Sermons And Gubbins

This sermon was preached at our Sunday morning service on 26th January 2025, the first Sunday following the inaugration of Trump as the 47th president of the United States of America. The gospel was Luke 4:14-21 . Do you have a technique for getting through a sermon? My kids have a snack. It started, when Isaac was a lot smaller, as a way to ensure he was quiet and didn’t fidget. A decent-sized apple could keep him going through the affirmation of faith and the intercessions too.   I’m sure you’ve seen videos of Trump’s inauguration service on the news or social media. I bet that presidential party would have given anything for a way to get through Bishop Budde’s sermon. Trump really looked like he could have used the distraction of a snack – something like a whole bucket of chicken into which he could bury his head. When we take Isaac and Miriam out to the pub, we let them have their tablets and headphones to watch cartoons or films for when they’ve finished their tea. I b...

This sermon was given at our Advent Four service on Sunday 22nd December. The gospel was Luke 1:39-55 . I hope you enjoy reading it!   Advent is a strange period in the Church’s year, if you think about it. We always say that it is about waiting. We’re waiting for Christmas Day, for Christ to be born. But, of course, we know that Christ was already born. He was born over two thousand years ago. So, what are we waiting for?   What is Christmas Day, when it comes?   Are we just celebrating another birthday, maybe? Congratulations, Jesus! You don’t look a day over nine hundred! I think, though, that we really should get a bigger cake next year, what with all these candles. Oh, and a fire extinguisher might be handy too…   I don’t know about you. It feels more than that to me?   I think, each year that we go through Advent, we’re actually, genuinely waiting again – each year – for Christ to be born. Not waiting for another birthday, or remembe...

This poem was written for our October Pub Poetry group at The Barking Dog . The theme I followed for this month was 'amateur hour'. It was not an easy poem to write, I wanted to make sure the language in it was humorous, and not simply offensive (but, yes, it is offensive - sorry Mum, if you're reading this!) I hope you enjoy it, and - honestly - if you're offended by foul language, please do skip on and read something else instead! A Conversation with the Boss at 5:26 on a Friday Afternoon Are you  shitting  me? You absolute  tool ! Do you think this is amateur hour?             You've made me look a fucking fool!             Shit a brick , you should be back in school-             Stop snivelling!  You think I'm being cruel?   You're such a  Pwecious Lickle Flower ! I can't believe the mess you've made; Fuck   knows  how I'll clean this up!     ...