I am… a prisoner’s mentor

01/12/2020 | Reform

A story of mentoring after prison

When most people think about volunteering to help others, prisoners aren’t often the ‘others’ they choose. You only have to read the news to discover that most people think prisoners are ‘bad people’ who … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘Is this meeting a new kind of witness?’

01/12/2020 | Reform

Sheila Maxey finds hope before lockdown

There is nothing like something new to cheer me up as I begin to face the fact that we might be in this Covid-19 world for a long, long time. In early October, we … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: “I’ll be home for Christmas,” so the song goes. Won’t we all?’

01/12/2020 | Reform

Paul Kerensa shares Covid-safe Christmas ideas

A couple of months ago in this column, I asked for your outside-the-box ideas to light up this bleak midwinter. If we can’t sing in church, if the Rule of Six-Geese-a-Laying means no big … Read More

Commitment-Phobe: Songs of yearning

30/11/2020 | Reform

Can lockdown Christmas have meaning?

‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’ is one of my favourite Christmas songs. We hardly ever sing it at our church because it holds this deep and true sad yearning. It is my song for this … Read More

On the pilgrim way: ‘Aching in body, I was renewed in spirit’

03/11/2020 | Reform

Sheila Maxey watches clouds gather

In last month’s column, I said that ‘provisional’ seems to be the word these days. Now, it looks like we have to expect six months more of this provisionality and uncertainty.

When friends ask me … Read More

Do stay for tea and coffee: ‘I made an accidental prophecy’

03/11/2020 | Reform

Paul Kerensa makes an accidental prophecy

When the nights draw in, my diary normally gets busy. Colder months need a bit of cheer, so my comedian colleagues and I would brighten dark days via light entertainment. Oh and a raffle. … Read More