Tag Archives: christianity

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One small creature that probably survives the winter well is the wood mouse, also known as the field mouse. Unlike the dormouse, he is not usually found inside our homes unless he is desperate for food and shelter in the colder months. Instead, he prefers sheds or the endless tunnels he creates, where he stores food to sustain him through the harsh winter months.

With his large eyes, big ears, and soft light-brown fur, he has that appealing, almost Disney-like look we associate with many cartoon characters. At this time of year, he becomes especially active, with the approaching breeding season, which can last until autumn! And there is a flurry of activity as nests are built and food is gathered.

He is nocturnal, an excellent climber, and a fast mover. However, despite his speed, he is vulnerable, for owls and foxes see him as a substantial snack. Spiritually, the wood mouse symbolises resourcefulness, humility, attention to detail, and the ability to find magic in the mundane, truly wonderful qualities indeed.

We gathered on Sunday evening, over the bank holiday weekend in Chawton and shared a lovely evening of prayers, readings, and hymns, some well-known and perhaps one less familiar, though we made a valiant effort!

Our own Steve Lidgett Williams chaired the evening beautifully for Rob Harvey, who led an ‘Evening of Clairvoyance.’ Rob gave an address concerning recent healing and clairvoyant work he had undertaken. He then invited a couple of the house mediums, along with two fledglings, to come forward, and together, they brought the messages while explaining what they were perceiving, helping everyone gain a clearer understanding of how clairvoyance works.

The mediums and fledglings taking part were Nerina Dannatt, Steve Lidgett Williams, Rob Harvey, Chris Elliott, and Alison Keogh. It was a truly lovely evening, spent with our church family, who also gave prayers and readings. Thank you, everyone!

Thank you, Sue and Carole, thank you for your wonderful hospitality and another divine cake creation. Julie, thank you for the music. And many thanks to our healers and trainees for offering healing after the service. Thank you also to those who helped with the set-up, break-down of the evening, and the washing up.

Prayer of the Week

Please keep in your prayers children who may be unwell or in hospital. Illness can be frightening for a child, and it is also a deeply distressing time for their parents and families.

Calendar to follow shortly.

Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Happy May!!

Picture credit: Simon Dell, George the mouse.

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The catkins have arrived, now we are truly in springtime. The Goat Willow, or Pussy Willow as it is so lovingly called, is a welcome arrival for early pollinators. Those soft, silver catkins protect the delicate flowers within from the chilly days until the sun warms their world. Native to the UK and Europe, with relatives in the Americas, this tree offers a quiet beauty.

Willow has long been associated with healing. Its active component, salicin, an active ingredient of aspirin, has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever. Native Americans understood its healing ability, using willow in their daily lives for ailments and pain control.

The catkins themselves resemble tiny kitten paws, and a Polish legend tells of a mother cat, distraught because her kittens fell into a fast-flowing river while chasing butterflies. It was the willow branches, bending low over the water, that gave the little ones something to cling to, saving their lives.

The willow is a symbol of renewal, resilience, and adaptability, and even weather magic, as twigs thrown into the wind are supposed to calm storms. Perhaps someone was working that magic, as yesterday gave us a truly glorious spring day, with no rainstorms in sight, and we came to church in high spirits.

Although Louise Barnes was unable to join us, her cohort, Jenny Hedley from Reading, offered truly beautiful, inspired prayers and thoughts. Thank you, Jenny. Your words were truly lovely. The evening was chaired by our own Alison Keogh.

Our family, as always, shared heartfelt readings, followed by beautiful messages from our house mediums with two of the fledglings. Thank you to Nerina Dannat, Virginia Gordon, Julie Shearman Searle, and Aimee Andrews. It was a lovely evening, complete with another beautiful cake from Carole, warm conversation, and healing on offer from healers and trainees

Thank you also to our music team, Julie and Lisa, and to everyone who helps set up, break down, and take care of the washing up.

Prayer of the Week

Please send a prayer up for unity in our world. Its lack is the cause of so much division, not only on the world stage but within our communities and homes. May we learn to see others as ourselves, beyond differences of culture, politics, or belief. Anything less is sheer spiritual ignorance.

The calendar will be up tomorrow.

Wishing you a beautiful week!

Hello sunshine !

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We gathered yesterday evening on Zoom, after a glorious, beautiful day full of the joys of spring. We love to see each other mid-week and share the lovely prayers, readings, and music. The healing followed. Thank you, everyone!

Please continue to pray for compassion in this world, and the hope that we can all look at each other with kinder eyes.

Lesley Knight is with us on Sunday, in Chawton!

Join us.

Reflections on Life, Faith, and Love Beyond This World – The Latest from Rob Harvey

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Several new articles have been published on Rob Harvey’s website exploring some of the most common questions people ask about life, death, and the spiritual world. These topics often arise during readings, conversations with families, and spiritual meetings where people are searching for understanding about what happens beyond this life.

While each article explores a different subject, they are all connected by one central theme — love, understanding, and the journey of the soul.

Are Funerals Only for the Living?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether funerals are simply for those left behind, or whether they also have meaning for the person who has passed.

From Rob Harvey’s experience conducting funeral services, funerals can be important for both the living and the departed. When someone dies, they leave their physical body but may still remain aware of their surroundings for a short time.

The atmosphere of a funeral can make a real difference. When people gather with open minds, celebrating the life of their loved one and sending love, it can help the person who has passed as they begin their transition to the next world.

This perspective offers a comforting reminder that funerals are not only about grief — they can also be moments of connection, love, and support for the soul continuing its journey.

You can read the full article here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/are-funerals-for-the-living-or-the-departed/

Is Going to Church Necessary?

Another question that many people ask is whether attending church is necessary for living a good life or preparing for what comes after death.

Rob Harvey explains that while churches can be beautiful places for prayer and reflection, the most important thing is not simply attending church, but how we live our lives and treat the people around us.

Through many spiritual readings, Rob has observed that those who led kind and compassionate lives often find it easier to connect with loved ones after passing. What truly matters is the love we show to others, the help we offer, and the kindness we share.

In the end, faith and spirituality are not about appearances or rituals, but about the genuine goodness we bring into the world.

Read more here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/do-you-need-to-go-to-church/

A Message of Love from the Spirit World

During one spiritual meeting, a powerful message came through focusing entirely on the importance of love.

The message described love as the force that connects everything — this world, the spirit world, and the souls who move between them. It reminded those present that love can be seen in everyday life, from the beauty of nature to the bond between families.

According to the message, love does more than comfort us. It attracts more love, brings people together, and even allows loved ones in the spirit world to draw closer.

It also suggested that gatherings where people come together with kindness and intention can create powerful moments where the spiritual and physical worlds connect through love.

You can read the full message here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/a-message-about-love-from-the-spirit-world/

A Shared Message

Although each of these articles explores a different topic — funerals, faith, and spiritual messages — they all point toward the same deeper understanding.

Life is about how we love, how we help others, and how we grow as individuals.

Whether we are celebrating someone’s life at a funeral, questioning the role of religion, or listening to messages from the spirit world, the same truth continues to appear:

Love is at the centre of everything.

To explore these ideas in more depth, visit Rob Harvey’s website and read the full articles linked above.

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The New Year has brought bare trees, and the weather has been quite cold, with only endless rain to follow. If there is a pause, we look for something of colour in our natural landscape. Thank goodness for the evergreens. Some plants are blooming already, though. One in particular gives hope for the birds and animals in way of food during the cold, bleak days. Witch Hazel is in bloom with its spindly petals and either orange, yellow, or red colouring. Her name came from wych, an old English word for bend, as her flexible branches were used as water diviners.

She was imported from America in the 1700s, and appears in our woodlands and gardens blooming from December through to March, and did I mention she is healing? Wych hazel was certainly known during my youth, as she is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and a great antioxidant. Like essential oils, the tonic is extracted by steam distillation of the twigs and leaves. Gardeners love her. She is fragrant and gives us just that burst of colour to lift the spirit when all else is looking grey.

We gathered in Chawton last night for our first in-person gathering of the New Year. We were so glad to welcome Bob Baker!! We had a night of lifted spirits. Bob shared some lovely thoughts and then went on to bring some equally lovely messages. Thank you so much, Bob. What a lovely evening!! Our own Chris Shore chaired the evening proceedings beautifully. Thank you!

We thank those who offered prayers and readings. They always give us pause. Thank you to Lisa for running music. Thank you, Sue and Nerina, for helping with hospitality. Thank you to our healers on hand after the service. And as always, the set-up and breakdown are done diligently every evening we gather. Thank you.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for a calming of all the chaos in this world and a restoration of Peace.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week, and don’t forget the bird seed!!

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We gathered last night on the longest night of the year, on our Winter Solstice, for our Christmas Divine Service in Chawton. It was a beautiful service of readings, prayers, the singing of carols, and the lighting of the Advent candle for LOVE by Malcolm. We also had special readings, which were beautiful.

We thanked many people last night for their service and help throughout this year. Sue and Carole both received bouquets for their wonderful hospitality and baking. They have taken things to a whole other level. This was so well deserved. We have been spoilt!

We thank Graeme, who sets up the chairs and generally helps with the setup for our gatherings and also takes our offerings. Of course, Julie and Lisa both run our music. Thank you so much. We thank Nerina, who does so much behind the scenes with membership and many other things. We also thank Alison for booking our mediums and managing our social media. We thank Chris Elliot for working as our Treasurer, and both Steve Lidett Williams and Nerina Dannat for their roles of Vice Presidents.

We thank the chair rotation team also, as they lead proceedings and help keep us in line. We thank our wonderful healers, who were on hand again last night to help. Thank you to our committee members, who are all actively involved in the smooth-running of this church. We cannot forget to say a huge thank you to our visiting mediums. Their dedication to working with spirit helps so many. We are so glad to welcome them to our little church, and we thank our President, Rob Harvey, who runs and oversees our church and the events connected. Rob also runs two clairvoyant/healing circles in addition.

We are a family, a Spiritual family, imperfect but passionate about our community and the community beyond.

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Prayer of the week.

Please pray with gratitude for those with lighter bodies, the angels, the helpers, and the healers. They understand our plight. They are our champions. We understand they work tirelessly to help us along our path, while not interfering with our gift of freewill. May they be blessed for all that they do.

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This Christmas will see many with their families, but some alone. Some with the sting of fresh loss, some further along that path. Some with illness, worry, and loneliness. Many in this world are suffering right now. Many other kinds in this world also suffer along with us. This experience is not always for the faint-hearted, yet we have a gift, a boy child who brings us goodness, light, understanding, and healing. May we focus on the very real reason for this season of joy. So, among the tinsel and mince pies, pause and remember your loved ones are closer than you think, and all is well, so allow your heart to be filled with Love from Above. We are on a journey together. Alton Christian Spiritualist Church wishes you a Happy and blessed Christmas of Joy and Love, and a Peaceful and very Hopeful and Happy New Year

We will reconvene on Wednesday, 7th January, on Zoom, and in Chawton on the 11th January.

Watch our calendar.

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Life is not quite like a box of chocolates, but greeting the day, we really don’t know what we are going to get. We have had it all this past week, from rain and snow to beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Mother Nature is keeping us guessing.

Along the woodland path on one of my recent walks, after heavy rain, a robin was singing his heart out as if it were springtime. It definitely was a bright song. Maybe he is confused, also. Robins are with us year-round, and also sing year-round, but we tend to picture them only on snowy ledges near Christmas.

He is territorial, especially through the winter season, guarding his resources. He has become a symbol of spirit visitors, soothing the souls of those in loss. This association stems from the many supernatural experiences people have had regarding robins and their behaviour. He is rather special, so we put a little extra bird food on the table as those days get colder. I promise he will sing you a cheery song.

Jenny Docherty was in the house last night and brought her energy, her laughter, and shared her thoughts with us, and then went on to give some lovely messages. Thank you so much, Jenny. We enjoyed having you!

Steve Lidgett Williams chaired the evening brilliantly, as we heard beautiful prayers and readings and sang some beautiful hymns. Thank you, Julie, for our music. Thank you, Sue, for running hospitality, and thank you to our healers, always standing by.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for all the children in the hospital and especially at this time of year. It is devastating for a child at any time, let alone as we near Christmas.

The calendar will be up soon.

Have a lovely week, everyone!!

Guiding a Lost Spirit: Finding Peace Beyond the Physical World – A piece from Rob Harvey

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As a medium, I’m often contacted by people who believe they’ve encountered a spirit. Not long ago, I received a message from someone shaken by a tragic event at their workplace — a piece of machinery had fallen, leading to a fatal accident. Weeks later, they believed they saw the man who had passed, standing near the very spot where it happened.

Wanting to help, I asked for a photo of the area. When I received it, I immediately sensed an unusual energy. I took some quiet time in my teaching room to meditate and connect more deeply. As I focused, I began to feel the presence of the young man’s family members in spirit form surrounding me. Slowly, it became clear that he was confused — he hadn’t yet realized that he had died.

At first, he resisted their attempts to reach him. Accepting their presence would mean acknowledging his own passing. But then, something beautiful happened — children from the spirit world came forward. Their pure, loving energy helped soothe him, breaking through his fear and confusion. I’ve often found that the presence of children can bring remarkable peace to lost souls; their innocence has a way of healing emotional turmoil.

Once the young man was calm, I invited his loved ones to come closer. He began to recognize them, and they gently showed him the light and beauty that awaited him. Before moving on fully, he reached out with gratitude, a sign that he was finally ready to transition peacefully to the other side.

This experience reminded me that many spirits who linger are not malevolent — they’re simply lost or unaware of their passing. They often need a compassionate bridge between the physical and spiritual realms to help them understand and move forward.

Through patience, empathy, and love, we can help these souls find peace and continue their journey beyond this world.

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Walking in the local woodlands, I came around a corner and spotted a bunch of fly agaric, recognized as the magical toadstools of fairy tales, myth, and folklore. This magical mushroom is bold in colour, usually scarlet or orange with white warty spots, and is hard to miss, but really a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as she is highly toxic, and can cause psychotic reactions when ingested, so that’s not a good idea!

Her name derives from her historical use as an insecticide. She is a sure sign that Autumn is underway. She is seen solo or in small clusters around Birch and other trees, and she helps the trees obtain the nutrients in their roots. Her spiritual symbolism is of transcending the physical plane to higher levels of spiritual awareness.

Well, we aim to do that every time we gather, and last night was no exception, as the lovely Eve Cowell was in the house. Eve shared a little about what and how she perceives when giving mediumship and a little about her history, which was so interesting, and then went on to share some lovely messages! Thank you so much, Eve! We loved having you! Thank you to Alison Keogh, who chaired our evening.

We also thank our family for sharing readings and prayers from the heart. We thank Sue for our hospitality, Carole for our cake, Julie for running our music, our wonderful healers for standing by after our gathering, and all those who set up, break down, and wash up each week!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for Spiritual courage for ourselves and our brothers and sisters across the world, in horrendous situations. We live in a fear-based world, and that fear can affect the quality of life. May we be blessed with new courage as we tackle the experiences on this physical plane.

Calendar up next.

Take a moment. Meditate on good things.

There are so many.