Trudging around the estate,
Popping our cards through doors
Passing on God’s love,
The Christmas Word from above,
A happy festive chore,
That always feels so great.
Every year at this time I get my steps in delivering Christmas cards around the local area advertising our Christmas services.
(08.12.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Jason Coudriet on Unsplash
Today we made it
Our jail we escaped it
Our puzzles’ completed
Mystery defeated
Where once confounded
Our lives now unbounded
We live now to take on
Another new day
I put together an escape room for our church harvest social tonight. They did really well and made it to the other side!
(04.10.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Mohamed Marey on Unsplash
The respectful awkwardness
When something is said that everyone
Disagrees with and yet
The decision has been made
That all are welcome here.
The love that says we’ll hear
Your views and not dismiss
You or your right to speak
Because we value you
And therefore what you say.
The tension that we live with
Because we are a family
And that’s what families do
As relationships are more
Important than being right.
I love watching groups embracing awkwardness instead of insisting on their own interpretation, political view or doctrine.
(22.09.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Another grant sought
Moving forward step by step
Believing in God
Another busy day seeking grants for the church redevelopment project: https://wormleyfreechurch.org.uk/redevelopment-project/
(09.09.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Can two and two make five?
Depends on who you ask.
A mathematician? No way!
George Orwell? Ask Big Brother…
A parent? Might seem so.
But me? I’m sure it can.
Mix two congregations
and stir to make a drink
tastier than the sum.
Or start a conversation
between two different lands,
and all will be enriched.
A single flag is good
but I prefer a mashup
of loads of different ones.
It’s been a good day! A joint service to start with, an afternoon conversation with friends from our Conversation Café, and praying for local asylum seekers to end the day.
(07.09.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Kobby Mendez on Unsplash
A lazy afternoon, spent languidly
flinging frisbees to and fro,
dodging those relaxing on
their chairs engaged in conversation.
A family of young and old,
at peace across our differences,
united by our faith and friendship.
The only errant note? Sharp wasps
attracted by the treats we shared.
A lovely day today with the first of our church summer events, an open air service and picnic at Forty Hall. A perfect day.
(13.07.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
The quiet satisfaction
Of getting to the weekend,
Resting weary feet whilst
Looking back to see
The path that we have travelled,
Surveying with satisfaction
The turnings we have taken,
And admiring once again
The views and scenery.
This may turn out to be a significant week at work.
(20.06.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Ran Berkovich on Unsplash
Tonight we quizzed,
Wore bread, threw tea,
Hung necklaces
Of shoes in glee.
Tonight we cheered
And did our best,
Played games with bread,
Bemused our guests.
Tonight we made
Ourselves complete
And utter fools
With spoons and feet.
Tonight we won,
Yes everyone had fun,
And when we left
We left as one.
Tonight we enjoyed our own version of Taskmaster at church as part of our harvest celebrations. Very silly. I hope the owner of the glasses forgives me!
(04.10.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Twenty-five years,
three weddings and
too many funerals.
Baptisms in the garden,
sometimes warm,
but usually freezing.
Broxbourne foodbank,
winter night shelters,
Big Picnics at the park.
Soul Survivor,
Greenbelt,
weekends away.
Two schools and
numerous toddlers
toddlering.
Neverending rotas,
conversations,
unexpected meetings.
Five Advent candles –
so, who remembers
what they mean?
Pastoral visits,
Drop-In lunches
and nursing home services.
Three electric guitars
and three road bikes
pressed into service.
Church redevelopment
requiring prayer and
grants for funding.
So many faces,
places, emotions
and activities.
So many, so much
and yet throughout,
one God, one church, one family.
Today I celebrated 25 amazing years as minister at Wormley Free Church. What a privilege it’s been! These verses don’t do it justice, but I’ve loved being here and looking forward to where our life together as a church family takes us next.
(01.09.24)
© Ben Quant 2024
Tiles shuffled and randomly selected
Balanced precariously, curved to conceal
A cheer reveals double-six located
Centrally placed, the game begins
Turn by turn our counters are chosen
Tension ratchets as silence descends
Only grunts of relief or tapping the table
Nowhere to go, delaying the end
Time ticking down
Furiously counting
Plans played out
Strategies discounted
Players passed by
Blows traded
Tiles running out
Sudden flurry
Hands crashing
Dawning realisation
I’ve lost and they’ve won!
Tuesday lunchtimes our church holds the ‘Drop-In’, inviting folk to come and share a light lunch and company. Once the meal is over the dominoes come out and the banter is replaced by serious competition…
(16.11.21)
© Ben Quant 2021
Ode for the Day 