[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2026]
So their entreaty ascended fervently to heaven.
3 Maccabees 5:9 [NRSVA]
It is perhaps unusual for us to quote from the books of the Apocrypha but those words give us an appropriate context for our thoughts this week as we consider prayers of supplication.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during April 2026]
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4 v18 [ESVUK]
During a recent conversation around the parable of the prodigal son,[1] the focus turned to the feelings of the younger son after he recognised his plight. He had lost everything – his wealth, his friends, his self-respect, even the very means of providing for himself.
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[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Mar/2026]
I went on a course a few days ago. It runs once a year, at a venue in a particular London hospital. I was dropped off at Horley station and made my way into London. It was a smooth journey, and I arrived with a bit of time to spare. On the way out of the tube station as I walked to the hospital, I noticed a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk with a sign asking for donations. I walked to him and put some money in his cup. He said “God bless you” and I said a prayer in my mind for him as I walked on towards the course.
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[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/Feb/2026]
Next Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which this year starts at the same time as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Muslim year is shorter than ours by about 11 days, so Ramadan comes round earlier each year. During the month of Ramadan Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Going without water must be particularly hard during the long hot summer days and I am thankful for their sakes that Ramadan for the next few years will be in the cooler months when the days are shorter (at least in the northern hemisphere).
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2025]
What good would it do to change my way of living
If everything inside me stayed the same?
The question was posed by song-writer Barry McGuire in his 1978 song “What Good Would It Do?”; the song was later included in his “Cosmic Cowboy” album. The lyrics ask whether there is any benefit arising from a change of behaviour if that change is only superficial.
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[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 19/Oct/2025]
As I write this, it has been a very eventful few days. After two years of turmoil, hardship and heartache, the ceasefire has come into effect between Israel and the people in Gaza. Many people played a part behind the scenes in negotiations to end the conflict and get the hostages home, President Trump being very significant in getting things across the line.
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