Rev'd Ali Taylor

05/04/2026

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Matthew 28:6

The stone is rolled away - Jesus is alive - He is risen - risen indeed!

02/04/2026

What a joy to spend an hour in prayer at church tonight during our Gethsemane Prayer Hour. During the time I wrote this reflection which I shared at the close of our time together:

One candle.
One hour.
Just You and me, God—
sitting in the silence.

And I pray:
Not my will,
but Yours be done.

Not an easy prayer.
Not for me.
But even harder for You.

I wonder what went through their minds that night.
The meal still lingering—heavy with new significance.
The hour late.
The olive grove dark… and still.

Maybe they were just tired.
Maybe the crickets sang them to sleep…maybe.
But either way—
Your disciples slept.
While You stayed awake.
Praying,
passionately,
fervently,
desperately.

Lord, when we long for Your will to be done-
in our lives,
in our families,
in our world,
Help us to watch and pray.

And when our willing spirit
gives way to our human weakness,
keep us from temptation, Lord

One candle.
One hour.
Just You and me, God—
in the silence.

And I pray:
Not my will,
but Yours be done.

Not an easy prayer.
But still I pray it—
I whisper it again—
though my heart resists,
though I am weary and tired
Not my will…but Yours.

And still I pray it—
as the darkness of this night gives way
to the dawning of a Friday
that holds more darkness yet.

© Ali Taylor 2026

04/02/2026

Home from the conference and reflecting that it's been both a privilege and a joy to be a part of the HEBA Justice Worship Band, to discover as we packed away that a number of folk had engaged with the prayer reflective space (such an encouragement), and to have spent some very precious time 'walking with...' my fellow ministers.

03/02/2026

This afternoon I had the privilege of sharing about my sabbatical along with a few other ministers who also had been on sabbatical this past year. We also heard from Mission Aviation Fellowship and, as they'd brought their flight simulator to the conference I decided to have a go and amazingly managed to land the plane safely on the runway!

03/02/2026

A joy to be a part of the team bringing the quiet prayer/reflective space together. Our conference theme this year is Every Day Matters or Everyday Matters depending on how you look at it!

03/02/2026

A lot to reflect on from this morning - thinking about everyday interruptions and everyday recalibration.

After a lovely lunch - the food at Yarnfield Training and Conference Centre is just so good - I went out for a walk in the very chilly wind! Despite the barrenness of the season I spotted signs of new growth and am pondering where signs of new growth are in my own life and that of YBC.

02/02/2026

At the HEBA Ministers conference for the next couple of days - a good opportunity to hear wisdom from Ken and Sue Benjamin and to share time with other ministers.

12/11/2025

This is a recording of the other reflection I wrote at the JPiT conference.

08/11/2025

Amazing day at the The Joint Public Issues Team justice conference "For Goodness sake!" - such a lot of inspiration and encouragement.

We were invited to take a protest placard and these were gathered together to make a display. The one that's orange is because of the lighting, but it was the one that made me laugh the most!

Also wrote the following reflection in one of the sessions exploring how worshipping can be justice when we were asked to creatively respond to the Magnificat:

Justice Magnified

The very heart of me
Is drawn towards the One who made me
The one who created me
Fear full and wonder full

I am in awe
That the God of all creation
Saw fit to bring me to being
And all that I am is an echo of Yahweh
He has raised me up
To have a voice

To call out injustice
Speak against oppression
To rage and cry and call
Until the justice of the Lord
Comes to pass

In me
Through me
Out of me
From God
To the world

And back

For the justice of the Lord
Shall not disappear into the ether
But take down those who would seek strength and might and power for themselves
And return magnified
Stronger
Mightier
And more powerful

Long,
Long,
Long,
May God's justice rule and reign

Until all hearts are drawn to the One who created them
Fear full and wonder full

(C) Ali Taylor

A most excellent day!

12/07/2025

There's a new post on my sabbatical blog

A sabbatical is not a vacation. It is a different kind of work - it is a directed time of refreshment and restoration. It is a time for drawing closer and listening more carefully, with the intent of deeper intimacy with God. It can involve reading, writing, and wrestling in prayer - especially wres...