Rev Shirley Murphy
The thoughts, reflections, faith stories and meanderings of an 
Anglican Priest

The book of Jeremiah is one of the longest books of the Old Testament. It is also one of the most thrilling. The author of this book is...

Please watch this video from Julian's new YOU TUBE CHANNEL called THE AWAKENING. This video talks about Forgiveness. Please watch, like,...

"He [Handel] would frequently declare the pleasure he felt in setting the Scriptures to music, and how contemplating the many sublime...

If there was ever an example of a family that simply could not get on, it was Jacob’s family. It seems that Jacob would be dogged with...

Most of us have stories to tell about weddings. There was the groom whose car had broken down on the main road on his way to the church....

Please watch the second video in Julian's new YOU TUBE CHANNEL called THE AWAKENING. This video talks about making time for YOU. Please...

The human body is amazing. What do you think of your own body? We can be very critical of our own bodies and find it hard to be...

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" (or "12 Days of Christmas") is a holiday classic — and while it may not be as catchy as some of our other...

This is a new You tube channel called THE AWAKENING started by my husband Julian in which he talks about all aspects of faith, belief,...

At about 3:20 a.m. on March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese, a 28-year-old manager of a bar returned to her quiet residential neighbourhood,...

The last year has revealed much about us, for good and for bad. Trials expose us, confront us, and purify us, and God has given us trials...

There are times when we ask ourselves, "Is God really listening to our prayers?" "Things have turned out so wrong for me – where was God...

What a contrast! The picture that St Luke gives in his account of the birth of Jesus is one that is peaceful and calm. The only negative...

Sometimes it feels like life is falling apart. Sometimes it comes crashing down in a moment of tragedy. Sometimes it slips slowly through...

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus said, not once but twice. “I am the bread of life.” When was the last time you ate the bread of life? I’m...

One of the favourite images of Christmas is that of the wise men travelling by camel through a star lit night. One star dominates the sky...

Please find the link for my New Year message of Hope in the local newspaper. https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18977049.new-year-me...

I wonder what they saw in the sky that first night. What was it that got them thinking? What was it that motivated them to pack and begin...

I believe, that at some level, we all want to see that star. We want to see something that guides us beyond ourselves, beyond the borders...

This year Christmas has been one with a difference. In our area we have experienced a number of blackouts because of the electrical...