Sunday's coming!

The readings I will be using are Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21 The OT lesson of David, Bathseheba & Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:1-15) is almost too wonderful NOT to preach on, but as I have a baptism at each church I think it may be just too convoluted to tackle with a largely 'unchurhed' congregation on a one-off occasion (shame!) So these are my thoughts so far: I admit to being completely hooked on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, Anthony Gormley's 'One & Other' installation, in which a different person each hour occupies the empty plinth & has a completely free choice of what to do. Some people have raised awareness of charities, some have simply admired the view & taken photos of the world below, others have exercised or even prayed. What would you do –how would you share something meaningful for an hour? I thought about the plinth when I read the gospel story for today – Jesus feeding the 5000, & stilling the storm. Now if you coul...

Trying to get ahead before a holiday - sp lat week was a bit hectic. Here's yesterdays notes (much expanded 'on the hoof') - no notes for July 19th, but will try to post something for 26th early rather than late! Plumblines Amos provides us with the memorable image of the plumbline. God shows him this and says that he is going to place this plumbline in the midst of the people of Israel. A plumbline is always true – it will show up what has not been built well, what is not built straight – even if at first glance it looks OK. If your life is a little unsure, a bit wayward, then the last thing you want is to be told that God’s plumbline is coming. And so Amaziah, the priest complains to the King, Jeroboam – that they should seen this trouble-maker Amos to the other kingdom, the kingdom of Judah. Amos’s reply is that he isn’t a ‘professional’ prophet who wants to say things to please people and get paid for his work, but God has told him to say these things. The people of Isr...

The baptism today was at a 9.30 service, and at the invitation of the family we all went over to the village hall after the service for brunch - bacon rolls and sausage, tea, muffins, etc. Fabulous! The whole atmosphere of the service & afterwards was very upbeat - I do love to see a full church! Now I'm wondering how to suggest 'brunch' to more baptism families??? - though we do have a tradition in one of the churches of an iced baptism 'cake' which is also a lovely idea. No wonder Jesus spent so much time eating with people.

This one is more of an 'internal church' sermon... God is speaking (Ezekiel 2:1-5 Mark 6:1-13) I wonder if any of us here would say that God has spoken to us? Perhaps it would feel strange to admit that (does God still speak to people?) – or dangerous (people might think we were mad) – or just not ‘us’ somehow (that whole booming voice out of the clouds thing). The reading we heard from Ezekiel talks about God speaking to him – but he’s in the Old Testament, so you expect that sort of thing more. In the bit we read today, Ezekiel says ‘I heard a voice’ – but this isn’t the only way God speaks to Ezekiel, and maybe some of the other ways seem nearer to our own lives. The very first time Ezekiel is in touch with God, he sees something – a storm coming, then as he continues to look he sees a wheel in the storm, ( you might know the song ‘Ezekiel saw the wheel…”) and as he looks again he sees the glory of God – he is amazed by what he sees and is convinced that God is present i...

This is one sermon (the shorter one) - I will also post the other - the first page is the same, but then they diverge! God is speaking (Ezekiel 2:1-5 Mark 6:1-13) I wonder if any of us here would say that God has spoken to us? Perhaps it would feel strange to admit that (does God still speak to people?) – or dangerous (people might think we were mad) – or just not ‘us’ somehow (that whole booming voice out of the clouds thing). The reading we heard from Ezekiel talks about God speaking to him – but he’s in the Old Testament, so you expect that sort of thing more. In the bit we read today, Ezekiel says ‘I heard a voice’ – but this isn’t the only way God speaks to Ezekiel, and maybe some of the other ways seem nearer to our own lives. The very first time Ezekiel is in touch with God, he sees something – a storm coming, then as he continues to look he sees a wheel in the storm, ( you might know the song ‘Ezekiel saw the wheel…”) and as he looks again he sees the glory of God – he is a...

I'm writing this on July 1st - so that's half the year gone! Wow - that was quick... Readings for this coming Sunday are: Ezekiel 2:1-5 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 Ezekiel's call as a prophet and Jesus as the 'prophet without honour' seem to fit together & I can see them fitting into the baptism (yes, another one!) service... but Paul's stuff about a person being taken up to the seventh heaven & then his own stuff about his thorn in the flesh feels a bit too technical for the congregation that are going to be there. So we're left with prophets... I'm drawn to the idea (which I used years ago) of 'why is a prophet like a table lamp' - you can only really see what it is when it's doing it's stuff; it illuminates others; it only works when it's plugged into the mains. The point is getting away from prophets as gloomy folk, or those with an axe to grind and encouraging us to see prophets as those who walk closely with God an...