On 10 May 2025, Churches Together in Dorset hosted an ecumenical Quiet Day at St Mark’s Church, Talbot Village, Bournemouth. Led by outgoing Chair Major Katrina Greetham of the Salvation Army, the theme of the day was “Beauty in Brokenness.”
This reflective gathering – which included time spent in the peaceful stillness of the church and quiet moments in the beautiful outdoor surroundings – invited participants to explore the ways in which God meets us in our most fractured moments. Through scripture, prayer, silence and shared insight, the day offered hope that God’s grace not only restores but transforms: Jeremiah 18:4 reminds us of God as the divine potter, lovingly reshaping our lives even when they are in pieces; 2 Corinthians 4:7 describes us as “jars of clay” holding God’s treasure – our fragility becomes the very place where His light shines.
Katrina shared powerful examples of how brokenness is not the end, but often the beginning of God’s work in us. Biblical figures like Moses, David, and Peter were deeply flawed, yet used mightily by God. Our weaknesses, she reminded us, are not disqualifications, but invitations for God’s strength.
We reflected on how pain can have purpose – that every hardship is part of a larger, beautiful tapestry that only God can see fully. Our broken stories can also become powerful testimonies that offer hope to others.
A striking image shared was that of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The cracks remain visible, but the item becomes more beautiful and valuable. Likewise, our scars can reflect God’s healing grace.
Katrina shared how, in a broken world, there is still hope. Colossians 1:15–23 reminds us that through Christ, all things are being reconciled. As those present prayed for their neighbourhoods and nations, they held onto the promise that God is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and still at work bringing light into darkness.
The day closed with the words of the hymn, ‘God of the Poor (Beauty for Brokenness) by Graham Kendrick: “Melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain… Come, change our love from a spark to a flame.”
This Quiet Day reminded us that brokenness is not the end of the story, but the beginning of something new. In God’s hands, it becomes a doorway to deeper grace, strength, and beauty.
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Photo credit: Churches Together in Dorset