Sermon Deut.30.15-end, Matt 5.21-37 If, like my mother, you were divorced and then remarried you may have been shifting in your seat at Jesus words about committing adultery with your new partner. If you found yourself aroused by a sexy photo of a favourite actor or actress you may be feeling alarmed at Jesus violent […]
Numbers 6.22-end, Luke 2.15-21 The feast of the circumcision and naming of Christ ‘it had been just as the angel had told them.’ These words are the focus of what I want to say this morning as we celebrate that day in the church year when we remember Mary and Joseph officially naming Jesus. […]
Sermon 9 October 2016 2 Kings 5.1-15, Luke17.11-19 In the summer I was sitting in the shade in front of the Oracle one day when a man came into sight wheeling his bike. He looked very hot and sweaty, and, leaning the bike against a tree, flopped down beside me. We got talking and I […]
Ascension Day 5 May 2016 Acts 1.1-11, Luke 24.44-end Daniel’s vision of a heavenly court where God sits, enthroned and where the Son of Man has a place; the prophet Elijah who was taken up to heaven after leaving behind a portion of his spirit for his disciple Elisha; and Jacob’s dream where he sees […]
Sermon 3rd Sunday of Easter John 21. 1-19, Acts 9.1-6 Murder, mayhem and mystery; they’re all there in our bible readings today. Discovering that you were not who you thought you were, the persecution of a religious minority; working long hours for very little. Sounds topical? Before and after – I enjoy those pictures of […]
Sermon Easter Day 27 March 2016 Luke 24.1-12 Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale is a play that looks like one of his tragedies until almost the end when there is a startling turn of events. King Leontes is struck by irrational jealousy when he sees his wife Hermione talking with his best friend Polixenes. His jealousy is […]
Sermon Palm Sunday 2016. Luke 23.1-49 (Following a dramatized reading of the passage) I sometimes get about by cycling. When I’m on my bike I’m much more conscious of hills. When faced with a particularly steep one I used to get off and walk – it just felt easier. When, though, I had to climb […]
Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Luke 4.14-21 The power of words from scripture. People hearing words from the bible and finding themselves shifted to a place of calling/commitment – Amy Carmichael late 19th century (1 Cor 3, building a foundation..), Sadhu Sundar Singh 1903 age 14 Jesus asking ‘Why are you persecuting me?’, Rev Mark last […]
Sermon 23 Aug 2015 Joshua 24. 1-2a, 14-18, John 6.56-59 Choices A book I used to love reading to my children and now also enjoy reading to my grandchildren is ‘Would you rather?’ by John Burningham. In it he faces us with impossible choices. ‘Would you rather be made to eat spider stew, slug dumplings, […]
Sermon 19 July 2015 Mark 6. 30-34, 53-56 I wonder how you are today? What kind of week have you had? As always there’s been a lot going on internationally – Greece, a possible nuclear deal with Iran, closer to home concerns about the future of the BBC. Then our own circumstances – what’s been […]