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...

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...

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...

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...

‘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...

‘Out of the ground you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’ Gen 3:19. This week we have begun the season of Lent; traditionally a period for reflection, for repentance, for...

How quickly the scene changes. A few moments ago, the sky was grey, the light had dimmed and snow was falling heavily.  Large flakes danced and swirled gently past the study window, covering once...

This is a strange moment.  Christmas is past, Lent is yet to come, we’re in between.  What now? Normally at this time of year we make plans; holiday, family togetherness, community events.  Our...

To allow for cleaning between funeral sevices St Mary's will be open for private prayer on Tuesday 9th February instead of Thursday 11th February. The church will be open on Thursday 18th February...

Along with a growing number of communities across the country, we have decided to suspend all routine physical services for safety reasons. Our church buildings remain open for occasional activities...

For unto us a child was born; in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (John 1:4) With these words I began my Christmas reflection; closing from the same passage with: The light...

See I am doing a new thing; …. making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19).   The Bible doesn’t give us their names; we don’t know where they lived or how long their...

The East of England Co Op Band and St Mary's Church would like to thank all those that supported their recent event. Band members braved the cold to play at 4 sites around the village.  Mulled wine...

Last week I reflected on the prophetic voices we hear in the Old Testament. Although we believe that many of these words were fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, I closed with...

Sunday 13 December 2pm and 3.30pm Gosbeck Village Hall Drive-In Christmas Carols In The Car Park. Due to current restrictions, and following the success of the Drive In Harvest service, the North...

East of England Co Op Band comes to Coddenham The village provided a warm welcome to members of the East of England Co Op Band.  Their festive programme was enjoyed by many in the churchyard, at...

  ‘Go from your country, your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you’. (Gen 12:1) Advent, and normally our Christmas preparations are in full swing by now.  Over 2000...

It has been a beautiful, sunny, peaceful day. Mary and I are about to take a break.  When we return, Advent will be almost upon us.  Before we go, I want to share an afterthought, prompted by this...

As I write these notes it is not clear what form our annual Acts of Remembrance can take this year. You may stand in a familiar spot and hear familiar words; you may join in on-line, you may remain...

  The clouds cleared; the sun shone in a wintry looking sky; time for a walk. In the last 6 months I think I have seen more of the local countryside than in the previous 6 years.  Each walk is...

    Jesus said to his disciples ‘Heal the sick ….., say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you”’ [Lk 10:9] This week-end we will be celebrating St Luke, referred to by Paul as ‘the...

  The sun is shining, the sky a wintry blue, tree branches are dancing; time for a walk. Down the gravel drive and on to the grassy path along the field margin.  Here the land slopes gently...

How quickly things change.  This time last week I began my reflection with the words The sun is shining, the air is warm and still. Looking out of the study window this afternoon the air is, once...

  The sun is shining, the air is warm and still.  It still looks like summer but the nights are drawing in and, despite the sun, there is a nip in the air.  Autumn is here. The fields around us...

  It has been a glorious day.  Dry, calm, quiet; just right for a good walk. So, the Rectory has been closed and Mary and I have been walking.  A change of scenery, a good pub lunch, catch up...

The house is silent, but for the rhythmic ticking of my study clock, and the muted rumble of passing traffic. I am home alone and all is still.  Time for coffee; a small, strong, espresso cup,...

 Sunflowers How tall is your sunflower? One of ours at the Rectory has topped at a mighty 8ft 6inches (260cm). It towers over its neighbours and topples over when the wind blows. This photo was...

Listen (Isaiah 51:1-5) Before reading this, pause a moment and listen.  What can you hear: the sound of traffic, a clock marking the half-hour, a moment of silence?  Living alongside a main road it...

North Bosmere Benefice Service Sunday 23rd August at 10.30 am. For the whole family and your pets. To join this zoom service email reader.ruthdennigan@gmail.com.  

 FOOD FOR THOUGHT It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs (Matt 15:26).  If there is one of Jesus’ sayings that causes me a problem it is this one.  Jesus is approached...

 Christ Comes to Me - From the Rectory This weekend we will celebrate our first service of Holy Communion for nearly 5 months.  With the constraints we are all living with, it may be a strange, even...

The clergy and PCC are very pleased to welcome you back to worship at St Mary's from Sunday 9th August. There will be a communion service starting at 9.30am on each Sunday in August.  To ensure that...

Be Still and Know That I am God It had been stormy and intermittent but heavy bursts of rain had punctuated a grey and windy day.  Now, as the evening light began to fade, the garden was, for the...

What matters most in life; health, wealth, love or …? As I type, the sun is doing the Hokey Cokey; in, out, in, out, and enough breeze to shake it all about.  I am tempted to down tools and go for a...

 Weeds While they were asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.’  (Matt 13:25) The dictionary says a weed is a wild plant growing where it’s not wanted.  On that basis weeds are not in...

A Sabbath Rest - Rev. Philip Payne ‘Six Days thou shalt Labour, and do all thy work: the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord Thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work…. ‘ (Exod: 20:10, Deut:...

From The Rectory (5 July 20): Repentance - What’s Your Excuse? ’You said John was too austere, you say I’m a glutton, a drunkard and mixing with all the wrong people”.  (Matt: 11:16,17 paraphrase)....

Thought for the Day 10: Let’s celebrate Friends and Family. It has been particularly hard over recent months to deal with our inability to meet up with friends and family members in person. The...

From The Rectory 28 Jun 20 – A Hedgehog Slumbered Like many people I know, recently I have been catching up with a few outstanding jobs.  And so, it was, that a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon found...

From the Rectory 21 June - ‘What troubles you Hagar, Do not be afraid?  (Gen 21:17) This week’s readings are troubling.  In a world of tension and fear, of exclusion and inequality we look to the...

From the Rectory 14 June 20 – Peace ‘Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’  (Rom 5:1) It’s raining.  Through the study window I see a leaden sky and...

From The Rectory - 7 June – The Big Picture One of the most well-known paintings in western art is Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642). The picture depicts an Amsterdam Militia group and at over 4...

Renewal is at Hand. Several years ago, not long after we moved from Stonham Aspal to Coddenham, we started work in our garden. We planned, planted and waited for the flowers and shrubs to blossom...

From the Rectory, 31st May 2020 - How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts[1]. For 2 months now we have been locked out of our church buildings.   Buildings which have spoken of the Lord’s...

From The Rectory - Ascension Day  21 May 2020 Oh to be back in Munich!  Ascension Day, always a Thursday, tends to pass by largely unnoticed here.  In Catholic Bavaria, with no qualms about a public...

Thy Kingdom Come via Zoom! Will the schools open or not? Will we be allowed to visit family anytime soon? Will holiday plans have to be cancelled? I think that sometimes the lack of certainty is...

From the Rectory - A good walk 18 May 2020 Have you been for any good walks lately?  Not long ago such a question may have brought forth reflection on well-known but perhaps distant places; holidays...

 Slow and steady wins the race. Mark 4: 26-28. 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed...

From the Rectory - VE Day 2020. Friday 8 May 2020.  75 years ago today, the guns fell silent across Europe.  The war with Japan would continue a further 3 months; the East-West division of Europe...

Sunday 10th May Morning Prayer for VE DAY 75 10am via Zoom To join this special service please email Ruth Dennigan reader.ruthdennigan@gmail.com

  Thought for the Day 7: Where are your special gifts taking you next? Because of what’s going on at the moment, Match of the Day on a Saturday night has been showing a series of “Best of”. The...

In recognition of VE Day 75, Evening Prayer on Friday 8th May (via Zoom) will include prayers of commemoration and for peace and we will listen to the ringing of church bells as we start our...

Conversation with God – From the Rectory 3 May 20 Who have you spoken with today?  A quiet conversation with a family member, a brief and light-hearted exchange with the deliveryman, or perhaps that...

Thought for the Day 6: No Human is Limited. Last Saturday lunch time I watched a short television programme that looked at the amazing achievement of Eliud Kipchoge. He is a Kenyan long distance...