Godcasting

03/06/2026

After years of empty pews, Australian churches are filling up again - and it's the generation raised on smartphones leading the revival ⛪ READ WHY: https://bit.ly/4elHEVB

02/06/2026

If you'd like to hear more on this see Sunday's post.

31/05/2026

There Is No Word For This

I presided over a memorial service this week for the son of one of my elderly parishioners.

He was pension age. She is ninety-something. And she buried him.

There is a word for when you lose your parents. You are an orphan. There is a word for when you lose your spouse. You are a widow. But there is no word for when you lose your child. Because there are no words.

It doesn't matter if they are five years old or sixty-five. It is still the wrong order of things.

The family did beautifully. It was a good service. Honouring. I'm grateful for that.

There is something spiritually brutal about presiding at the funeral of someone's child. Something that stains.

I know my role. I'm the priest. That's my job. Hold the space, say the words, remind people what Jesus promises us.

But I went home afterwards and had a bath and a nap. Because I'm also a mother. And while I was standing in the church, my own boy was at home sick. He's 6'2". Still my baby.

After the nap, I let myself weep. I always do afterwards, privately. I cry by myself for the mothers who have lost their babies. And I give them all to God's care.

In that moment of private crying this week, I was not alone. There was a presence there with me. The presence was also sad. Sad with me. Sad for all the mothers.

I had to have another nap.

This weird little ritual helps. Both the crying and the handing them to God. Would thoroughly recommend.

If you're the one sitting in grief today, you are not alone. Jesus weeps with you. With us. And napping helps.

May the ones we have lost rest in peace and rise in glory.

Bless you, Rev Jessie

PS: If this landed for you, would you share it to your story? I know, it's vulnerable. But it's how this finds the people who need it most.

30/05/2026

22/05/2026

🎶 All Saints Anglican Church is celebrating a century of music and history soon. Take a look 👉 bit.ly/4dKcNBM