Claire Jones

#CofE ⚓️

A blonde 3 year old sits on a yellow mat surrounded by Happy Land figures and buildings.

Feeling so blessed by our church family, who come with delicious hot food night after night, plus gifts and love and prayers.

Especially blown away by the wonderful woman who brought dinner AND a new play set for Libby tonight.

We are being loved so well.

Gladiators, a Chinese, and my 10-day-old son asleep on my chest. Perfect.

Can confirm baby did not get the memo about the 8th either, and is apparently determined to hang on until the 32nd February.

In our family, we so far have birthdays on 4th, 8th and 16th.

Since this baby has missed 2nd and there is no 32nd, it’ll have to be born on the 8th.

I love that Alexander has basically treated the whole thing like a KPMG team building retreat…

I get the sense he’s surprised they haven’t done a Myers-Briggs test yet…

#thetraitors

Every Irish person ever.

#traitors #thetraitors #traitorsuk

Everyone knows that January is at least 17 weeks long, but did you know that it's actually more like 63 weeks long when you're in the final stretch waiting for a baby?

A young child from behind stood on a frosty lawn, wearing an incredibly bright 90s style outfit and a bobble hat.

My three year old has gone to sleep wearing a princess tiara, cuddling her huge plastic T Rex, after asking me to teach her the 8 times table.

She is so gloriously herself.

Yes! This was almost word for word my argument. Feeling incredibly vindicated. 😁😁

Solve a recurring family argument for us. Which best fits the category ‘animal’: an eagle or a unicorn?

A little posh bottle of sherry with a small glass of it on a red Christmas table

A very tired vicar holding said glass.

It’s a fancy one for #clergymaltclub for me, courtesy of my big brother. It’s been tough going this week, but midnight communion made it all worth it.

Christ is here.

A wooden nativity scene featuring 7 figures on a windowsill beneath a glowing star.

A simple wooden Mary, Joseph and manger in front of a tv

A large metal angel with a trumpet stands above a scene of wooden church mice. The one reading from a lectern is labelled Luke.

A ceramic nativity set with more detailed traditional figures.

Nativities of our living room. #CofE ⚓️

The 3 y/o is singing Away In A Manger, then stops, laughing.

“Why did they call angels stars? It must be angels because stars can’t look down, they don’t have eyes. But angels could.”

Maybe a lawyer rather than a poet 😁 #CofE ⚓️

#CofEpeeps

A pile including a large tin of chocolate biscuits, a Little Village School novel, a mug of tea and a packet of flu-max pills.

One last day off before the big push.

Cheering on anyone else battling to keep illness and exhaustion (and in this case, grief) at bay before a marathon of celebrations!

You’ve been reading my notes 😉

This one isn’t my diocese either -it’s for Bath and Wells. Always happy to be invited 😉

It’s a workshop, but could probably become an article!

Tongue in cheek really but the idea is that expository style sermons are usually found in conservative evangelical churches, maybe 30 mins plus, and expect an engaged educated middle class congregation. Many (most) churches don’t fit that description for many reasons!

Pausing the Christmas services prep to write a workshop called, “Exegetical Preaching for Normal Churches”.

What’s your gut reaction to the phrase exegetical preaching? Joy? Boredom? Intimidation? Anticipation?

#CofE ⚓️

Does this count as #TinyJoys?

From behind: a toddler holding hands with her mum, both in coats and boots, walking through Christmas lights.

My tiny girl uses “speaking of which” perfectly appropriately to segue into a related topic of conversation, and it utterly charms me.

These are the details of parenting that no one else will find remarkable but mum would have absolutely loved.

So glad I went along to the @nacoauk.bsky.social
event tonight. Felt a little like when I went to my first LGBTQ Christian event* - total strangers who nevertheless share a deep part of who you are.

*Except that night I met my other half. So not quite the same.

Going to my first @nacoauk.bsky.social members event tonight.

Next step on a journey I wish no one had to take. But thankful that there’s support I never knew of as a teenagers.

#CofEpeeps

A crowd of children and adults from behind watching a puppet show

A man and two women at a sign in desk, laughing and smiling together.

We’ve had the most incredible Nativity Funday, with about 400 people through the building exploring the story of Jesus’ birth. Crafts, bouncy castle, Minecraft, a puppet show, treasure hunt and practically limitless tea and cake.

Praying for the fruit of faith in Jesus to flourish.

Feeling positive here in Reading!

At home, yes. At drop in, nah - the kids are generally terrible so I have to rein myself in, especially at Connect 4!

It runs alongside Share, a food waste charity that we partner with on Monday afternoons. We run the cafe and the family drop in room, where parents and kids can wait for their turn to shop. Board games, crafts, toddler toys and books, rugs, and plenty of snacks. I get to play a lot of Dobble!