Author Archives: Lisa Battye

Oh dear. Oh very far too dear. I entered today’s meeting of the Council for Christian Unity this morning, scarred already by the Makin Report (read over two unhappy days). Knowing in my bones that our Archbishop Justin would need to offer resignation. It was the best thing and the only thing that he couldContinue reading “In the wake of Publication of the Makin report and resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby”

This is a response to the article I have heard the fears of fellow Jews as UK antisemitism soars. But we will not bow to racism (msn.com) Dear Sir or Madam Christians like me are uber-alarmed to hear that antisemitism is causing Jewish citizens to be afraid again. Our constant question is “What can we do toContinue reading “Letter to the Guardian”

The surprises keep coming. The phrase יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי-צֶדֶק is so well known, and even my new interlinear Hebrew and English bible translates it as meaning ‘He guides me in straight paths’ but being unfamiliar with the verbs meant I had to dig a bit deeper. Of course. Why not. I’m on retreat! יַנְחֵנִי comes fromContinue reading “Day Ten again”

It’s been a whole week since I last published anything about the retreat, and the temptation to simply ditch the attempt to record it is strong. During that week I decided to make the blog password protected, too, and to take my notice about it off Facebook, so now it feels like I am justContinue reading “Day Ten”

 מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד. is how Psalm 23 starts, and it’s been difficult to get past this first line as I reflect and wonder. It is usually translated as ‘A song of David’ but the first of these Hebrew words (read right to left, of course) sounds like mizmoor and comes from the verb זמר (zamar), whichContinue reading “Day Three”

It’s 6th January 2021 and I’m starting an epiphany retreat. My plan to go elsewhere to engage with a guided retreat in person has been scuppered, thanks to Lockdown 3, so I am going solo, in my prayer-room, using a ‘retreat-in-a-bag’, bought some days ago to replace the real thing…. …or so I have beenContinue reading “An Epiphany Retreat”

It’s tomorrow, 2pm. Mum’s 90th Birthday party. All of us will meet by Zoom, from here within her room, where I have been quarantined alongside Mum since Wednesday. I could not leave her in the lock-down they imposed – no visiting. Since then I’ve seen her settle, and become less frightenend in this new, unwelcomeContinue reading “I’m starting to understand.”

Nurses were packing Mum’s few things away as I arrived – Mum’s transfer from the ward to the Nursing Home for End of Life care was cancelled, I’d been told, and so had hurried in to comfort Mum – but there they were, preparing her for transport. “Quickly!” they say. “The Home are closing downContinue reading “Am I really going now?”