Catrina Benham's Blog

Today's the final day for buying Real tickets at the earlybird rate - come and catch us in the Kerith reception at the Sunday meetings. You can also book online . At 7pm tonight we will be joined by the Canadian drama group who'll be putting on a play called "Unlikely Heroes", which will include the youth drama team and takes a look at some of the unlikely heroes in the Bible. Just a reminder that there are still some places available for the Fourteen Day Retreat this Tuesday 3rd May. So check out the details and contact Elizabeth if you'd like to join them. Think about any of your friends who might also benefit from the day. I'm off to Serenje at the end of May. This time the focus will be on developing the links between our local schools here and those in Serenje, so we're taking out some teachers (including my boss!). Please do pray for our preparations; and for those coordinating the trip; and for the community in Serenje. Perhaps you could fi

@KayWarren1: Don't be weary in prayer. Keep at it. Watch for God's answers and remember to be thankful when they come. Colossians 4:2

127....127.....127....127....127....127....127 So what's the significance???????? The Year of the Consulship of Rufus and Squilla ? The Film - 127 hours? Article 127 of the Highway Code - A broken white line? The bus that takes you from Reading to Maidenhead? None of these! We're celebrating because we now have 127 wonderful women booked in to come to Real this year! The early bird rate is available up to and including Sunday 1st May, so please book online now, or in person at the Real table between and after the Sunday meetings. Come and say Hi - I'll be there with Sue and I'd love to meet you. Invite your friends, family, work colleagues and neighbours too. Let's see if we can get to 200 this weekend :)

So today is Good Friday - and it's a beautiful day today. This morning felt so quiet and peaceful - hearing the birds sing as I hung out the washing and put together some little easter gifts, did a few chores, decorated the kitchen dresser with brightly coloured eggs, then enjoyed eating a hot cross bun sitting in the garden! (By the way, this wasn't particularly early...no-one else was up to look after..and I wasn't yet dressed!) I enjoy a bit of "fussing" for a celebration - including my Easter napkins, that "someone" in the family rolls his eyes at! Later today we'll be at Kerith for the 2pm showing of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" Narnia film. It should be fun to watch it together - don't forget the sweets! By the way, it's free! Great news that we have also arranged to show the film on a second screen with subtitles . Later, we may as a family try for the traditional fish and chips :) Then it's back to Kerith for the 7

I love being at all three meetings each week at Church - one really exciting aspect is that it is such a great opportunity to meet new people and chat with others - to find about about the amazing people who are part of Kerith. Well this Sunday one of my chats was with Ida, who is a lovely Albanian girl (you may have heard her personal story at the 7pm the weeek before?) - we found a shared interest in and passion for coffee shops, and especially those that also serve cakes and cupcakes! I recommended Hummingbird and she enthused about Pattiserie Valerie :) To be honest with you I wasn't feeling that well on Sunday, but I'm so glad I was there!Another great chat was with Lisa - as she talked to me her face lit up and you could see that she was genuinely excited about reading the Bible. I was so encouraged by what she shared about reading her Bible that I asked her to write it down and send it in as a guest blogger. so here's her recent experience - be encouraged- and maybe

Yesterday Simon and I had the privilege of meeting over 40 FP students from London churches who were having their training at Bracknell this month. Simon  gave some teaching on "Peach and Coconut" (new coconut bought specially!) and also the "messiness of being a come as you are church" - he's so good at that! In the evening we ate together and then had a Q&A session. So great to meet them all and to answer their questions! They were wide-ranging "What values are you trying to put into your children?" "How are you promoting diversity in Kerith?" "How do you plan what to preach?" "Who have been your main influences individually, and as leaders?" "How do you stop people leaving a big Church?" So how would you have answered??? I'm thankful to God for the Easter break from work.This week I've been getting down to lots of those little jobs that I don't ususally get round to - my wardrobe has had a g

Beautiful spring weekend - so lovely to spend time just sitting and walking outdoors and enjoying the sunshine! And what a GREAT day in Church yesterday too! Loved talking with people, hearing truth, singing about our Saviour. Sometimes our "Naomi's" are "virtual friends" - perhaps from books, twitter, facebook , podcasts and blogs. So here's some Monday morning wisdom from some more "Naomi's" around the world to influence us for good and to call out the best in us. @KayWarren1: Community is a fellowship of people who don't hide their joys & sorrows but make them visible to each other in a gesture of hope. Nouwen @CharlGambill: Bring joy, speak faith, confess truth, give hope, silence negativity, feed dreams, pass on grace, deliver justice, seek wisdom, build others Holly Furtick's blog      You asked... be yourself Amy asked... Is it hard for people to see you as yourself, or do they find it hard to separate you from so

Today I read this  blog, Confessions of a Tired Supergirl   it's by Susanna Foth Aughtmon, author of "All INeed is Jesius and a Good Pair of Jeans" .It made me think of all the things I sometimes think I should do as a mum...and to reflect on what is really necessary! The 6 Requirements to be a Good Mom I was talking to my friend, Leslie, the other day.We were lamenting the fact that we often feel like we are coming up short in the mom department.That we are not the supermom we hope to be and that is disappointingto both us and our kids. I believe the real problem is that we have unrealistic motherhood goals...we think we have to be a marathon running, birthday cupcaking, homework brainiac, organizationally superb, philanthropic, soda bottle recycling, emotionally stable, theologically sound, sous chef, nutritionist, child psychologist type of woman to be considered a good mom.I decided that what we really need to do is revamp our expectations of what it takes

I had a great conversation with a new friend this week - and just a "throwaway comment" lodged in my mind as a priceless gem, a God whisper - an answer to prayer for me. We were talking about home and church and family and responsibilities. She has older children than me, and we talked about being a woman, a wife and a mum; and working and serving in the Church . As we chatted she suddenly said "I don't even know why I'm telling you all this". Well I knew - it was just what I needed to hear - like a light shining for my path - and she was a "Naomi" to me in that moment as she shared wisdom and really practical tips - God is good! On Mother's Day we asked "Who's your Naomi? Who's your Ruth?" . God wants to speak to us in our ordinary everyday lives and relationships. So let's each be looking and listening for those older and younger women who He will use to influence our lives.

We've had a couple of fantastic days at the "Come As You Are" Willow Conference held at Kerith with speakers John Burke and James Emery White. Really great content - very challenging; and  I'm so looking forward to going back over my notes in the next few days. I thank God for all the hard work and preparation by the speakers. We heard the real stuff, from real leaders, speaking with vision, experience, humility, honesty and vulnerability - so helpful. We met some really great people, including Sarah (who facilitated some of the sessions) and her husband from Cornerstone Church Swansea; and Chris(the other facilitator) and Fliss from St Albans Vineyard. So encouraging to meet up with other church leaders and share experiences. We were so proud of our teams and all those who served to help host the conference - the building looked really good, and we were served so beautifully. The worship was fantastic - I especially loved "This is my new song" this morning!

So today began with clearing up and cleaning - YAY!...but as I washed the floor I remembered the Mothers Day song and drama , and heard the words ""in the end it's worth it to me " - it helped ( bit) ! Excited to be going along to hear John Burke and James Emery-White at today's conference at Kerith. It's so worth the re-jigging of my work days to be there! I'm looking forward to meeting lts of new people too - and it's always great to host an event and feel so proud of the whole serving team. Shame it's raining...a girl's got to protect her hair and footwear!  

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms Deuteronomy 33 v 27