Sermons And Gubbins

This sermon was preached at our Sunday morning service on 30th August. The Gospel was Matthew 16:21-28 , and the New Testament reading was Romans 12:9-21 .  In writing this sermon, I was reminded of a hymn I wrote a few years ago. I nearly quoted it in the sermon, but removed it in the end. It's here  if you wish to read it.   Last week, Huw talked to us about when Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and then how difficult the disciples must have found it when Jesus instructed them to keep quiet about it. I have been thinking about that this week. And I’ve also been wondering about Jesus’ motivation. To tell you the truth, I have never understood why Jesus wanted his heavenly identity to be kept so under wraps. Well, this week, we finally find out why.   Poor Peter. I’ve never known someone get it so spectacularly right, and then so catastrophically wrong within such a short space of time. Last week , he was top of his game. Jesus asked his disciples w...

  This sermon was written for our Sunday morning service on 18th February 2024 - the First Sunday of Lent. The gospel was Mark 1:9-15 . I can’t quite believe it’s Lent already! It seems like only the other week we were celebrating the end of Christmas, and now, here we are, already preparing for Easter. Oh – hang on – it was only the other week we were celebrating the end of Christmas. Just 14 days ago, Fi and Caroline led us in our Candlemas service. That time between Christmas and Lent really has been a whistlestop tour this year. Perhaps less so for us in the Church than for those who work in retail though. I distinctly remember Jen messaging me when she was shopping on 6 th January to say that she’d already seen Easter Eggs for sale!   Time really is relative, I guess!   Knowing that doesn’t make any of it feel less of a rush, though, does it? I have to be honest, I’ve not really had time yet to think about what my Lenten discipline this year is goin...

This sermon was preached at our Sunday morning service on Sunday 9th July. The Gospel was Matthew 11:16-19,25-30 . I hope you enjoy reading it! The other week, Miriam had a play date with one of her friends from nursery. They were both so excited beforehand and really looking forward to playing together, and it gave Jen and I the opportunity to sit and talk to another couple about grown-up things rather than Fireman Sam, Ninjago or unicorn-riding mermaids. Now, any of you who have been parents to small children, or been small children yourselves will not be surprised to learn things did not go exactly to plan! Whilst Jen and I and the other couple were happily taking about work, or cars, or the situation in Ukraine (...actually, come to think of it, children might  be better at choosing conversation topics than adults after all), we heard wailing from two different corners of the house. Duly, I investigated. The problem, as it turned out, was down to the choice of game. Miriam want...