40th Anniversary 28 October 2018 Genesis 28.11-18, Matthew 21.12-17 The 1970s were a challenging time for the church. It looked as though religion would play a smaller and smaller part in the lives of people. Church attendance was falling, but the C of E still had large churches to maintain. There had been much building […]
Mark 9.30-37, Proverbs 31.10-end Our readings today continue the theme started last week about God’s wisdom, a wisdom, as Richard said last week, that turns conventional wisdom on its head. It’s an upside downness that we saw Jesus trying to put across to his disciples on the road to Jerusalem where he would face execution, […]
Ascension. Acts 1.15-17, 21-26, John 17.6-19 In our church year we are in an in between time – between the Ascension (last Thursday) and Pentecost (next Sunday). Traditionally in the church this is marked as a time of waiting in prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. There are many different kinds of prayer […]
Introducing a project from Green Christian – A post-church talk by Christine Bainbridge I think most of you know that our church is a recognised Eco Congregation. We are committed to doing things in relation to our church that make us more environmentally friendly (we use a green energy supplier, for example, and we promote […]
Baptism of Louie and Logan 2 July 2017 I sometimes watch a TV programme called ‘Who do you think you are?’ where well known people- I particularly remember Boris Johnson – discover more about their family history. There are usually surprises and shocks along the way! Today we have 2 little boys being baptised – […]
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 […]