There is a natural rhythm to the year which, even for those outside of the education process, is based around the academy. The new school year is looming and although summer is hardly a spent force, September brings with it the promise of order – timetables, rotas, schedules. Continue reading “Time, time, time”
Author: Gavin Knight
The Revd Gavin Knight has been the Vicar of St Michael & All Angels, Summertown in the Oxford Diocese since September 2011. After serving his title at St Alphege, Solihull, Gavin became parish priest of St Andrew's Fulham Fields in London. He moved to Wales in 2005 becoming Chaplain to Monmouth School. He is married to Jo, a clinical psychologist, and they have three sons.
Browsers versus explorers
The new virtual craze of Pokemon Go has attracted much publicity in recent weeks, both good and bad. The ‘i’ generation has yet another game to play, another screen to use, another distraction from real exploration. There is a big difference between those who browse and those who explore life. Jesus was a natural explorer, not only of his known world but an explorer of mystery and the invisible realm of existence. Like many explorers, Jesus risked his life in his search. Yet this was not an exercise about pitching resilience against survival. Continue reading “Browsers versus explorers”
Live life light
‘”Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ – Luke 12: 15
This post is dedicated to the community picnic organised by St Michael’s Summertown on Sunday 4th September, in the church gardens, engaging with the community about the issues which affect us all.
My experience of moving jobs is obviously associated with moving the family as well and all of the associated problems and challenges that this brings – moving schools, changing jobs, getting connected with phones and internet, energy suppliers, council waste and recycling schemes, making new friends. The list goes on. Continue reading “Live life light”
Tears and laughter
My grandmother’s house was dark, cramped and cheerless. She lived in an early Victorian terrace with a company of cats and an outside loo. As a child I remember how unfamiliar this dwelling felt compared with my own home. It seemed, therefore, quite incongruous that, in this rather depressing place, one of my most vivid memories is of a wooden plaque mounted on the wall of the sitting room which read, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you.” Little did I know that these lines were part of a poem entitled Solitude by the American author, Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Continue reading “Tears and laughter”
Flat-pack church
The courier arrived at the pre-ordained time. The table tennis table needed to be carried to the back garden. Unfortunately the table did not come ready made. It was contained in a cardboard casing which was bigger than any recycling bin could handle. This was a flat-pack and required assembly before the family could enjoy any fun and games. Continue reading “Flat-pack church”