Tessa Stephens

@CF_Farrow That is so wise and so beautifully expressed.

Many people have said to me this week that they’ve felt almost guilty for feeling grief and sadness, as if they have no right to, because the loss isn’t “theirs”. I’ve felt that too. But my husband reminded me of something important: compassion literally means to suffer alongside. It doesn’t compete with the family’s agony, and it doesn’t diminish it. It’s simply the human response to witnessing something unbearable; allowing your heart to be moved, and letting that sorrow turn into prayer, kindness, and support. If you’re feeling that weight today, don’t be ashamed of it. Hold the family in your prayers, be gentle with one another, and let compassion do what it’s meant to do: draw us closer, not shut us down.

@OSacrumCorIesu I think that's a good idea. Important to engage face to face

I am thinking I might go to be on the edge of the Unite the Kingdom Carol Service, share some Christmas cards and chat with / listen to those attending. I can only make it from 3pm. Is anybody interested in coming with me?

@MadsDavies There are a few near me - St Hilda's Redcar, St Timothy's Hemlington, St Agnes, Easterside. All modern buildings that let their congregations down.

Something I've come across quite a bit when writing about church closures is that some were really badly constructed, with structural defects from the start :(

@jdflynn Also interesting on the higher rate of complications when carrying a baby which is not genetically yours. I had no idea but it makes sense.

@jdflynn This is one story of how horribly wrong it can go wired.com/story/the-baby…

This is exploitation.

@bishopSarahM An exciting new adventure!

Prayers for The Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell as she is today confirmed as the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Joanne has faithfully served parishes in London as the Bishop of Stepney since July 2019, and she has been a highly valued colleague to all clergy in the diocese. I know that she will minister to communities in Suffolk with grace, wisdom and dedication. @dioceseoflondon @CofEsuffolk

Why maybe you shouldn't keep quiet about donating to charity... This was in the Charities Aid Foundation philanthropy report.... "In the UK, we are famous for not talking about money and this often includes philanthropy. The less we talk about giving, the less it becomes an expected part of our responsibility to our local community and the wider world. While many of us do not want to boast about our generosity, we may do the charities we support a disservice by not acknowledging our support more publicly." "What you can do: talk to your friends, family and colleagues about the charities and causes you care about. You can celebrate the work they do without centring yourself - or the size of your donation - in the story. Consider volunteering as well as donating, if you are more comfortable talking about giving time than money in conversations with others." I've encountered this negative attitude to discussing charity, as I've been attacked by (thankfully the few not the many) when I pubish my annual transparency blog about where the money from my charity fund goes. Some snipe at it saying, if you tell people about it, it devalues the giving. I disagree, in my view raising awareness about charitable giving and charities is important for someone in my position. And I will continue to do it.

@SaraCheeld @yellowchair4 @KateBMwriting @Girlguiding My daughter has had brilliant experiences thanks to the volunteers who run her unit. Lots of craft, cooking and outdoor activities and no ideology.

@yellowchair4 @KateBMwriting @Girlguiding Thank you for recognising that those of us running the weekly meetings are not ‘pushing this agenda’. Each Guide is an individual negotiating their journey to womanhood.

Girl guiding rounds off Pride month with a celebration of well known ‘woman’ Marsha P Johnson and then goes on to list 23 other women - of which FIVE are men.

@fugitiveink I had only lead occasional prayer book services before moving to this parish, where there is either Evensong or BCP communion every Sunday evening. And it's lovely, especially if the morning has been lively - a really helpful and restorative way to end the day. So it can happen!

Good news: our benefice is going to have a new rector. His name has now been announced. Other news: his background is in pioneer ministry, so my dream of a return to regular, frequent BCP services here seems unlikely to come true.