Tag Archives: god

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One of the most striking butterflies to be seen in the UK during June is the Red Admiral. Originally known as the “Red Admirable”, his original English name, the butterfly’s name became “Red Admiral” over time.

This beautiful butterfly is migratory, arriving from North Africa each spring. Many return south in September, although not all make the journey. With the milder winters Britain has experienced more recently, increasing numbers are choosing to remain here, hunkering down in sheltered locations through the winter.

The Red Admiral is particularly fond of Buddleia, AKA “butterfly bush”, for the nectar-rich blooms. He is also frequently seen feeding on fermenting fruit, when necessary, and tastes with his feet, marching up and down to see whether it is worth a munch.

He is fiercely territorial and a little grumpy. Males will often establish their patch and aggressively chase off rival butterflies.

In folklore and spiritual symbolism, the Red Admiral is often regarded as a messenger, representing transformation, protection, and courage. A sighting of him is sometimes interpreted as a sign of guidance, reassurance, or positive change on the horizon.

After another gorgeous day in these parts, we welcomed Karen Bazazan Noghani to us in Chawton last night for our Friendship Service. Thank you so much for your inspired thoughts and bringing our messages last night. We were so glad to meet you. Steve chaired our evening beautifully. Thank you, Steve.

The energy was high as we enjoyed beautiful readings and prayers and sang some lovely hymns. Thank you to our readers. Thank you, Julie, for running our music, and thank you to the hospitality ladies. Carole and Sue. Our healers stood by to help those in need after the service. Thank you, and so many pitched in to pack up and clear away.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for our little church, that we can find new ways to serve our own church family, but also those in our communities.

Calendar up tomorrow.

It’s almost midsummer. Enjoy the long light evenings!

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The cuckoo, known for its famous two-note call, arrives in the UK from Africa around April. The female cuckoo lays her eggs in another bird’s nest, often first spooking the host bird away. She then leaves the unsuspecting foster parents to incubate the eggs, feed the chicks, and raise the fledglings! What a strategy that helps conserve the cuckoo’s energy and resources. This behaviour is known as brood parasitism.

Quite a trickster, and perhaps seemingly unfair, the cuckoo demonstrates just how it has evolved and the lengths it will go to help its young survive. They are also known for having multiple partners during a breeding season to increase the chances of reproduction and survival. Other birds also engage in brood parasitism, but the cuckoo is by far the most famous.

That cute little bird appearing each hour on our cuckoo clocks is far more devious than we might imagine, yet also highly intelligent and practical. While the word “cuckoo” can mean, in some contexts, foolishness, its symbolism is often associated with transformation, intuition, and adaptability.

Last night in Chawton, we hosted our beautiful Healing Service. It was an evening filled with wonderful energy, readings, prayers, and, of course, healing. Healing was administered during the service, and I trust everyone enjoyed a sound sleep afterwards.

Thank you to Rob for leading us and to our readers. Thank you also to the hospitality team, to Julie for the music, and to our diligent healers. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful Healing Team. So much thanks should go to all those who set up and broke down the evening also.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for all those caught up in the violence of wars around the world. The suffering they endure is beyond our understanding. Please send your thoughts and prayers to them, for they are so very much in need.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Yes, it’s raining… umbrellas in June! Try to keep dry.

Have a beautiful week!

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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.

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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Even through some foggy mornings and days, springtime is coming, as noted by the endless birdsong and activity, and the now luminous green appearing in our woodland. Even the moss gives a fantasy look to the forest, with its lime-green, almost luminescent colour.

The humble but very territorial blackbird is out and about with all the other busy birds, cocking his head to hear the earthworms underfoot. The male is black with that bright orange beak, and the female has a soft brown plumage.

They are a protected bird, and also one of our most common birds, so common that perhaps they get overlooked in favour of the more striking colours of some of their kin. His song is beautiful, though, as noted in many poems and songs. Numbers swell in the wintertime as their Scandinavian and Baltic cousins join them in this slightly warmer climate. These pairs often stay together for life. The female lays about three to six beautiful turquoise eggs with rusty spots. They used to be named “ousel,” as noted in the works of Shakespeare, but in 1486 they were renamed simply blackbirds. Folklore in general has them as harbingers of change, and Celtic symbolism holds that their song thins the veil between this world and the next.

We welcomed the lovely Sarah McLaughlan last night to our little church with a big heart. Sarah brought many inspired thoughts to remind us and uplift us, and then shared many lovely and very helpful messages for the family. Thank you so much, Sarah. We really did have such a lovely evening. Alison Keogh chaired our gathering. Thank you.

As always, we thank our readers and prayer people. We thank hospitality and Carole’s cake making. We thank Lisa for running our music, and also our healers who were on hand afterwards. Thank you to everyone who pitches in with the set-up, break-down, and the washing up.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray this week for more understanding in this world, understanding in our homes, in our communities, and on the global stage. Understanding brings compassion, and compassion heals situations. The Golden Rule stands in every age.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a lovely week. Find the beauty in every day.

Photo credit: Mireille Berthoud

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Photo credit Colin Rees. Creative Flower Photography

We move into March, that crazy, unpredictable month of March winds and ever-changing weather. What’s new? Meteorological spring began yesterday, on the 1st, St David’s Day, as Ken reminded me at church, though the spring (Vernal) equinox is not until the 20th this year.

It is absolutely gorgeous in this neck of the woods right now. So much is beginning to bloom, and even some early cherry blossoms are already out. The weather may be a little “choppy” for a while, but it will grow warmer and calmer, at least according to the 17th-century expression, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Let’s hold fast to that.

Yesterday we enjoyed our special Healing Service in Chawton. It was an absolutely beautiful evening of prayers and readings, followed by the gentle outpouring of healing love from above, led by our President, Rob Harvey. Thank you, everyone.

The Spiritual energies were so high that, whether healer or healee, we were all bathed in love and goodness. I trust everyone slept well afterwards. We usually take a group picture, but we were so busy fellowshipping and enjoying Carole’s cake that we completely forgot!

Special thanks to our healers:

Julie Sheraman Searle, Steve Lidgett Williams, Rob Harvey, Barbara Matthews, Ken Matthews, Jane Trillaud, Chris Elliot, Aimee Andrews, and Alison Keogh.

Thank you also to Sue and Carole for hospitality, Julie and Lisa for the music, and of course to all who helped set up, break down, and wash up. Always so appreciated.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for Peace in our world. As more conflict erupts, so many innocent lives remain in peril.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week. Let us be thankful for all that we have, for what we have is somebody else’s dream.

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In the dank of January, there seems to be very little life around. On my walk through the woodlands, it was quiet, with an occasional squirrel running across the path. However, as I returned to my garden, I saw our ultimate garden birds suddenly dancing in abundance again. Our British Blue Tit, flitting here and flitting there, is with us year-round. We kind of take them for granted. Even in the darkest days, these small ones are close by, and never miss a beat when crumbled suet balls are out on the bird table.

They seem to be happy, energetic souls who gather together. Their plumage is bright with yellow breasts and bright blue on the head, wings, and tail, and a black stripe on their bib. They will already be looking for a place to nest, which is probably why there is sudden activity. Tough times are ahead, as raising the young when they come is no walk in the park, and many fledglings die from starvation. They sing their hearts out, though with their high-pitched song, which is always welcome on some of the more dreary January days.

We sang our hearts out last night in song when we had one of our own, Virginia Gordon, take the podium in Chawton. Virginia brought completely inspired thoughts to give us pause. Thoughts that we could hold onto, and then went on to bring many lovely messages. Thank you so much, Virginia!! We love our Family Nights!! Alison Keogh chaired the proceedings.

We thank Julie for running music, Sue and Carole for hospitality, with a delicious coffee cake for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, of course, to our readers, and prayer people, and our healers standing by afterwards. The ‘washer-uppers ‘ and those who set up and break down are always appreciated, and we thank them.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for a wave of healing to heal the intense fear in this world. Fear sometimes brings on such bad behaviour in the way of dominance, violence, lack, and depravity. It also destroys our quality of life when we live fearfully and keeps us in the shadows, unable to live fully.

Calendar will be up soon.

Have a beautiful week, and relish the moments. They’re golden.

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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.