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

Ordinary people, extraordinary stories. The story of my journey from India to Pembrokeshire and my life at the heart of the community....

"You are just slaves. So go back to where you came from..." is what I was told by an elderly British lady when I was working in a travel...

"You do not have because you do not ask.'"James 4:2 NKJV Do you ever wonder how to ask God for what you want?  Is there a right way to pray to God? There are times I feel like I need to pray just the right way.  Maybe if I use the right words and have the correct attitude, I can convince God to do what I want. Do you ever fall into the same pattern of thinking? Oh, Dear One, let me encourage you.  God doesn’t answer our prayers just because we checked all the boxes during our

Today is the beginning of the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus assures us: "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." This year’s theme is ‘One Body, One Spirit’ – from Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1-13 – and the service was prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. This year's theme reminds us that the call to unity is a call to work for peace for all people everywhe

“In everything give thanks.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV In a world often marked by hustle, bustle, and the relentless pursuit of success, it is easy to overlook the simple yet profound act of being thankful.  Breathing is a complicated process. It requires physiological precision, and the average person takes about twenty-three thousand breaths a day. And while we're inclined to thank God for everything that takes our breath away, maybe we should also thank him for all of our

We welcome the entrance Of another new year. A time to take inventory Is once again here.   We count our successes. We remember failures too. We desire to improve In everything that we do.   Let's strive to be better Servants for our Lord God And be a blessing to others As on life's road we trod.   A new year to serve Jesus, For that we should rejoice. May He top our priority list. May serving Him be first choice.

The moment of “transition” from one page almost finished to a new one about to begin is an invitation to reflect on time. During his Angelus message on January 2, 1972, Pope Paul VI urged the faithful consider the value of time. “Before we venture into the new year, it's time to dedicate some reflection to it,” he said.   “Time is the measure, so to speak, of events that follow one another. It is the measure of our present life. A measure that instills fear, because it makes

The Rev. Allan Boesak (1946 – ) is a South African theologian (ordained in the Dutch Reformed Church), politician, and anti-apartheid activist. His Advent credo was originally published in  “Gathered for Life:  Official Report, VI Assembly, World Council of Churches” , ed. David Gill (Geneva: WCC Publications, 1983), 228-229. I believe it was also included in his book,  Walking on Thorns: Call to Christian Obedience , published in 1985.

I see the hands of Joseph. Back and forth along bare wood they move. There is worry in those working hands, sorting out confusing thoughts with every stroke. “How can this be, my beautiful Mary now with child?”  Rough with deep splinters, these hands,small, painful splinters like tiny crosses embedded deeply in this choice to stay with her. He could have closed his hands to her,said, “No” and let her go to stoning. But, dear Joseph opened both his heart and hands to this moth

'Trust in the Lord and do good.' Psalm 37:3 Psalm 37:3 contains some of the greatest instruction there is for having a great life. It says, “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so, shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed”. All of us go through difficult times and experience pain and disappointment. In John 16:33, the Lord even tells us that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). H

'One person gives freely yet gains even more.' Proverbs 11:24 NIV In His teaching, Jesus focused on the heart of giving.  He exhorts...

Famous for her autobiography, Story of a Soul , St. Therese of Lisieux was a 19th century French saint and a Doctor of the Church. She...

Little is known about St. Matthew, except that he was the son of Alpheus, and he was likely born in Galilee. He worked as a tax...

There are some people in history whose lives make us stop in our tracks. Their stories challenge our comfort, stretch our faith, and...

WWJD is an acronym for "What Would Jesus Do?". It is a Christian slogan and motto that encourages people to consider Jesus Christ's...

The other day I sneezed and heard the response, ‘God bless you.’ It set me thinking. Why do we say ‘God bless you’ or ‘bless you’ when...

Graham Stuart Staines (18 January 1941 – 23 January 1999) was an Australian Christian missionary, who along with his two sons, Philip...

Life is a jar. And every day, you decide what fills it. The big rocks are the things that truly matter — your health, your relationships,...

St. Louis, King of France, patron of Tertiaries, was the ninth of his name. He was born at Poissy, France, in 1214. His father was Louis...

St. Bartholomew was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of leatherworkers, bookbinders, plasterers,...