Tag Archives: Faith

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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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Sorting out my Christmas decorations, I came across a faux sprig of mistletoe. Associated with Christmastime, this parasitic but evergreen plant that grows on some deciduous host trees has a rich tradition of folklore and myth, where it was often thought to represent Peace and Love, whether among the Romans, the Druids, or the Norse ancient culture.

The name Mistletoe actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘ Dung on a Twig.’ Delightful. This is no doubt the way in which the seeds are spread by birds eating those juicy, waxy, white berries. In this era, she is mainly known for the tradition of kissing beneath her boughs. This tradition was started in the Victorian age, when every time a couple kissed beneath her, a white berry was plucked, but when the berries were gone, they were gone, and you were definitely out of luck. She is toxic to pets and plants, but she is a blessing to birds, deer, squirrels, and even butterflies in the depths of winter.

Spencer Rose was in the house Sunday night, and we had an amazing evening as we celebrated the start of Advent. We were joined by some from Basingstoke Spiritualist Church, and the cross-pollination felt wonderful.

Spencer’s address was so inspiring, and the energy was off the charts. He went on to bring simply wonderful messages to some. Thank you, Spencer, for your laughter and spirit. What a lovely evening! We thank Chris Elliot for chairing our evening brilliantly, as well as those who gave beautiful readings and prayers.

Ken spoke about the Advent candles, and Sue came up and lit our first one for Hope. Thank you, Sue, also for the hospitality. Lisa worked on our music, and our healers stood by after the service. The setup, breakdown, and washing up are always taken care of by our family in record time. Thank you!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for all the victims of the terrible floods in Asia. We think of our own kind, but also the animals and all life affected. May help come and life be restored.

Calendar up next.

Slow down amid the decorations and shopping, and take a moment.

‘Tis the season for a reason.

Have a beautiful week!

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Our Autumn weather is definitely keeping us guessing.  One minute, bright blue skies and sunshine illuminate all those colours, and then heavy rain and large puddles.  The ducks will be happy in any case.  The migratory ducks have come in from parts of Europe for our milder climate at this time.  Teals, Pintails, Shovelers, and more make the UK their winter home.

The relatives of our modern ducks existed at the time of some dinosaurs, approximately 66 million years ago, towards the end of the Cretaceous period.  They survived the mass extinction around this time and continued to evolve into our modern-day ducks. Those vibrant colours of most males dull down like the females out of breeding season, so they are well camouflaged, but then return to catch the ladies’ eyes when the need arises.

And did you know that our modern ‘quackers’ can sleep with one eye open and switch half of the brain off, and so a flock can have an early alarm system, of one eyed sleeping ducks!  In any case, there is something quite lovely about the sight and sound of wing flapping, bottom waddling, quacking ducks. They definitely lift the spirits.

We felt our spirits lift yesterday at our In House Divine Service.  Rob Harvey led an evening of ‘Creating a Circle Experience’ within the church.  A ‘Circle’ is a clairvoyant, prayerful healing group who are sensing and developing spiritual gifts.  Rob explained about ‘Circle’ and about the kinds of experiences encountered.

Working with Spirit, the atmosphere and energy of the room shifted, so that there was an opportunity for our Family to sense at a deeper level.  There was also a demonstration of healing and Rob and some who sat in Circle, shared what they were sensing.  It was a very special evening.  Thank you Rob for leading this.

We thank our beautiful readers and prayer people. (Nerina just  ‘slayed’ us with her closing prayer.)  We thank Sue for hospitality, Lisa for music, and Carole for her baking talent.  We of course thank our healers standing by after the service.  Thank you to all those who set up, break down and wash up.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for Jamaica.  On so many levels they are all suffering. May they receive the help and assistance they need quickly.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a beautiful week! 

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We enjoyed an extra hour on Sunday, as we ‘fell back’ and gained a little more shut-eye, and welcomed the wintertime officially. The days will naturally be shortening and the nights lengthening all the way to Yule on the 21st December.

Daylight Saving Time was proposed as far back as 1907 and was finally implemented on May 21st, 1916, to create later sunsets in the summer and earlier sunrises in the winter. During the Second World War, there was even double summertime, when the time changed by two hours to really help the war effort in terms of productivity.

Of course, there are ramifications and effects from everything we do. The wild animals are also affected, having to contend with more traffic in the wintertime at dusk, and there is always a spike in accidents and animal fatalities. Awareness and extra caution are needed during the darker evenings, when unsuspecting animals are out and about, and sometimes at great risk near busy roads. Let us take note.

Last night was a little chilly as we headed into Chawton, but we were looking forward to welcoming two mediums to our Divine Service. Lorraine Francois and Alan Salmon came to visit. Alan shared an inspired address about his journey, and they both brought some lovely messages for us, along with much laughter. Thank you so much. Our own Sarah Dorgan chaired the evening brilliantly. A wonderful evening for everyone to enjoy!

We thank the family for the lovely readings and prayers. Carole’s chocolate cake was a hit. No surprise there. Thank you, Chris, for the hospitality, Julie, for the music. Thanks to our healers. And for those who set up, break down, and wash up every single week.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for those all over this world who are lost and in despair.

Pray that they might find the way back to joy, hope, and healing.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week.

Layer up.

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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As the rain pours down and the grey skies creep in, nature counteracts the dim skies with the leaves coming into their own right now.  Who needs flowers at this time of the year?  The leaves are truly starting their own festival of colours.

The silver birch is especially striking. This ‘Lady of the Woods’ is a graceful and elegant sighting in our woodlands.  Her triangular shaped leaves turn to a signature yellow gold, and with her silvery white bark she inspires so many faux decorations.

She is a healing lady also, known for her anti-inflammatory, cleansing, and diuretic attributes.  The Native Americans used her bark for wound healing, and also as a painkiller, very similar to willow, which they also used and was marketed, with additions, as aspirin.

Her symbolism is one of protection as well as fertility, and in days long ago birch twigs were given to lovers as some form of encouragement!!. Most importantly in many different ancient cultures, she was known as a clear connection between the physical and the spiritual realms.

Well, that is what we are about every time we gather.  Last night we welcomed the lovely Haylie Fox to Chawton.  Haylie gave us her beautiful energy and such an inspired address, and then went on to bring our lovely messages. Thank you so much, Haylie. We loved having you! Alison Keogh chaired our evening.

We say thanks to the family for their beautiful readings and prayers.  Thank you to Sue for the hospitality, Carole for the cake, and Lisa for running our music.  We thank our wonderful Healers on hand afterwards and everyone who sets up, breaks down, and washes up each and every week!!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for a wave of radical prayer in this world, so that we do not just hope when we ask, but believe with our whole being that what we ask spiritually for others as well as ourselves, has already been received.  Jesus said it first.  May this give us a radical faith and knowing that we can share with others.

Calendar up soon.

So what if it rains…Look at those colours!

Have a beautiful week!

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As we move through autumn and the turning of leaves and absolutely stunning sunsets, I am curious as to why I am getting a sudden influx of chaffinches at my bird table. Usually, the blue tits and a robin are the only smaller birds, but suddenly, chaffinches galore, so there must have been some little ones born in the summer and boldly going to new places.

They are the perfect autumnal bird, as with their colouring, they can blend into the background quite easily, especially when on the ground, until they take flight, that is, when there is a flash of that white on their wings, which could be bad news when the likes of sparrowhawks are around.

Named because they sort through the chaff in search of grain when a farmer harvests his crops, the male is brighter and more gorgeous than the female, but although they do not mate for life, their bonds can last through many breeding seasons. In some folklore, their song is thought to be a song of prophecy, and they are also regarded as messengers from the spirit world.

We had an abundance of messages from the spirit world last night in Chawton. Our dear friend Jeanette Foote was in the house, and we had such a lovely time with so much laughter!! Jeanette gave an address on some of the history of mediumship, reminding us how difficult it was for the pioneers, who were often thought to be witches. So interesting, and then Jeanette worked so hard to bring through as many lovely messages as she was able. Thank you so much, Jeanette!! We loved having you!!

Steve Lidgett Williams chaired our evening, and we know that with Steve, we are always going to have fun. He also read out the names of the prior Presidents of the church, as it was, in fact, our founders’ service. Thanks so much, Steve.

Thanks to our readers! Thanks to Julie for the music. Carole made a cake creation that did not last long, and Sue worked our hospitality. Thank you to our wonderful healers on hand as always, and thank you to those who set up, break down, and wash up afterwards.

Prayer of the week.

We are delighted that there seems to be a ceasefire in Gaza, and Hamas has released the hostages. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray that the way forward is smooth.

Please also pray for all those caught up in natural disasters. How terrifying. Please pray for the victims and their families.

Calendar up next.

Enjoy those sunsets!

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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.

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Happy Autumn, Everyone!.  What a wonderful time of year this is.  The Autumnal Equinox occurs today at 7.19pm GMT, the  22nd September 2025. The hours of sunlight have been receding since the summer solstice on the 21st June, and now the days and nights have become of equal length.  The Latin Equi Nox, that is  Equal Night, brings us  the Equinox.
This change of season will bring out the stunning colours of the trees and plants.  The animals are already scurrying around in preparation for the colder months. The early morning and night air becomes brisk with a slight bite, causing us to wrap up and put an extra blanket on the bed.   And as our nearest star, the sun, distinctly melts into a warm golden glow as she sets, maybe it’s time to steal a moment for tea and thoughts of gratitude, for the spiritual symbolism of this time reminds us that there is only a continuing cycle of life.
The lovely Sarah McLaughlan was in the house last night in Chawton!!  It was so good to see her as she shared an ‘inspired’ address and gave some absolutely wonderful messages.  Thank you so much, Sarah, for being with us.  Everyone enjoyed the evening so much!!  Our own delightful Chris Elliot chaired the proceedings.  Thank you both!!
Thank you for beautiful prayers, readings, and music.  Thank you, Lisa, for our music.  Thank you to our hospitality gal, Sue, and our cake maker, Carole, for yet another creation.  Thank you to our wonderful healers and all those who set up, break down, and wash up each week!!

Prayer of the week
Please pray for ALL the animals of the world. Their paths are not always easy.  They need our care and consideration.  We all indeed have the same breath.

Calendar up next.
Have a beautiful week!
Pause, and relish the emerging season.

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I see the acorns are falling fast and furiously on the woodland floor, especially with the wind and the downpours that have kicked up recently. You know this little mite will not be wasting the opportunity. He is the ultimate hoarder. Grey squirrels are already preparing for the winter months. We could all take note. Acorns, flowers, pine cones, and sometimes even bird eggs are all on the hoarding list as he gathers and finds a secret space for his stash.

The playful young squirrels born in spring and summer, playing up and down the tree trunks with one another, will also face their first cold snap and will have to ‘catch on’ and get organized. Did you know he can also create pretend storehouses and act out burying nuts, so that thieves are kept confused and his winter larder remains full. His symbolism is obviously that of preparedness and resourcefulness. A character loathed and loved, but quite obviously here to stay.

We had such a lovely evening in Chawton last night. Dave Collins visited us and brought along Lorraine Whitfield. We were blessed to have a ‘twofer’ while they worked as a team. Dave gave an inspired address, giving us plenty to think about, and then they both brought the messages and laughter for us. What a lovely evening. Thank you so much!! Our effervescent gal, Sarah Dorgan, chaired the proceedings, so you know it was full of fun and laughter!! Thank you, Sarah!

We thank our Family for the beautiful prayers and readings, and thank Julie for the music. Thank you to Carole for the cake, Nerina, and Chris Shore for the hospitality. Thanks always to our healers and all those setting up, breaking down, and washing up!!

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for more Love in this world. Just throw out the love in whatever way you can, daily. The world so sorely needs it.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week, everyone. Get your woolies out. Summer is over.