whirlow Grange Ltd has been in the fortunate position of making surpluses in its annual accounts. Our main source of income is from our Endowment Fund, and this has been supplemented by generous donations from a number of our supporters. Ticketed events have broken even in the last few years.
Our expenditure includes the upkeep of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and adjoining rooms, and we are grateful to share these costs in our Partnership with the Parish of All Saints Ecclesall. The cost of free events including worship is borne by the Partnership. In addition, Whirlow Grange Ltd bears the overhead costs of staff salaries, hospitality and IT and office expenses.
Although our finances will be significantly challenged by additionally funding the salary and pension of our new Chaplain, the Board has felt it right to take this step after prayerful discernment that we should move forward in faith and with confidence in God’s future purposes for Whirlow. In order to secure this new model of Chaplaincy, as well as planning and developing future programmes, we would be happier if more income came from regular donations. If you are able to give monthly or increase your regular giving – that would be wonderful.
A gift aid declaration enhances your donation by 25%. If you have any queries please contact John in the office,
We are blessed in many ways - and aim to share that with all our visitors. Thank you.
Richard Blackburn David Booker
Chairman Director
Photography by Michael Dysart
The Rainbows in your life
November is a month of grey days, misty rain, and shortened darker days. Seemingly a month where colours are grey and dull. However, like the sudden appearance of a rainbow, there can be times of rainbow moments, a burst of colour, and memories which stay with us. For this Whirlow blog, I would like us to think of times when images surprised us, made us stop and think, maybe even changed us.
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Photo by Craig Bradford on Unsplash
Becoming buds of hope beyond the leaf fall...lessons from St Francis of Assisi
The cycle of nature turns once more to Autumn. For some, a favourite season of vibrant colour and warming spices; to others a time of trepidation and fear as the cost of living and heating their homes rises. For this feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the Whirlow blog reflects on our shared kinship with each other, and with the cosmos, inviting us to follow the example of St Francis in becoming buds of hope beyond the leaf fall.
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