Tag Archives: love

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Death

This is the first sermon in our series on ‘Things we would rather not think about.’  It is concerned with death, one of society’s remaining taboos.  And because death is a reality affecting us personally, both in terms of experiencing … Continue reading

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Radical Hospitality

Today is marked in churches around the country as Racial Justice Sunday. As we are all aware, racial justice is something that has been newsworthy for centuries. From the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, to Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech in 1963.

I once read a story about a priest in a church who, every single Sunday, preached the exact same sermon. Continue reading

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Sermon preached on 2nd September 2012

‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.’ When I first read this lectionary passage and the gospel reading … Continue reading

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Do you love me? – A Ministry of Care

To care for others is to recognise their humanity and be responsive to their presence; it is in the service of Christ that we find ourselves made whole. I wonder what it means to you to be part of a … Continue reading

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Cancelling Debt

This is the fourth in our sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer and by now it will have become apparent that although this prayer consists of various acclamations and petitions they are intimately related to one another to the extent … Continue reading

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