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What is Heaven Like?

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This sermon was preached at our Sunday morning service on 26th July 2026. The gospel was Matthew 13:31-33,44-52   Do you ever sometimes get that ‘aha!’ moment? When someone’s been trying to explain something to you for ages, and then it finally twigs? I remember back in school being taught quadratic equations in maths. Lesson after lesson, the teacher taught us what we needed to do, and – whilst I was in class – I vaguely understood. As soon as I left the room though, it was like I tucked my understanding back under the desk alongside my chair. I distinctly remember (long after the rest of the class) the feeling when I finally understood what it was that I needed to do to solve these monstrosities; that sudden click when it all became clear. Of course, I can’t remember any of it now…   At the end of our gospel reading this morning, Jesus asks his disciples a question: Have they understood what Heaven is like? We’ve had three Sundays’ worth of gospel passages from Matthew...
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Last Night (Ariadne’s Thread)

  Last Night (Ariadne’s Thread) When the sun goes down and does not rise I will savour this sunset most of all gold and ruby and Tyrian purple blending into Cretan sapphire sky But more precious than these: fingers intertwined knees pressed together feet swinging as one above the tide your tired head against my forearm I hope that we can rewind this thread of memory— on that day when Ariadne lays down her spindle— with my hand held in yours and my own tired head resting on your arm Then may I return to these treasured hues, the comfort of skin as well as sun, and hold on to these moments  when I could keep you warm and safe and I will smile, knowing then that my last sunset is not yours. Dedit oscula nato non iterum repetenda suo Ovid's  Metamorphoses  (Book VIII)
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What the World Still Needs

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This sermon was preached on our Sunday morning service on 14th June 2026. The Gospel was Matthew 9:35-10:8 .     Did you ever – at Sunday school maybe – have to learn the names of the twelve disciples? I think, for me, it was one of the things we had to do when I was a member of the Boys’ Brigade in Scotland. To be honest, even now, I’m not sure I could do it from memory…   Let’s start with the easy ones: Simon (also called Peter), James, John, Judas Iscariot, Doubting Thomas – ok, that’s five. Seven more then – feel free to shout out! ·          Matthew the tax collector – sometimes called Levi ·          Philip ·          Andrew! (Simon’s brother) ·          Another James (son of Alphaeus, rather than Zebedee) ·          Another Simon as well – Simon the Zea...
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