Christ Church Bracknell – Week 1

Christ Church Bracknell (CCB) held their first Sunday service on 11th January 2026. I joined the service to support Nick and Harriet Algeo. The service was at 10.30 am at the Braybrooke Community Hall in Bracknell. I arrived about ten minutes early, and as I entered the hall I was met by a few familiar … Read more …

Christmas Centrepiece-making

Growing up in Africa our Christmases were way different from the festive fare that I have now become accustomed to. Apart from the odd paper snowflake motifs, I’ve never been into craft making. Yes, I’m that member of the household who quickly changes the channel when an episode of Kirstie Allsopp’s ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas’ comes … Read more …

Verse of the Year 2026

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) We love many things. We love certain foods, activities or people. Love is something we feel, and indeed is often dependent on those feelings. But we have turned … Read more …

Bible Overview

Have you ever looked out from the top of a tall building or a from a viewpoint and had a wonderful overview of a city or landscape? I lived in Berlin for a while as a student and knew the city from cycling and walking the streets but when I went up the television tower … Read more …

Prayers for those who find Christmas hard

Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, Immanuel, God with us, has come for all those who are weary and need rest, who are lonely and need friendship, who mourn and need comfort. On Friday 19th December, at our reflective Christmas carol service, Adam led us in three prayers for those who find Christmas hard. They … Read more …

Christmas Unwrapped

If you think that having 120 ten-year-olds in church getting hyped up for Christmas with a lot of sugar sounds pretty chaotic then you would be absolutely correct. If you also think it would be a whole lot of fun then you would also be correct. This week we’ve had groups of between 30 and … Read more …

What am I doing here?

If I said that a story about rugby, Jesus and an old man from the Bible equated to a St Mary’s men’s breakfast where the speaker was our previous vicar Will Stileman, then I don’t think that you would be surprised. Will was back at St Mary’s and recounted a story from his rugby playing … Read more …

Where can they meet Jesus?

Jason and Laura Swain recently ran the ‘Where can they meet Jesus?’ training course. Two attendees write about their experiences below.   Recently, I enrolled in a course titled ‘Where Can They Meet Jesus?’ led by Laura and Jason Swain. I joined because I wanted practical guidance on having meaningful spiritual conversations, particularly how to transition from … Read more …

News from Richard and Gracy Crane

A big thank you for your kind messages and generous gift as I stepped down from the staff team in September. Gracy and I feel much loved as I embark on my final year at theological college. I’m delighted to share the news that from next summer I will serve as curate at Trinity Church … Read more …