Thought for the Week: November Reflections6th November 2026 – Daniel KhanLast weekend I drove a return trip to Oxford to visit some relatives. The days were wonderful for this time of year - crisp, bright, and sunny – but as the evenings darkened and the nights became colder, the familiar sights and sounds of fireworks could be seen and heard in nearby communities. While not quite 5th November, the age-old tradition of Bonfire Night was starting to gain momentum.As a child growing up in Trinidad, Bonfire Night was not a local tradition. But as a parent, and now grandparent, in England, I can fully appreciate that there is something rather magical about standing outside on a dark November evening, perhaps sharing burgers and hot chocolate, and sensing familiar Bonfire Night sounds and smells. For a few moments, watching fireworks burst into brilliant colours above us, the darkness is transformed by light, and we find ourselves looking upwards in wonder.Perhaps, though, Bonfire Night offers us an opportunity to reflect on something deeper. We might ponder on the importance of light in our lives, and the light that God brings into our world. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). These are powerful and thought-provoking words. We know that a single candle flame can illuminate a dark room, and like that flame, Jesus reassures us that He brings hope, comfort and encouragement into the darkest corners of our lives.But as November continues our thoughts also turn to Remembrance Sunday, when we pause to remember all those who gave their lives in the service of our country and those who have suffered, and perhaps still suffer, as a result of conflict. It is a time of solemn reflection, gratitude, and for many, personal sadness. Yet remembrance also has a special place in our Christian faith. Jesus reminds us in John's Gospel "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). These words speak powerfully of the courage, selflessness, and sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that others might enjoy freedom and peace.Remembrance Sunday is not simply about looking back, however. It challenges us to consider the kind of world we wish to create for future generations. As Christians, we are called not only to remember those who have died, but also to pray for those who live with the consequences of war today, and to work towards a world where conflict gives way to understanding, forgiveness and reconciliation. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9). These words remind us that peace is not something we should take for granted, but something we must continually seek and nurture.And so, as the fireworks of November fade, and we stand together in remembrance, we are reminded that the Christian message is ultimately one of hope. Bonfire Night celebrates light in the darkness, Remembrance Sunday asks us to remember those who faced the darkness of war, and our faith reminds us that Christ’s light shines even in the darkest of times to bring comfort. May we remember with gratitude and look forward with hope, trusting in God's enduring love, and praying for a world where all may live in peace.“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)Daniel Khan, Licensed Lay Minister
Thought for the Week: Using Our Gifts – 30th October 2026 I am penning this thought for the week having returned from Ian Cartwright’s book launch at St Giles’ Church in Copmanthorpe. As we listened to Ian being interviewed about his book, and after hearing Ian talk enthusiastically about the book, the characters and the inspiration, I thought, 'Wow - what a gift'. This was followed by a couple of readings of short passages from the book and I was moved some more. There is truly a gift that Ian has received from the Grace of God. There was a bit of me which thought ‘I wish I could do that – I wish I had that creativity in me’.As I thought this, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” Why do I need to covet Ian’s gift? I have my own gifts; we all have our own gifts. God has chosen each of us to take on different roles, different ministries and he has given us gifts that we may exalt him. Sometimes we do not fully appreciate the gifts we have and we don’t use them. Sometimes those gifts lie dormant until the time is right. I don’t listen to our musicians and think 'I wish I could do that'. No, I appreciate our musicians for the gifts they have been granted. Instead I need to concentrate in discerning the gifts that I have been granted, rather than coveting another’s. Do you recognise your gifts? Sometimes our gifts are visible and explicit. Individuals who are front and centre. Other times they are hidden and implicit, working behind the scenes. Christian communities need both. Christian communities cannot survive without the combination of the gifts that God provides, and we must cherish each other for those gifts. As Christians we need to use those gifts for the fulfilment of God’s Kingdom, So let us rejoice in our own gifts that God has granted us and let us do so by using them.Romans 12: 6-8 tells us: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Amen. Alan JohnstonLicensed Lay Minister
Thought for the Week Sunday 25th October (The Last Sunday after Trinity)Up and Away!A few weeks ago, Philip and I crossed another thing off our list of Things to Do Before We are 99 ¾. We went on a hot air balloon flight. When I was a little girl and on long road trips with my Dad, we used to play a game called “There’s a sermon in that”. And there are definitely parallels between riding in a hot air balloon and the Christian faith. Firstly, you have to believe in the balloon. You have to have faith it can take off safely, fly safely and land safely. Of course you can’t be 100% sure of any of this, and before we got airborne we had to practice the brace position, just in case. Secondly, you have to trust the pilot. Ours was a happy chappy called Sevket Kaan Cakir. He was young, and had a beautiful wife waiting for him back in Cappadocia. No, we had never met him before, but we trusted him with our lives.Thirdly, you have to be ready for a whole new perspective on the world. We set off in the pre-dawn darkness, other balloons glowing redly in the gloom and our fellow balloonists just grey shadows in a featureless landscape. But as we ascended into the sunrise, we saw the countryside spread out below us, roads and towns, playgrounds and lakes, and finally the stunning white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, where mineral rich thermal waters flow down from the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis. The experience was dreamy, quiet except for the occasional whoosh of fire roaring into the delicate canopy. In the distance we could see dozens of other balloons, blooming like tropical flowers lit with flame. As Christians we have put our faith in Jesus, for this life and the next. He is our pilot and we trust that he will guide us though the changes and chances, joys and sorrows of life and land us safely on a further, sparkling shore, where God himself will dwell among us, the nations will be healed and death and mourning will be no more. Just as flame makes the balloon rise, the fire of the Holy Spirit helps us to rise above circumstances (we might sometimes need the brace position) giving us the power to soar. Our faith gives us a whole new perspective on the world, we can see what matters, rise above materialism and anxiety, and experience the beauty of heaven touching earth when God’s Kingdom is glimpsed, now in part but then face to face. Rachel (LLM)
Thought for the Week: Being Gardened by God – 16th October 2026As I write this thought for the week, I reflect on Harvest time. For many of us we will have just celebrated, or be about to celebrate, Harvest in our church communities. I have been brought to the passage in John 15: 1-8, The Vine and the Branches:“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."So each of us is being gardened by God. We are being pruned as individuals and as churches, and we need to recognise that this is the way of God. It is a good thing. I personally am not a great gardener. In fact it would be true to say simply, I do not garden. My skills in the garden extend to moving furniture and digging holes. However, those who garden will tell you that pruning is a way of cutting back to help flowers and trees to grow. This is the same in God’s garden. He prunes us so that we may grow and bear fruit, becoming better disciples. Similarly he does this with our churches cutting back what we do, so more effort can be put into the right activities. As humans we often resist this cutting back but as Christians we should welcome it and follow Jesus’ model of accepting that sometimes there is need to do different things or do the same things in different ways.So I ask you are we wedded to doing the same thing day after day, week after week noting ‘we have always done it that way’ or are we open to being pruned by the Great Gardener, ready to bear greater fruit?Alan JohnstonLicensed Lay Minister
