The Community for Spiritual Formation

Sunday thought (from James):

Sunday thought (from James):

Sunday thought (from Sheryl): Through complex and patient communication, bees work together to ensure that their colony thrives.

To ponder…
In God’s community, how does ‘complex and patient communication’ feature?
What can we learn from bees?

Sunday thought (from Sheryl):
'For you shall go out in joy
and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isa. 55:12)

How might these words encourage our solidarity and advocacy for those in exile?

Sunday thought (from Sheryl):
Reflect on the image and words below...
Do you have somewhere equivalent to a ‘lovely wild place’ where you listen to the silence?
Could you discover or create such a place?
What does the silence say to you?

Sunday thought (from Sheryl):
'...they knelt down and paid him homage...' (Matthew 2:11)
‘homage’, from Old French meaning "allegiance to a feudal lord.”

How does that relate to what we seek to offer God in worship?

Three Kings, wood engraving by David Jones (Methodist Modern Art Collection)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” (“O Little Town of Bethlehem”, Phillips Brooks)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “May we see your light in this world of ours…”
from “Come, Lord Jesus, Come”, Francesca Leftley.

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “In the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow… In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.”
What can we give Him? (Christina Rossetti)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim, shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as the sun and moon together!”

(“People, Look East”, Eleanor Farjeon)

How can we live as peace-makers in a disordered world? The Community offers a five-day retreat to explore this in July 2026. Speakers: Barbara Glasson & Steve Radley with weaving opportunities facilitated by Ruth Sprague. More details on the Community website www.communitysf.org.uk/index.php/20...

Sunday thought (from Nicola): Belo we see St. Luke writing his Gospel...
Who would appreciate receiving a message from me today?

Sunday thought (from Nicola):
'I was glad when they said to me: “let us go to the house of the Lord.” ' – Psalm 122 vs 1
The church at Taizé

Sunday thought (from Nicola):
What have I heard today that I want to remember?

(Listening circles at Taizé)

Sunday thought (from Nicola): .

‘O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!’ – Singing the Faith 745, verse 4

A Community of sunflowers

Sunday thought (from Val): In what ways are we all the same? In what ways are we all different?

Sunday thought (from Val): What have you learned this week that has become scaffolding for new growth?

Sunday thought (from Val): How does silence give you a different perspective on the world?

Sunday thought (from Val): What lights up the dark corners of your life?

Sunday thought (from Andrew):
A stranger sets the table
An open invitation is given
All are welcome
To share, to learn, to wonder
To discover, to find companionship and growth
To be fed, blessed
Image- Bardsey free art (cropped) 7/4/25 11:21

Sunday thought (from Andrew):
Pacing, wishing I could be somewhere else
Longing to be in community
I stop and notice the Wicklow mountains as the sun sets
I realize I am in community already gathered
Not bound by distance but held in heart.

Image- Revealing sunset Bardsey 6/04/25 20:03

Sunday reflection (from Andrew):
May we find that inner silence to reflect and wonder, in awe of God’s creation.
Image- Rocks and reflection pool/sunset Bardsey Island 6/4/25 19:37

(Belated) Sunday thought (from Andrew):
The gulls gathered where the river joined the sea, to drink the fresh water.
Life sustaining.
May we drink deep of The Living Water.
(Image- Gulls at Aberdaron 13/04/25)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom
and puts praise on display before the nations…”
(Isaiah 61:11, The Message)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?” (Robert Lowry)

(Belated) Sunday thought (from Kristin): “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewellery, Moon and stars mounted in their settings.”
(Psalm 8:3, the Message)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): "Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” (from the prayer of St. Francis)

Sunday thought (from Kristin): “Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground!” (Exodus 3:5, the Message)

Sunday thought (from Sheryl): What does it mean to be a community?

'There Isn’t Any'

It is lovely when there is no next thing.
You are simply doing this
and there is no next thing.
You are not thinking
as soon as I get this finished
I can start on the next
because there isn’t any.
There is simply this.
You are doing it now.
And it is lovely.

Pat Ingoldsby