Monthly Archives: December 2025

Holy reverence and the Christmas gap

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I love reading about the planting of the sycamore gap saplings. A picture from one planted locally caught my eye as there seemed such a holy reverence in the images. It inspired this which I thought might be apt to post in the randomness of the space between Christmas and new year.

They felled the tree,
and for a moment the gap grew wider
a space by an ancient wall,
an ache in the air.
Yet even in absence,
something holy lingered.
The earth itself began to hum
with all the waiting things.

Now across the land people kneel in winter rain,
hands muddy with faith,
pressing small roots into cold earth.
Each sapling a testament
that what is lost is not forgotten,
that gaps can cradle more than grief.

God is not afraid of empty spaces.
The womb,
the manger,
the gap between promise and fulfilment,
all tremble with the same possibility.
So we wait, we dig
and plant, with hope
breathing reverence into the soil,
trusting light will find a way again.
So places one laid bare with winters frosty hue,
Will teem with laughter, swings and shade for summer’s glow.

Pioneer Breath Prayers

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I really like Cole Arthur Riley’s writing and in particular the Inhale and Exhale breath prayers.  This one stuck me for this current time. I think her work is great but understand it’s an approach to prayer that has been around a long time. In the fx advent series we used the breath prayer approach but it also made me wonder what pioneer breath prayers might look like as I particularly like the balance so played with these as some possibilities.

inhale – possibility is within you

exhale – another world is possible

inhale – the kindom is now

exhale – the kindom is not yet

inhale – we journey to the edge spaces

exhale – we find kinship along the way

inhale – from dust we came

exhale – we call the walls to dust

 

 

 

Going Live Today

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From today you can sign up to Applied Alchemy our new leadership and systems learning space. Depending on which level you subscribe to, you will either receive a free 500 word monthly snapshot, A fuller Applied Alchemy 1500 word piece blending leadership theory and our unique Applied Alchemy checklist approach, or a live termly webinar exploring Trickster for 2026. You can even sign up for the highest tier that includes all the above along with context based coaching sessions from Richard Passmore, ideal for pioneers working on the ground or in leadership spaces in institutions and navigating systems.

Paying it Forward – We recognise times are tough and so for every five people signing up at each level we will offer a free space at that level for those unable to pay, so do reach out if you need a free space.

However we are offering a great introductory offer with limited time savings. To sign up visit our subscription page HERE or keep reading for more information.

This is a fresh approach to the leadership space that collapses the gaps between mentoring, coaching, and accountability. There is a free level called ‘DRIP‘ with taster content dripped out via subscription and via our substack but the real gold is available on a subscription basis. The aim is to grow fluent leaders who naturally have the right tools at their disposal and who reach for the right tool at the right time without having to think about it. Subscribe for free from our subscription page here.
DIP right in with our level 2 offer that sends a monthly Leadership and Systems Change Content direct to your inbox that you can Dip into at a time that works for you. We mix leadership and systems theory, reflection and action, with our unique Applied Alchemy Prompts, Postures and Checklist to grow your leadership fluency.

Catch our launch offer at just £5 a month (usual price will be £8 a month). Download a free DIP sample here. Then subscribe here.

Join our ‘SWIM’ level if you like to wrestle with ideas. SWIM members automatically get Drip level but also access a termly webinar exploring how to put the ideas into practice in their own context. For our launch offer you can sign up for £8 a month saving over £50 on the webinars.

Select your subscription level here.

Our SWIM webinars for 2026 will be on the theme of Trickster.

If you want to meet regularly we have a limited number of FLOW  spaces offering 3 one to one Applied Alchemy flow sessions a year and access to all Swim and Dip material.

Each FLOW session is up to 90 minutes and is a bespoke context based approach, where you set the agenda based on the challenges you are facing in developing practice in your situation and where needed we weave in what you are learning through through the Applied Alchemy material.

To secure a Flow place there is a £50 non returnable registration fee, and then £30 a month. This is a saving of over £125 on our usual context based coaching and Applied Alchemy fees so spaces are very limited and will be on a first come first served basis. We will contact you to arrange dates at a mutual convenience throughout the year.

Or feel free to contact Richard@alchemyedge.co.uk to discuss if you are wondering if Flow is right for you.

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Cooperation: The Power of Simple Alliances

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The final part of the series recognises that sometimes, the most power-packed relationships are the simplest or most beautiful, birds that clean ticks off a buffalo, humans sharing tools across fences. Cooperation in a mixed ecology church is much the same: it’s about formulating pragmatic, focused alliances without losing identity. Simple and beautiful but not always easy.

Leadership and systems theory show us that cooperation builds bridges, often short-term, purpose-driven, yet vital for system health. Leaders who foster these alliances resist the temptation to control everything. Instead, they create space for shared missions, joint projects around community needs, shared resources, or simple support networks. Donella Meadows, Thinking in Systems reminds us “The strength of a system lies in its ability to form loose, strategic connections, without the burden of full integration.”
As resources become depleted cooperation is popping up all over the place. Churches agreeing to run a marketplace for refugee families, each bringing what they have without merging their core identities. These bridges allow each expression to flourish in its own way, gaining new insights, reinforcing trust, and expanding capacity.

Leadership involves recognising the right moments for collaboration, being clear about shared goals, and celebrating joint achievement. It’s also about listening deeply to what each part offers and needs, cultivating a culture of trust and mutual encouragement.
For the church as a whole, cooperation is an ongoing practice. It reminds us that living in community isn’t about uniformity, but about respecting each other’s strengths and sharing the load for the common good.

Competition, Can Rivalries Spark Renewal

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The fourth in the series recognises that Competition is a difficult word for the church. In the wild, animals compete for food and territory, and this tension drives adaptation. But in the church, competition often feels like a zero-sum game, who’s in charge, who gets the most members, who has the best worship, more often fuelled by anxiety than faith. That anxiety can choke creativity, turning vibrant missions into mini turf wars.
Most leadership and systems theory tell us that a little healthy tension can actually sharpen identity and purpose. When churches see competition as a sign they’re uniquely called to a specific community rather than a threat, it becomes a motivator for innovation. Differentiation becomes a deliberate act of mission, each expression carving out its niche while still remaining connected to the larger body.

“Healthy organizations are understood not by their sameness but by their capacity to differentiate and adapt.”—Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline.
A good example is church communities that focus on specific demographics, one for families, another for artists, another for students, each pursuing its calling without envy or encroachment. Leaders who nurture this healthy diversity, rather than fear it, foster resilience and growth. It’s about creating a culture where competition spurs mutual encouragement, not jealousy or conflict.

The challenge lies in maintaining clarity amidst tension. Leaders must set clear boundaries of mission, respect differences, and celebrate each community’s unique contribution. And they must do it with humility, acknowledging that competition is a signal to sharpen the focus, not a reason to divide. In the end, competition when set alongside the other ecological discussed in the previous post, can be a crucible for innovation, clarity and sustainability. It reminds us that the church’s strength isn’t uniformity but a diversity of callings that, when held well, strengthen the whole.