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

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...

St. John’s version of the Christmas story is quite different from the one we normally hear on Christmas Eve (John 1:1-14). St. John takes...

I am generally wary of people who seem too certain in their faith. Some might say I am equivocal or unwilling to make a commitment....

Have you ever wondered what it was like for those early explorers as they set out on their journeys to explore and discover the uncharted...

This is my last write up of 2020. A year that has made history. A year that many wished did not exist. A year that was ‘unacceptable’ in...

This song, loved and sung around the world, is thought to be partially composed by an unknown Scottish bard in days, as its most famous...

What comes to mind when you think about the work of Christmas? For most of us, I suspect, it’s things like shopping, wrapping presents,...

Today I wanted to look at the horrible story of King Herod’s massacre of the baby boys of Bethlehem, the reading from Matthew’s Gospel...

Today the 28th of December we celebrate the Feast of The Holy Innocents. They are the Patron Saints of Babies. The day commemorates the...

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist's feast day is celebrated on December 27 and he is the Patron Saint of Turkey. St. John the Apostle, the...

Today, as you know very well, is December 26th but what you may not know is today is St. Stephen’s Day. Today is named after the first...

Most commentaries about the parable of the unjust steward, either begin with or quickly make the point that is it just a strange and...

This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be...

I’m sure most of us have wondered at some time what it was like to be a member of Mary and Joseph’s family. Maybe you have wondered what...