Sermons And Gubbins

This sermon was preached at our Midnight Mass service on Christmas Eve 2023. It's a rehash of my sermon from the same service in 2021. I hope you enjoy reading it, anyway! Happy Christmas to you! Can you feel it? Have you got that Christmassy feeling yet?   However old we get, there’s still something magical about Christmas isn’t there? And tonight, when Christmas Eve turns into Christmas morning is – for me – the most magical time of the whole season. Maybe it’s all that sherry I drank earlier? Or  maybe , it’s the fact that it *is* night time – the witching hour, if you like, and just being here with you all, with the flickering candles and the beautiful, stirring Christmas music evoking that sense of magic for me. Perhaps that’s why you’re here too? To seek a small glimpse of that Christmas magic?   Even as we grow out of childhood and into adults, I think we still, deep down, hold out hope that the magic of Christmas still exists. We cling to the possibility of all th...

This poem was written for our December poetry group. The theme given was either Love or Christmas... I chose the latter. I hope you enjoy reading it. Happy Christmas! God is Sleeping "Peace on earth", the angels whispered. And for one night, there was peace. The strife was hushed  as all ears strained to hear the snuffles of the sleeping baby, The tiny whimpers providing the signs of life Of a living, breathing, murmuring God. "Do not be afraid", the angels commanded. And for once, all was calm. Fear was cast out as all heartbeats settled in time to a single lullaby, Rocking the creator of the universe as he slept, Safe in the swaddled embrace of the Father's perfect love. "We bring great joy!", the angels sang. And for once, the whole world joined the chorus. The Light shone in the streets and fields as all voices joined as one in laugher and song, And the baby in the manger momentarily opened his eyes  And blew a raspberry to the darkness. But now, t...

This poem was written for our monthly poetry group, The theme for November was memories/remembering. I hope you enjoy reading it! November Memories "Remember, remember"; you excitedly recite the poem you have learnt to me.  "Do you know it, Daddy?" And my childhood memories suddenly burst into my mind. Grabbing a stick to check for hedgehogs under the bonfire my own Dad had built in the back garden. And when it was lit - the siren-song of the beckoning heat and hypnotising flames, Calling me closer, only to make me recoil and flinch as the fire suddenly cracks  And a burning scrap of paper flies free from its boundaries, Racing towards my face before suddenly fleeing and fading  into the cold night sky. I can see the enticing tin that the fireworks came in,  looking all the while like a magical box of forbidden treats; Fountains of gunpowder sherbet. Explosions of neon popping candy. A golden sparkler; a treacherous lolly-pop I hold at arm's length  for fear of ...

This sermon was written for Bible Sunday 2023 and was preached at our Sunday morning service that day (29th October). In the news recently had been stories of awful atrocities committed in Israel and Gaza with escalations of violence on all sides. My sermon this morning has been a particularly difficult one to write. For me, the weight of everything that’s happening in Israel and Palestine just feels so heavy. I’m sure for you, there’s a similar feeling. It’s a kind of grief, I guess, mourning the senselessness, the cruelty and the seeming hopelessness of it all. There are no easy answers, and there really does not look to be a way out of this situation, save for a multiplying of the violence. Today, we’re supposed to be celebrating Bible Sunday ; a day to come together to celebrate the gift of the scriptures to God’s people. But, for me, at the moment, I cannot help but think about the fact that this book is intricately linked with the soil and the sea of the land we are watching fall...

Today is National Poetry Day; I thought I’d put together a post collecting my poems written over the last twelve months, each should open in a new window/tab so you can come back to this page easily if you like - hope you find something you enjoy! Manchester   I Would Walk The Breadaholic After the Storm The Body of Christ Best Mates

This poem was written for our monthly poetry group. The theme chosen for this month was ‘friendship’ - I hope you enjoy reading it! Best Mates  You're my best mate by miles, by far! We help each other prop up the bar. I'll always let you drive my car; You know where the bodies are. We're there together, through all life's strains. Through lows and highs, with loss and gains. You've got the brawn and, well, you've got the brains. I know my place; you hold the reigns. I'm the Sundance Kid, and you are Butch, You're Starsky - I will be your Hutch I know we'll always be in touch. We have to be; you know too much. We just work; like an air tank and an ocean diver, Like streaking goes with Lady Godiva, Or duct tape, and TV's MacGyver; So... pretty please, guv, lend me a fiver?

This sermon was given at our morning service on Sunday 10th September. The Gospel was Matthew 18:15-20 . I hope you enjoy reading it!   Are you listening? No, but are you listening? That’s what Jesus is asking us this morning. Listen – there’s that word again – listen to his words from our Gospel again and see how often that word comes up:   “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector.”   So – are you listening? Not necessarily to me prattling on up here on a Sunday morning. I’m not particularly bothered about...