Advent 1, 28th November 2021
Luke 21:25-36 – Advent Today is Advent Sunday. Traditionally the start of the church year. A time of Advent calendars, mince pies, carols, and Christmas preparations. Though Advent calendars, which always used to just have pictures behind the doors but now invariably seem to have chocolate, start on December 1st instead of the actual […]
Sermon Thanksgiving Service for life of June Russell
25 October 12 noon I think when someone dies so full of years as June did it can, perhaps surprisingly, come as a bit of a shock. We had grown used to her being part of our lives for so long that we had to some extent thought that she would always be around. […]
Sunday 24th October – Bible Sunday
Isaiah 55.1-11, Mark 10.46-end Today is Bible Sunday, a day when we give thanks for the bible, celebrate it and particularly remember those people and organisations that work to promote the bible, among them our own Hamish Bruce who of course works for the Bible Society Our readings today (OTanyway) is especially for Bible Sunday […]
St John and St Stephen’s Church Reading – October 17 2021.
Hebrews 5:1-10 & Mark 10: 35-45. Identity & Image ‘Some assume an identity, some have an identity thrust upon them. The theme today is Identity and Image; In looking at this theme when I looked at the service rota for today, it did freak me a little (no a […]
St John and St Stephen’s Church, Reading, October 10th 2021, Trinity 19
Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31 The word of God is living and active This morning I would like to explore one way that we can hear God speaking with us. With you. With me. I wonder how you feel just now, hearing those words? Did your heart give a little surge? Was there a […]
Creation 3, 19th September 2021
James 3:13-4:3,7-8a – Creation Today is the third Sunday in the Season of Creation. But I am also going to be talking about our lectionary readings, which are quite appropriate – though they may not seem so at first. Though I have read it many times before, I was particularly struck by the passage […]
Sermon 26 September 2021 Creation 4
Praying for Creation James 5.13-20, Mark 9.38-50 The picture on the screen shows Växjö cathedral in Småland Sweden. As you know, Oxford diocese is twinned with Växjö diocese. This time last week we were there visiting our daughter. Like us the cathedral is marking the season of creation and its newsletter encourages members to […]
Sunday 12th September 2021 – Creation 2
It has been a busy week for me in the run-up to Freshers Week at the University. When I finally got time yesterday to prepare this sermon I was already somewhat ‘highly strung’. My wife, Jo, feminist and academic, had gone away on a hen weekend with her future sister-in-law, part of which included a […]
St John and St Stephen’s Church, Reading, August 29th 2021, Trinity 13
Song of Solomon 2:8-13, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 ‘Give me an undivided heart’ It would be difficult to find two readings that are more different. The one, part of the beautiful love-poem of Song of Solomon with its invitation to “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!”; the other a showdown between […]
