St Mark's Broomhill and BroomhallIsaiah 55.1-11 ‘Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?’ Today is Bible Sunday. There’s a well-known saying whose author I haven’t succeeded in tracking down. The internet claims it is by either Karl Barth or an anonymous African woman. ‘There are […]
When putting together this sermon, I initially started as I often do – reading the passages a couple of weeks beforehand, then doing some more reading and letting themes ruminate in my brain before finally actually writing it – usually on the Saturday morning the day before the service. This process has worked for me […]
Sermon for Trinity 18: 30th September 2018 James 5.13-18 Mark 9.38-50 Who are we? It has been a big week for St Mark’s. Last weekend more than 100 of us were at Swanwick for the parish weekend, with Bishop Pete and the novelist Catherine Fox (his wife) joining us for the Saturday. Another 70 or […]
Hope in Honouring our Pain for the World In the service last Sunday after the bread and wine had been taken up there was this prayer: “Fill our lives with green and Growing hope.” We have been pursuing the theme of hope for some months and it will be the theme of the parish weekend […]
One of my greatest delights in life is watching good comedy – especially when the genius of the writing and performances have a talent for echoing truth. And one of my favourite shows that I think constantly demonstrates this is Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. I’ve been re-watching these and been reminded how relevant […]
When in our music God is glorified and adoration leaves no room for pride it is as though the whole creation cried: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (Fred Pratt Green) It won’t be a surprise to many of you that this brief reflection this morning will include some thoughts about the role of singing – and music […]
I am the bread of life When I take communion to someone’s house, I generally don’t take the reserved sacrament but consecrate the bread and wine in the service at the person’s house. This means I have to take the bread and wine. For the bread I most often cut a corner off a slice […]
Sermon for Trinity 10 YrB 5th August 2018 Exodus 16.2-4, 9-15 John 16.22-35 Today I think is a day for wondering; wondering about meaning and directions. The readings certainly provide plenty of food for thought – sorry about the pun… Our Old Testament reading gave us a glimpse, a fragment of Exodus, tha. B great […]
We know very little about Mary Magdalene. She is mentioned in all four of the canonical gospels in small but significant ways that through history easily became overlooked. Her profile in non-canonical gospels like Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip and the Acts of Peter reveal she had a much more prominent role both […]
Trust Prophets tend to get into trouble. When you look at what Amos said it is not really surprising. Amaziah who was the top priest at King Jeroboam’s sanctuary at Bethel, complained to the King that Amos had said: “Jeroboam shall die by the sword and Israel must go into exile away from his land.” […]