The stories of the feeding of the 5000 and of the calming of the storm are both terribly familiar to us. They are also problematic: how many seafarers have, in the last 200o years, drowned at sea despite their prayers? How many parents, have, over the past 2000 years, and even today, watched their children…
The stories of the feeding of the 5000 and of the calming of the storm are both terribly familiar to us. They are also problematic: how many seafarers have, in the last 200o years, drowned at sea despite their prayers? How many parents, have, over the past 2000 years, and even today, watched their children…
Proper 9 2018 Does Theresa May have what it takes to be the Brexit Prime Minister? Does Gareth Southgate have what it takes to manage a team that will win the world cup? Does Venus WIlliams have what it takes to win the women’s title at Wimbledon this year? And you: do you have what…
John the Baptist is an extraordinary figure. He is regarded by Christians as the last of the Old Testament prophets – he didn’t herald the Messiah in an abstract way – ‘one day the Messiah will come’ but was able to say ‘the Messiah is here with us now’. In Luke’s wonderful account he does…
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…
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…
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…