Today’s gospel reading is full of division, conflict and animosity. In order to unpick what is there we need to understand an important way of thinking in Jesus’ time and place. It went like this: people were labeled according to their place of origin, their social status and so on. We hear this reflected on…
EMBRACE, a Christian charity working in the Middle East, asks us to pray for Gaza and, if possible to write to our MPs and ask them to take action. Here is what EMBRACE is saying: ‘It is not possible to witness the horror of innocent protesters, including children, being shot, killed or maimed by trained…
None of today’s readings are particularly easy to understand, perhaps especially the Gospel reading. First we have to give the passage some context. Jesus’ prayer, that is our reading for today, comes between the Last Supper and his arrest at Gethsemane. It is part of his last ‘lesson’ to his disciples – like all last…
Today is the last Sunday of Easter – this coming Thursday is Ascension Day and then we begin our yearly vigil for the coming of the Spirit. Please do come to the short evening service on Ascension Day. It’s an important day in the Christian Calendar – apparently, in law, working people and school children…
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and…
Today our activities were all based around the theme of Jesus the Good Shepherd. For our prayers of confession we hunted for lost sheep, hidden around the church, and brought them back home. We thought about times that we’d strayed away from our Good Shepherd and we accepted God’s love and forgiveness. …
Now that the “beast from the east” is a distant memory, flowers in the churchyard are coming to life, especially the red tulips planted around the war memorial by Joe last autumn. The railings and gates are also looking wonderful, painted by Joyce – great work…
The road to Emmaus – one of the best loved and familiar stories of the New Testament. Two friends, at a low ebb after their dreams and hopes of Jesus the Messiah had been shattered, suddenly have an encounter with him – he is risen indeed, Alleluia! This encounter seems particularly important as it seems…
We’re here – we’ve made it. It’s Easter! A big thank you to those of you who’ve been faithful throughout Holy Week – those of you who’ve walked the way of the cross by tracing Jesus through the last 7 days, walked with him through the Last Supper, the Arrest in the Garden, the crucifixion,…
Once again I’ve brought you some images as we seek, together, to deepen our understanding of Good Friday. These are all by Sieger Köder. Köder was a German Roman Catholic Priest and painter Sieger Köder: he died in February died 2015, shortly after his 90th birthday. His paintings were profoundly affected by his experiences as…