It is easy to pick out individual verses from the bible, and some verses are inspirational, but it is important not to quote them out of context. It can change the meaning and, if it doesn’t, the surrounding verses can deepen and expand the verse. Take John 3:16, for example; a verse so well-known that often only the reference is used, rather than the actual verse. Read it, if you’re not aware of it. It is an amazing verse. But, still, it should not be isolated from the verse

After Jesus was baptised by John, the Spirit descended upon him, and a voice from heaven proclaimed him God’s beloved Son … following which he is led straight into the wilderness. (see Matthew 3:13 – 4:11). We know that he fasted for forty days and nights, and Matthew records that after this he was hungry. This might seem obvious, why exactly would Matthew note this? I think it is crucial for what follows. The tempter uses that hunger to try to persuade him to turn stones int

My research into our past Sisters was initially meant to focus on their lives in Community, but I became increasingly interested in their family backgrounds, and have unearthed some interesting information and connections. I’m never quite sure how much I should be exploring that background, but sometimes, after writing about a Sister, I start to research some more about their siblings and families. I find this research fascinating, so it always tempting to do more than needed

Unlike many of our Sisters, Sr Eliza came from a local family. Originally from Bungay, her parents were living in Ditchingham by the time she was born in 1856, and it is here she was brought up. In 1851 Abraham Bull (born Bungay) and his wife Harriet (born Beccles), were living at Factory Cottages, Ditchingham, with their six children: Abraham (age 14), Sarah Ann (age 12?) and Eliza (age 10), all of whom were born in Bungay, and Mary Ann (age 3), Edward (age 2) and Charles (a

Anna was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for seven years, although we do not know who her husband was. Now, in old age, she spent her time in the temple, in fasting and prayer, and was a prophetess. Like Simeon, she sees Jesus in the temple with his parents; unlike Simeon, she does not say anything directly, but Luke reports her as giving thanks to God, and speaking of Jesus. (Luke 2: 25-40). We know so little about her, and she takes up no

I sometimes wonder whether we are so used to common interpretations of some parables that we no longer read them properly. We think we know what this means, therefore we miss other, possibly deeper, meanings. Take the Parable of the Talents, for example. It is easy to see this as about our talents, and how we do (or don’t) use them, and I’m not saying it’s not there. But I think there is more to it than that.   Found in Matthew 25:14 -30 and, slightly differently, in Luke 19:

When I joined the Community, I was told that most Sisters were either teachers or nurses; I’m not sure that was entirely true, but we have had a number of Sisters from both occupations. One of the latter was Sr Augusta, Sister-in-Charge at All Hallows Hospital for many years. Our Hospital was built in 1873, although the work started earlier in a cottage in the village of Ditchingham. The Hospital is based in the village itself, unlike the Convent which is slightly outside. Sr

It ends on a cliffhanger; we never know what the older son did, or how he eventually responded to his younger brother’s return (see Luke 15). On discovering the celebration, the older son refuses to join in, so his father goes out to him. His reasons have always slightly confused me: that his father had never given him as much as a goat so that he might have a party with his friends. But doesn’t he own everything anyway? At the beginning of the parable, the father divided his

The world has transformed in a couple of hours, colours disappearing under a cover of white, a whiteness emphasised by the almost whiteness of the sky. It is an event that is seen differently. Some go out excitedly, for snowballs and fun; others pause to take photographs against the background of white flakes falling from the sky; others will dress up warmly and walk carefully, anxious to avoid a fall; still others will stay in, locked down by the potential for ice, slips and

It is the Christmas of 1910; in Yale, Canada, a group of schoolgirls are going from door to door singing ‘Wake and Sing good Christians’, under the guidance of Sr Marion. That is all I noted down from East and West , the magazine we published between 1886 and 1919. It is enough, however, to justify writing about Sr Marion just before Christmas. A Christmas related blog is going nowhere. So, let me introduce you to Sr Marion.     Born in 1869, she was the third child of John C

I was struck by the words used in one version of Isaiah 35, suggesting that when God comes as judge, he comes to save us. This seems logical: we believe in a God of love, so even when judging, that comes through love. To criticize someone can be soul destroying if done in the wrong way, but can also be helpful, and even life giving, if it is done positively. So why would God’s judgement not be something that can save and help us? However … knowing that translations use differ

Buried at Westcliff-on-Sea, where she died, Sr Jane Mary is one of few Sisters who are not buried at Ditchingham. I have no idea why she died there: whether she was staying with her friends, or whether she had been ill and was there to convalesce; whether she knew she was dying when she went. I do know that she had friends nearby, as they arranged for her burial. M. Louisa was present, but (as far as I know) no other Sisters went. Neither do I know for certain who those frien

It is a dark time of year: with the days growing shorter and the skies often grey, it can seem as if there is very little light around at all. It is no wonder that we want to brighten up our lives with Christmas lights, whatever we may feel about increasingly early decorations. It also makes it a good time of year to focus on the Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79), and especially the last few verses. It is easy to become so used to certain parts of the Bible that we really do not hear

While looking through a book of early Associates, I came across some recognisable surnames; surnames that were the same as some of our early Sisters. I made note of these, to research a possible link. One of those Associates was Louisa Florence Gottwaltz, admitted as an Associate of the second order in 1897, and withdrew in 1912. She was the sister of Alice Frances Gottwaltz, who was professed as a choir Sister in 1897 and died in 1910. While there is an obvious link between

How often do you mislay items that are valuable, necessary or just significant to you? It’s easy to do; you put your keys down somewhere while thinking of something else … and then can you find them again? How many of you would throw a party when you’ve found it? Possibly if it’s something really valuable to you, then there might be text messages sent round telling people that what was lost has now been found. Of course, in New Testament times, then it would be impossible to

It had obviously settled in for the day. Grey clouds, no rain, but damp; one of those days which never really get light. It would have been so easy to focus on the negative, to moan about how dreary a day it was. But then you turn a corner and the most astounding tree appears, the leaves shining red, standing out far more against the grey backdrop than they might have done in the sun. The colours on the trees this year are amazing; yellows, golds, reds and oranges blazing, wh

What is a ‘living sacrifice’? (See Romans 12). Those who first read the letter to the Romans may have been used to sacrificing animals, so the idea of a living sacrifice must have felt very strange. How can you sacrifice something that stays alive? Moreover, given that it refers to our bodies, how can you sacrifice something that you are keeping? Did it come as a completely new idea, or was it a concept that was more current among the early Christians? If you’re looking for s

It would be very easy to assume that Sr Ethel was Irish; she was born in Ireland, as was her father, William Henry Johnston. However, William spent most of his adult life in England, and Sr Ethel seems to have spent very little time in Ireland. Moreover, Ethel’s mother, Fanny Lewis Johnston, was English. Her father, Rev Edmund Antrobus, was for some years curate in Acton, Middlesex; his wife, Frances Margaret Antrobus, was from Northumberland, where her father, Prideaux John

It was an informal meal, where the Sisters each took their food into the dining room, sitting wherever they chose. The meal was silent, but, for those who have experienced it, a silent meal can bring people closer. It was still, very much, a Community time. So why, on this occasion, did one of the Sisters choose to isolate herself? Rather than sitting on the same table as the others, she took herself off and had her meal on a separate table on her own. It was deliberate avoid

We believe in a God of Love; we exist in a world where division and hatred seem to be becoming part of our culture. How do we reconcile...