Blog

Part of my Messy Church Ministry Lead role is to encourage the international Messy Church community. We host an online learning group for country leads, all organised and delivered from the comfort of my spare bedroom, so when I was invited to lead an in-person workshop on ‘Intergenerational Discipleship’ at Messy Church USA ‘Celebrate the Mess’ conference, I leapt at the opportunity.

A core value of Messy Church is creativity, which often means that we use loads of 'stuff' as we learn, remember, and pray through the things we create, reflecting on God's story and presence in the world.

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Mark 14:32-35 (NIV).

Last Friday, I made my way to Church House in London to celebrate the ‘end’ of my cohort’s Strategic Leaders Programme (GFSLP). It was, as Growing Faith Programmes Lead Stephen Beamond put it, a ‘tank-filling’ day!

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. During Lent, traditionally I would give something up, but the last few years have involved me taking up something. This year I am making space to know God more in the everyday things.

Last Friday was Culture Day at my daughter’s secondary school in SE London. Digging into my German family history (how else did I get a name like Aike?),

At the start of a New Year, it’s good practice to pause for a moment and reflect on the year that’s past, giving thanks to God for both the opportunities and challenges.

Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair…

In October I was lucky enough to take a group of the older young people from my Messy Church to 3Generate the Methodist Church’s, children and youth forum.

Over the past year I’ve been on a leadership journey, taking part as the pilot cohort for the Growing Faith Foundation’s ‘Strategic Leaders’ Programme.

O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie… The images of a sleepy town with dome-silhouetted skyline, conjur...

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God Matt 5:9 (NIV) Love your enemies, do good to them, an...