Learning
This week’s services & events
- Thursday 23rd May
- 11:00 am: Pondering the Parables discussion groupPONDERING THE PARABLES After Holy Communion on Thursdays, 11.00am.
- Sunday 26th May
- 8:00 am: Holy CommunionService follows the Book of Common Prayer
- 10:00 am: The Parish EucharistThe main act of worship for the whole community. Children's groups and a crèche run concurrently. Sunday lunch is served at 12.15 pm for those who would like to stay. Preacher: to be confirmed.
- 8:00 pm: Night Service - "Completeness"A simple, open and reflective night service based on the theme of "Completeness". Led by Jen Ryder and Helen Stocker.
- Thursday 23rd May
Category Archives: Sermons
‘Living Thinking Faith’ means engaging intelligently with the Bible, as well as other sources of inspiration, to help make sense of life, to appreciate its potential, challenges and ambiguities, as well as to discern how best to invest our time and energies.
Sermons are one important way in which this can happen. Preaching at St Mark’s aims to stimulate and inform – to cultivate wisdom and inspire discipleship through engaging the mind, feeding the spirit and strengthening our resolve to live out the difference Christian faith makes to human being.
This is no small task. In addition to our own ministers, visiting preachers are a regular feature, and sometimes we replace the traditional style of sermon with an interview or multi-media presentation.
What are churches for?
To my mind, this morning’s Gospel passage, lifted from the so-called ‘high-priestly prayer’ attributed to Jesus, which runs the full length of John chapter 17, is one of the most intriguing, incomprehensible and infuriating passages of scripture. It is intriguing … Continue reading
The God of Heaven is Present on Earth
In the name of God, to whom we owe our lives with whom we live our lives and through whom our lives are fulfilled. Amen Over the last few months I’ve been on a course at Whirlow Grange considering “The … Continue reading
Jesus is risen!
From time to time, someone asks me if I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. It is usually framed in such a way as to anticipate a negative or, at least, ambiguous response. Rather than scratching my beard, adjusting my … Continue reading
May 5, 2013
in Sermons
Tagged body of Christ, community, discipleship, Jesus, Paraclete, remembering, resurrection
Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?
“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller … Continue reading
The Next 50 Years
Tombs don’t need to be emptied. They can remain occupied. It’s so much more manageable when they do. For all the grief and loss that surrounds them, there is at least a path to follow, albeit a painful one. Unoccupied … Continue reading
April 21, 2013
in Sermons
Tagged evolution, faith, Honest to God, Jesus, kingdom, resurrection, tomb
Transforming Shame
This week I received an email directing me towards an article about how congregations facing decline are sometimes bound by shame (the article is called “Bound by Shame” by Susan Beaumont). It suggested that some indications that shame is directing … Continue reading
Affirming Thomas
Thomas often gets a bad press. Doubting Thomas sounds like moral censure. But the story as told by John does not condemn Thomas. Thomas was not there when, as the first part of the gospel told us, Jesus appeared to … Continue reading
The Foolishness of the Cross
Opening Prayer Christ of the passion, as we gather in your name, lead us deeper into the wisdom revealed in your suffering and embodied on the cross; rid us of the fear of being judged foolish for owning your name … Continue reading
March 29, 2013
in Resources, Sermons
Tagged cross, foolishness, Good Friday, Jesus, love, sacrifice, wisdom
Science Festival
A couple of years ago we went to see the musical Oklahoma! One of the songs in this is entitled: “The farmer and the cowman should be friends.” which is about the mutual – and what seems natural – antipathy … Continue reading
Divisions at the Lord’s Supper
‘Do this in remembrance of me.’ Was ever another command so obeyed? For century after century, spreading slowly to every continent and country and among every race on earth, this action has been done, in every conceivable human circumstance, for … Continue reading
March 3, 2013
in Sermons
Tagged community, Corinth, eucharist, holy communion, Jesus, justice, kingdom