Blessed are you who are poor (Luke 6:20); not, I suggest, a strap-line to promote support for your cause. As I prepare this reflection, we have another new Prime Minister.  Beyond the immediate, and...

A Concert of Popular Classics at St Mary's Church Saturday 29th October at 7.00pm. Brass, Pipes and Voice - featuring talented local musicians - Ian Galbraith (organ), Sarah Johnston (soprano) and...

God, I thank you that I am not like other people.  Well, of course I’m not, we’re all different. Sometimes, the difference shows; age, colour, wealth.  Sometimes the differences are less obvious. ...

October's Coffee Morning at St Mary's Church Preserves Day Jams, marmalades, chutney for sale. Saturday 15th October 10.00- 12 noon Freshly brewed coffee and homemade cakes. Children's autumnal...

The sun is shining but the air is definitely cooler.  The once parched grass is rapidly turning green once more. Trees are turning golden brown, looking ever richer in the late morning sun.  Beauty...

St Mary's Harvest Festival Sunday 2nd October at 11.00am 'Thank You For Your Generosity' - so many reasons to be thankful for all the generosity we receive in our community. Come and sing and be...

As I prepare this piece the nation is in mourning following the death of our late Queen. This is the end of an era.  For many of us, myself included, she has always been there, a trusted constant in...

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth ll, St Mary's church is open daily for prayer and reflection and there is a Book of Condolence where we can express our gratitude for Her Majesty's wonderful...

The Sunday readings on this week’s notice sheet include almost all of St Paul’s short letter to Philemon. Paul’s entourage in Rome includes a runaway slave, Onesimus.  Onesimus is a Christian; a...

A small electric ‘ping’; the silence was broken. Once it was a knock at the door that brought news; then it was the shrill ‘Brrring Brrring’ of the telephone; now it’s a quiet, ping.  Social media;...

It’s been one of those days; a day when nothing goes to plan.  Yet now, peace, all is still.  The wind has dropped, the birds have fallen silent and as clouds gather far above me, evening draws in. ...

If it gets much warmer I’ll melt. It’s Tuesday and the mercury is heading towards 40 once more.  The coolest place right now would be in one of our churches except that I just don’t fancy the walk...

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever. (Heb 13:8). Recently I have joined in several discussions about changes to church buildings.  Anyone who has ever tried to implement such change...

Rev. Philip is taking a well earned holiday. For information about services in the benefice this week please see the Notice Sheet here      

Coddenham's Coffee Morning goes regal!! Saturday 11th June, 10.00-12 noon at St Mary's Church. There will be the usual homemade cakes and fresh coffee, but we will be adding a royal twist and the...

Approaching Jerusalem with Jesus, two of his disciples (James and John) came and asked a favour. They were looking for the top jobs in his kingdom.  The other ten were furious.  If there were top...

‘Nunc Dimittis’ - Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. Evensong, and as Sunday drew to a close, the words of the Nunc Dimittis, words familiar to generations,...

Another glorious afternoon.  The sun streams through my study window, whilst the willow behind the house provides welcome dappled shade for a short break.  Now we can consign the winter woollies to...

As Spring progresses, the Rectory front lawn becomes a blaze of yellow cowslips.  Last year we decided to leave the grass uncut, interested to see what else might appear and what insects this might...

Thanks to Bliss and the volunteers the Community Shop will be open on Monday May 2nd from 10.00am - 3.00pm. Call in for all your Bank Holiday needs - plants and compost, barbeque food, cold drinks...

Coddenham Coffee Morning Homemade cakes and coffee with warm hot cross buns. Saturday 9th April 10.00 - 12 noon at St Mary's Church, Coddenham Easter crafts for children All welcome. All proceeds to...

‘What do you do?’  For much of our life we are, so it appears, defined by our occupation. Even in retirement or death, official forms often seek to know ‘What did you do?’  What we do is not just a...

This weekend we celebrate Candlemas.  Traditionally this is the moment that candles were brought into church for blessing before use. With that in mind, I have been thinking about candles. ...

You are warmly invited to our Mothering Sunday Service at 10.00am on Sunday 27th March. A chance to say 'thank you' to those who care for us or have cared for us in the past. Children will be able...

To celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight Coddenham Church Coffee Morning will be open for freshly brewed coffee and home made cakes, with FAIRTRADE and TRAIDCRAFT STALLS. St Mary's Church, Coddenham....

The storm finally abated, the wind dropped and the late evening sun shone; peace.  At the same time another storm appears to be abating and soon, in England at least, all remaining Covid...

Sitting at breakfast one recent morning, I watched the rising sun grace the morning with a brilliant, fiery red glow.   By 8 in the morning, however, the light had dimmed and it was as if dusk...

I was glad when they said to me, ‘let us go to the house of the Lord’ (Psalm 122:1) For the psalmist, the house in question is, of course, the Jerusalem temple.  Built initially by the famed King...

What a glorious morning.  As the dawning light slowly brightened, it revealed a frost-whitened landscape; the field beyond our garden shrouded in a low mist topped with the shadowy outline of the...

It was dark as we drove cautiously along the lane.  Slowly I became aware of a pale shape moving on the edge of the road in front: a cyclist unlit; a pedestrian facing the wrong way?  The shape...

After the busyness of Christmas Day, life at the Rectory has been quieter this week; time for family, friends and self.  It won’t last, so we make the most of it I wonder how Mary and Joseph felt...

Christmas celebrations continue at St Mary's with an outdoor service at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Join us in the churchyard to hear the retelling of the Christmas story and join in singing carols led by...

It’s dark, the curtains are closed, as much to keep out the cold as anything. Night has descended and silence, almost, reigns.  The occasional car can be heard passing along The Street, but that is...

Candlelit Carol Service at St Mary's Church this Sunday 19th December at 4pm. Featuring the Benefice Choir. Please use hand sanitiser on entry and wear face masks throughout the service.

As the rain lashes down once again, I pull on a stout pair of boots.  Boot laces have become a challenge.  If I don’t double knot them, they come undone in moments.  When they are tightly tied, I...

Winter is here. As I write, much of the country is blanketed in snow; storms have brought down power lines and trees, the mercury has turned sub-zero.  Are you ready?  Anti-freeze in the radiator,...

Last Christmas the churchyard at St Mary's was brightened up by an avenue of Christmas trees beautifully decorated by villagers.  Due to popular demand the Christmas tree avenue will be repeated...

  'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  (Matt 11:28) The year draws to a close; the temperature falls; the heating kicks in and radiators are warm to...

In the run up to Christmas over the years the Shop has held an open evening for customers to have a drink and some nibbles, and maybe try a few new products. Having had to cancel last year's due to...

 For your tomorrow we gave our today (A short reflection for Remembrance Day)  When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today. (Kohima Epitaph) ‘For your tomorrow we...

The Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary's will take place at 10.45am starting at the war memorial.  The service will include wreath laying and the playing of the Last Post.  Following the act of...

St Mary's Church looks forward to welcoming you to the November Coffee Morning from 10.00am until 12 noon. It's time for bacon butties! Freshly brewed Fairtrade coffee and homemade cakes also...

As I walked from the church, dusk was falling.  Pausing a moment, I looked back and was taken by the warm, peaceful glow in the windows.  How quickly things had changed.  At mid-day, heavy rain,...

In the beginning God created…. The mid-day sun hangs low in the sky, bathing the station platform in a soft, autumnal glow.  The trains have long gone.  The line closed more than 50 years ago.  Yet...

After the joys of Sutton Hoo (From the Rectory, 17 Oct), this week takes a sombre turn, following the murder of Sir David Amess.  Any murder is a tragedy.  What marks out the murder of Sir David,...

Last Friday I welcomed Stonham Aspal School into church for the school harvest service; 200 children and their teachers.  It was a joyful time.  From paintings of ‘my favourite food’ to researching...

Many thanks to all those who organised and supported the Flower Festival at St Mary's at the weekend.  We were blessed with amazing weather and lots of visitors. The event was held to Celebrate Life...

Last Saturday saw the annual Historic Churches Ride and Stride. This year Mary and I visited the Eastern side of the Benefice.  Beginning at Stonham Aspal, right on our doorstep, then passing...

The holiday is over and it’s time to return to work. A few days ago I was walking Norfolk coastal paths, enjoying wide-open vistas of marsh and sea.  Now the horizon has shrunk to the wall at the...

Holy Communion at St Mary's Church, Coddenham this Sunday, 5th September at 11.00am. Everyone welcome.

This month's Coffee Morning is on Saturday 11th September from 10.00am - 12 noon. There will be an American theme to the refreshments as we commemorate 20 years since 9:11.  There will also be a...

The extreme weather conditions we have experienced throughout the world this summer and the publication of the UN report on climate change (IPCC) have surely focussed our minds on environmental...

The benefice Home Group has sponsored a toilet in Malawi which is now twinned with the toilet at St Mary's in Coddenham. The organisation, Toilet Twinning, sponsors toilets in places throughout the...

It was a glorious morning; the sky was blue and the sun shining.  On the half-open dining-room door was a distinct, but unfamiliar, shadow.  The pattern of vertical bars was clearly the window...

Where does my food come from? Whether we grow our own, shop locally or take delivery from the supermarket; we take it for granted that food is available.  Yet at the same time, I only have to look...

Sunlight filters gently through the trees, stitching a rich mosaic of light and dark.  A blackbird sits on the ground sunning herself; above her, minute insects dance in the warm air; brightly...

Just 20 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection St Paul, writing to Corinthian Christians, tells how ‘on the night when he (Jesus) was betrayed, he took bread, gave thanks, broke and shared it...

This afternoon, discussing repair work for a church tower, I pondered, what purpose the tower?  Many are the repository of bells.  Some hold the village clock or sundial.  In border or coastal...

Like many gardens locally, ours has an out of the way patch optimistically graced with the appellation of Compost Heap.  Compost is an interesting concept.  Take a random accumulation of grass...

Last night I drove home as the sun was setting: a large golden orb on the horizon, infusing the surrounding clouds with a fiery glow.  It was a glorious sight.  Minutes earlier, I had looked across...

In the middle of March last year, I sat down to write the first in what has become a weekly series; my reflection from The Rectory.  That first reflection, for Mothering Sunday, was soon joined by a...

As part of the global prayer movement, Thy Kingdom Come, there will be a benefice service focussing on remembering at Creeting St Mary Church at 2.30pm on Saturday 15th May.  At 3.30pm St Mary's...

I know it’s a little early but I have been thinking about the end of the Summer Term.  Every year a new generation of students step out from school, college or university to enter the world of...

    St Francis made his home with us a few years ago. Each summer he stands in the garden in quiet contemplation.  Like me, he doesn’t take kindly to too much frosty weather and so spends...

‘It’s getting noisy round here’ I thought.  It was a gloriously warm and sunny afternoon.  When I arrived at the church, only the cheerful song of a blackbird had broken the silence.  Now, some 10...

Following the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, St. Mary's Church will be open tomorrow, Sunday 11th April, from 9am to 5pm for reflection and private prayer. Due to...

It’s late morning and, as I look out of my window over the Rectory garden, I am treated to a glorious Spring view.  The sky is blue.  A brilliant sun picks out the colours in the trees; both leaf...

The congregation at St Mary's wish you a happy and peaceful Easter. The photograph was taken in our beautiful churchyard by Ian Galbraith.

The Cross, the Day After, the Empty Tomb [Suggest you read one day at a time, starting with Day 1 as Good Friday] Day 1 – The Cross  On the afternoon of the first day, I came to the cross.  Although...

The future’s Orange, or so a mobile phone company once told us.  It was a short-lived future; Orange has gone.  Today, looking out from my study, the future looks distinctly and vibrantly yellow. ...

‘Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; shine through the gloom and point me to the skies’.  (Henry Francis Lyte) This morning I stood silently rehearsing these lines as Ian played ‘Eventide’,...

The trains have long gone, the smoke cleared, the track lifted; the tunnel still stands, burrowing through the limestone hills above the Wye Valley.  Old railway routes make good footpaths and one...

Spring is coming. The sun shines brightly in a blue sky. Flowers of various hues brighten the garden.  The garden is alive with avian activity and over the last few days, we have watched a robin...