Some places are etched into our lives in a way that draws us back. The Pennant Melangell valley is one of those spaces that has drawn me back for over two and a half decades. It is a liminal space with a tangible sense of the other and the spiritual. In all weathers and across […]
What kind of leadership ?
Posted on by James Woodward
In the unchartered waters in which the Church finds itself a key responsibility of any leader is to be one who questions; a person who asks questions – of God, the Church and of the wider community. Any leader at this time, but perhaps especially in the Church will be aware of the […]
Does Belief change in Old Age?
Posted on by James Woodward
On re-reading – Belief and Ageing :Spiritual pathways in later life Peter G. Coleman (Editor) Paperback, 192 pages Policy Press Bristol 2011 I agreed to offering a session at this years Sarum Centre for Formation in Ministry on what the Bible might show us about flourishing in older age. I grabbed a few books […]
Seeing beyond the immediate: listening and learning alongside older people
Posted on by James Woodward
From 1998 through to 2009, I had the privilege of working with many hundreds of older people in an Almshouse charity. We lived together in rather splendid seventeenth-century buildings which were surprisingly adaptable for modern use. It was an intentional community with a Church, primary school and a community of older adults living together. I […]
Space, Colour and Form in Kettles Yard : Reading Ways of Life by Laura Freeman
Posted on by James Woodward
This book was a present from a friend who had seen that I had visited Kettles Yard some few months ago. I have been hanging onto to it so that I can read slowly and carefully without interruption. What a treat it is ! I should say that I need no convincing of this space […]
Tell Me the Good Things : On Love, Death and Marriage by James Runcie
Posted on by James Woodward
There are, I confess, on my bookshelves a number of books that have been waiting to be read for some time. I bought this book last year after a rather arresting radio interview with James Runcie. There were a couple of connections that moved me into ‘I don’t need any more books, but this one […]
Reading Scripture : On seeing and not seeing ?
Posted on by James Woodward
Do Small Groups Work? Biblical engagement and transformation Anna Creedon SCM Press 2021 The 2023 July Session of the Church of England […]
The Shaping of a Soul by Richard Harries
Posted on by James Woodward
The Shaping of a Soul: A life taken by surprise Richard Harries John Hunt Publishing £18.99 (9781803411620) I have read and now write about a man and his story from a privileged position. I worked with Richard as his first domestic chaplain from 1987 to 1990 and now my life is enriched […]
Resourcing Ministry with Older Adults : BRF and Sarum College
Posted on by James Woodward
If I have time on a Sunday morning it is (usually) good to catch up with the religious news of the week with the Sunday Programme. This was followed by a superb act of morning worship that marked the music of William Byrd on the 400th anniversary of his death. Just as I moved towards […]
To Rest or not to Rest : Reading Alex Sooting-Kim Pang
Posted on by James Woodward
I was introduced to the book by Gillian Strain ( do take a look at her work www.gohealth.co.uk) and so ( albeit) reluctantly picked it up – mainly on Gillians recommendation rather than an enthusiasm to explore my own patterns of work/life balance. It is a clear, persuasive and challenging book. It was like being […]
What does it mean to Age Well : Reading Ian Knox Finishing Well
Posted on by James Woodward
Ian S. Knox Finishing Well: A God’s-Eye View of Ageing London: SPCK, 2020. Pp. xiv, 283. Pb. £9.99. ISBN 978-0-281-08349-7 Ian Knox is an experienced, wise and creative priest and evangelist. His love of people, life, scripture and learning are all present in the fourteen chap- ters of this book. His scope of reading […]
The Lessons of Life ? Inciting Joy by Ross Gay
Posted on by James Woodward
What do you think holds us together ? What should be our attitude to these moments of living? What are we struggling with? Where is 2023 taking us – these moments of ‘post pandemic weariness’ ? Is the future welcoming ? Jurgen Moltmann, in Theology and Joy wrote “We may have fun, […]
Space and Time : Heschel on The Sabbath
Posted on by James Woodward
Many books that we buy or borrow age. They have a shelf life. I have aways been interested in other peoples shelves – how they organise their books. This becomes especially acute when we age – which inevitably, for most means downsizing. What remain on that small bookshelf that fits so well between table and […]
Burkeman on the lessons of Time
Posted on by James Woodward
Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count Vintage 2022 What is your relationship to time ? How long is that To Do list ? And what about those good intentions we start any day with? This Saturday started quite well – an early start and off to […]
From the Shores of Silence – Learning from feminist voices in Practical Theology
Posted on by James Woodward
From the Shores of Silence Conversations in Feminist Practical Theology Edited by Ashley Cocksworth, Rachel Starr and Stephen Burns with Nicola Slee SCM Press £30.00 (ISBN 9780334060963) Practical theology has had a slow journey into securing some significance in the academy. There have been landmark books, institutions and academics who have contributed to its […]
Transgressive Devotion : radical, original, unsettling theology at its honest best
Posted on by James Woodward
I remember one of my university teachers sitting in on a seminar that I was leading some 20 years ago. He was attentive and appeared to be making careful notes. On the feedback form his only comment was, ‘clearly expressed and excellent engagement with the group, but I wanted to hear and learn something arresting […]
Close ( Film 2022)
Posted on by James Woodward
Gustav De Waele and Eden Dambrine as Rémi and Léo On my post Easter travels I was glad to reaquaint myself with The Midland Arts Centre (https://macbirmingham.co.uk/) – a place of regular visits over twenty years of living in Birmingham.Based in Canon Hill Park, Edgbaston and opposite the Warwickshire Cricket ground it was a happy […]
Reading David Whyte – Consolations
Posted on by James Woodward
We live in strange times. Listening to this mornings news adds to the complexity and anxiety. The junior doctors strike which informs us to avoid being ill this week. The advance of AI and its implications for our knowing and understanding. The preparations for the visit of President Biden to Ireland as they mark the […]
What shall we make of a frail old age ? On watching Allelujah
Posted on by James Woodward
If I had taken any notice of the reviews then I should certainly not have parted with £12 for a cinema ticket to see this film. Based on the play by Alan Bennett, this slow, intentional and warm the film explores age and care and human nature in the face of pandemic, NHS resources and […]
‘Bedtime’ Reading : Super- Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne
Posted on by James Woodward
Being confined to quarters while a bout of flu ( or something – I have never been very good at diagnosis ) and amidst cancelling appointments ( sorry ) and searching for paracetemol brings some gifts. Determined to leave the e mails to answer themselves ( wouldn’t that be nice) I decided to have a deep […]