My paternal grandparents were Irish immigrants to London in the late 1940s. They ran pubs all across west London, including their very first pub being at the end of the driveway to Holy Trinity Brompton, the church where Alpha originated. My grandmother returned to Ireland 30 years ago, and lives on a farm in the […]
Why are we so divided?
“Why is half the church made of cinder block, and the other half red brick?” That was the question a friend of mine asked his father, who had just taken a call as the pastor of the church in question. The church sanctuary was literally split down the middle with half of the room made […]
I was out, when I thought I was in
I recall coming to biggest rugby game of the year when I was in my second year at university. The announcement for the team was to take place one Sunday night with all present. I was sure I would be in the starting line-up. Yet, when the names were read, I was left on the […]
Remembering our baptisms
Last Sunday was a special Sunday. For the first time in almost two years, since before the pandemic began, we got to celebrate a baptism Sunday. We heard about the story of the people of Israel miraculously crossing the River Jordan, and picking up stones in order to make a memorial so they would always […]
I want to get re-baptized!
March 19, 1989. That was the answer to my question. I had several photos but I didn’t have the date. It didn’t take place in my home town, as the local priest would only perform the ceremony if the family attended the church. So, we went to my grandfather’s church, St. Augustine’s on the Fulham […]
Never Forget
I’ll never forget where I was 20 years ago today when I heard the news about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I was a teenager and was just getting on the bus at the end of school (the UK is five hours ahead of the East Coast of the US), when someone said, “I just heard […]
Ready. Set. Go?
School starts on Tuesday, and I think many of us were expecting that this would be life returning to normal. And now all that seems up in the air…It is like we are starting a race and we have heard the starter go, “Ready. Set.” and then she says the word “go” but with an […]
I didn’t see the sign!
Recently, our 9-year-old dishwasher was struggling and after three attempted repairs I gave up and purchased a new one. I chose to install it myself because I had already taken apart the old one so many times, I figured it would be easy. The delivery guys dropped it off, took away the old one, and […]
How to keep your kids’ faith alive
Statistically speaking, most students who attend church as a teenager will stop attending as an adult. How can we reverse that trend? Over the last few months, our staff have been studying the book, Faith for Exiles by David Kinnamon and Mark Matlock, which seeks to answer that very question. Two of the five practices […]
Stop spending your money at Costco!
Maybe I’m the only one, but have you ever got to the checkout at Costco, heard the cashier tell you how much your bill is, and (almost audibly) said, “That’s gonna cost how much? All I came in to buy was a few groceries!” It’s called Costco Treasure Hunting according to their website, and it […]