Sermons And Gubbins

This sermon was preached at our Sunday morning service on 27th July. The Gospel was Luke 11:1-13 . I hope you enjoy reading it!   This morning, I want to talk about prayer. In our gospel this morning, Jesus’ disciples heard him praying and they wanted in. “Teach us how to pray”, they asked, and Jesus gave them a formula; a very famous formula, but one that seems a bit different from the Lord’s Prayer we pray today. It’s the TL;DR version, if you like (“too long; didn’t read”).   <at some point during the above, Miriam, my daughter, interrupts to ask for promised sweets>   Oh, I’m sorry Miriam, I did say you could have some sweets during my talk – here you go. You go back and sit down now.   <passes Miriam a sweet>   Absolutely shameless that child!   Anyway, Jesus teaches his disciples the Lord’s Prayer (though not completely as we know it). Luke’s version goes like this:   “ Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom c...

This poem has been over ten years in the making, but it has only come together properly in the past couple of weeks. It was written as a response to our church poetry group theme of 'Prayer'. And this is my prayer for my children. I hope it resonates, and you're also more than welcome to lay claim to it! Prayer (For Isaac and Miriam ) May you be strong and independent May you always know your mind May you always make good choices  But most of all, be kind. May you always love the person you are May you find it easy to unwind May you always know where home is But most of all, be kind.  May you work hard at a job you love May you avoid the daily grind May you never find yourself in need But most of all, be kind. May you always stand up for what is right  May you never be undermined  May you have true friends who have your back  But most of all, be kind. May you be brave, but never foolish  May you leave your fears behind  May you soar and shine and chang...

 This sermon was preached on our Sunday morning service on 8th September. The gospel was Mark 7:24-37 . I hope you enjoy reading it! The Jesus of the first half of today’s Gospel is – I have to say – a Jesus I don’t really recognise. I don’t know if you feel the same? It starts off normal enough; in our gospel, we hear that Jesus leaves his own community and sets off travelling. Maybe he’s visiting extended family, or perhaps he’s on a tour, spreading the Good News to other members of the Jewish faith (or, potentially more apposite to today’s Gospel, the Jewish race ). Either way, he’s in foreign climes. Whilst there, he finds a place to stay. He’s approached by a local woman who asks for his help. Not for her, but for her daughter, who, she says, is possessed. And here’s where Jesus looks to go off the rails. He says ‘no’.   Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman     He says ‘no’, and really not politely. He’s rude to her. His language is discriminatory...