What a joy to restart our children's/young people's groups after the summer break. 36 young people at 'Ace' tonight, playing silly games, thinking about ways of praying and sharing in the Eucharist.
Fantastic family gathering in wonderful Alstonefield, although that descent was slightly steeper than we anticipated!
Thanks @herdyshepherd1 for recommending Hisham Matar's 'My Friends', probably not novel I would otherwise have bought - but one I am very glad to have read.
I often pray for children who have only known conflict - here is the reality.
This is Adam… my child who has never known peace. 💔
Adam is my second son, a piece of my soul.
He was born just four months before the war began…
His face lit up our home, and his tiny cries filled my heart with life.
Then the war started.
Since the moment he learned to walk, he has known nothing but the sound of warplanes, the trembling ground, and his mother whispering to him, “Don’t be afraid, my love.”
He never played in a park, never knew a real bed, never ran except through the narrow alleys between tents.
Every time a missile falls, he runs to me in terror, clinging to my clothes as if trying to crawl into my chest.
Adam doesn’t know what his old home looked like…
He doesn’t know what it means to have lights on, or to step outside without checking the sky first.
Sometimes I watch him laugh…
And I ask myself: “How can a child living through all this fear still manage to laugh?”
Then I remember…
Children don’t know how to give up.
Adam is my battle I refuse to lose.
He’s proof that life is still possible,
even if we survive on crumbs of bread under a tent that shakes with every explosion.
Adam…
I promise you, no matter how deep the darkness gets,
I will keep standing… for your smile.
And if I ever write my final words,
they will be:
“I had a child named Adam… and he taught me how to resist.”
Lovely walk up Gunnerside Ghyll today - one of our favourite places. I hope I can walk that far when I'm 88!
We were glad to find Lovely Seat did indeed have a seat on the top - enough to shelter from 40 mile an hour winds and driving rain.
Thankful this morning for @charliebelllive Lent reflection on reliance, and @malcolmguite sonnet on psalm 91 to accompany it.
What a joy to spend time with the young people of Ace and Ace+ @Adel_P_Church tonight. Lots of madness and interesting discussions on Martha and Mary and what Lent is all about.
Candlemas @Adel_P_Church @LeedsCofE this morning...we thought about encounters with Christ. Our procession may have been somewhat chaotic...but it how joyful to see our young people bearing the light of Christ out into the world.
Alison Battye retweeted
Today you are going to be fed a complete lie by the Conservative Party about a vote in Parliament this evening on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. This will be pushed by their social media mouthpieces as well as other right-wing voices, including the owner of this site. But you should not believe a word of it.
MPs are today voting on a Bill which aims to improve children’s education and wellbeing through measures that will help limit school uniform costs, introduce free breakfast clubs, make important reforms to academy schools, introduce a power to cap the profits made by children’s social care providers and create a compulsory Children Not in School register among other measures.
It is not a vote on a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Nor is there any Amendment which would add such an Inquiry to the Bill. Nor is one possible at this stage of a Bill. Any politician who says there is such an Amendment is lying to you.
There is simply game-playing by the Tories, who do have an Amendment, but an Amendment which is to throw out the WHOLE Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Even if the Tory Amendment were passed, it would not add an Inquiry to the Bill – it would simply kill the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, preventing all its positive measures being passed.
The Tories know all this, but they are continuing with their totally cynical and deliberate campaign of confusion (as part of their fight for survival in their political battle with Reform).
It is sickening to see child abuse, one of the most serious of all issues, being used as a political football in this way.
#MyChurchOfEngland I'm always too busy to take photos - but a packed 3pm crib service inside, and an even busier outdoor 5pm crib and carols by candlelight at 5pm, both wonderfully led by some of our yr6 church members.
#MyChurchOfEngland Not even standing room in our little church for our community carol service last night. 7 junior choristers adding to the choir - 50 children from 1 yr up in church
What a joy to welcome what seemed like a good proportion of the people of Adel to our carol service @Adel_P_Church @LeedsCofE tonight. Not even standing room...readers from church and community and 7 young choristers in our choir.
Amidst the mess in the C of E, and after a chronically busy week, it was good this morning to be reminded by our wonderful retired priest of the power of the Magnificat...and how every little act of solidarity with the vulnerable and needy is part of that.
Tonight at Ace @Adel_P_Church Tang led us in a discussion about Jesus' disciples, we played chase the ace and Kim's game. At Ace+, thanks to Amanda we made and ate pizzas, then Michelle helped us think about the story of the prodigal son.
With thanks to church family and parishioners - our harvest collection @Adel_P_Church for the work of the Red Cross in Sudan raised £1,100. The suffering is immense and rarely in our news.
That's 'Ace' and 'Ace +' @Adel_P_Church done - great fun - but I am ready for a cup of tea! Thanks to all the leaders that make this possible.
The parish of Adel cum Eccup has a new Licensed Lay Minister - hurrah! Congratultions to Paul, and thanks to all who came tonight to support him.
Uncomfortable, but good, to welcome Jan Goodair to preach for us @Adel_P_Church @LeedsCofE as we kept Creation Sunday this morning. Important to be reminded again of what we face with the Climate Emergency, and given hope and ways we can react.
On Friday we had toddler church, this morning a full junior church, this evening 30+ children at our 5pm group, and started our new 11+ group @Adel_P_Church . Only poosible because of the enormous number of dedicated volunteers giving their time and energy.









