Part 1 – John 20: 19-23 I have long thought that John wrote his gospel on the assumption that his readers (or hearers) were familiar with at least one of the earlier three. In this short passage about an appearance of the risen Jesus he alludes to all three of the other gospel-writers. We get […]
Pentecost prayer
O God, who came at Pentecost, to turn fearful disciples into an empowered community, come upon us and full us with spirit, Amen.
Church, chocolate and flowers..
‘There will always be a small minority of people who attempt to use our Holy Traditions for personal gain. The greetings card industry. The supermarket chains. Even more sinister are those people who claim to revive ancient traditions, involving our children in pagan practices in the guise of amusement. Too many of us see these […]
Maundy Thursday
It’s often struck me that Jesus’ so called ‘new commandment’ is not very new at all! Love one another. You could say, if you wanted to be critical, that this commandment is rather obvious, unoriginal and vague. Of course we should love one another – everyone knows that. But then Jesus adds some crucial words… […]
Holy Week
Lord Jesus, as we accompany you on the way of the cross, we give thanks that you accompany us on the road of life, transforming every day and leading us towards the light of life. Amen
Palm Sunday – fling wide the gates!
This is the gate of the Lord; those who are righteous may enter. Psalm 118:20 I imagine that most of us find a door that bears the sign ‘Private – Keep out’ intriguing. I know that if I find such a door in a National Trust house I want to turn the handle and find […]
A second chance life
After giving a lecture on miracles, one very learned theologian was asked to give a specific example of one. ‘There is only one miracle’, he said, ‘it is life’. And there are times in our lives, aren’t there, when we know how right he was… Life itself is a miracle. So, if you have wept […]
Eternal God, you love us with a tender love and we are welcome in your presence. Your arms are ready to embrace us, your love to comfort us, your encouragement to strengthen us We come to you, like a child running to a mother’s arms, and you lift us up. Thank you for the everlasting […]
No more motherless child
Philip Larkin wrote a famous poem about ‘your mum and dad’ that you couldn’t read out in church, at least not every word. It’s best known for one word beginning with an ‘F’. And the drift of it is that parenthood hands on misery.. and the advice is ‘Get out as early as you can, […]
The well of prayer..
God, deep as the well, clear as the water, sparkling as the spring, we praise you.
Turning on the light
Not long ago I learned how someone I admire first realised that there was more to going to church than just.. well going to church. It was when she was a child, and she was going every Sunday with her family to a little church in rural Ohio. The minister there was a young man […]
Born from above
My father died some years ago, but if you had ever met him you would know immediately that he was my father. There could be no doubt really. I have his nose, his lack of height, his crinkly hair and his eyes. And if you had known us both well, you would soon see that […]