On 1 June 1944, just days before D-Day, Arland Scott, a 26 year old soldier with the Royal Canadian Artillery wrote to his young wife and to his young baby daughter whom he had only briefly seen once on leave following her birth in May. Arland was fatally wounded on the Normandy beaches and died […]

Luke 24:50-53 Revelation 22 A man came upon a construction site where three people were working. He asked the first, “What are you doing?” and the man replied, “I’m laying bricks.” He asked the second, “What are you doing?” and the man replied, “I’m building a wall.” As he approached the third, he heard him […]

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 […]