Genesis 18:1-15 A burglar broke into a house and was looking around. He heard a soft voice say, “Jesus is watching you”. Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued his search. Again the voice said, “Jesus is watching you”. He turned his flashlight around and saw a parrot in a cage. He asked the […]
Acts 9:1-20 One of Shakespeare’s more famous speeches is given to Portia in The Merchant of Venice: The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. If you take those words and […]
Luke 15:11-32 If the truth is told, I’ve always struggled with this story. We often call it the prodigal son, and that choice of title sets off the problems for me. So often, I’ve heard and read, we’re to rejoice at the younger son coming home. My problem is that the younger son is such […]
Joel 2:1-2 & 12-17 John 8:1-11 I’m beginning, totally unsuitably for Lent, with an expression of pride. I’m very proud of my collection of the complete set of Carry On films – it’s the earthy British humour of the 1960s and 1970s at its best (or worst, depending upon your point of view!). One of […]
Fast from hurting words and say kind words Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude Fast from anger and be filled with patience Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope Fast from worries and trust in God Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity Fast from pressures and be prayerful Fast from bitterness and […]
Luke 9:28-36 As we came down from the mountain, James, John, and me, we were still shaking. I was so confused and trembling so much that I kept stumbling, and John would reach out a hand to steady me. Jesus had told us not to say anything to anyone else about it, not to the […]
Psalm 103:8-13 Matthew 18:21-33 Forgiveness is a funny thing; it warms the heart and cools the sting. In a week when we’re thinking about forgiveness, it would be impossible not to consider Shamima Begum. Certain sections of the press have clearly painted this in very simplistic terms. She was 15 when she was radicalised, online […]
Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 138 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 There’s a story told that in the early in the nineteenth century, the King of Prussia, Frederick William III, found his nation in great trouble. He had been attempting to bring prosperity to his land, but constant wars had drained the treasury. So, he wrote an […]
Earlier this week the Methodist Council agreed to recommend to the President of the Methodist Conference that the Rev Conrad Hicks be appointed to serve as Director of Global Relationships and to lead the World Church Relationship Team of the British Methodist Church. The appointment will be full time from September 1st, 2019 but Conrad […]
Luke 23:32-34 Job 2:11-13 Micah 6:1-8 No one can deny the power of a good court room drama, whether it’s Rumpole of the Bailey, a classic film or play like Agatha Christie’s Witness for the prosecution, to finding out what’s going to happen to Brian Aldridge shortly at Borchester Crown Court. We hear charges of […]