Sermons And Gubbins

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?