Sunday's coming!

The 'handout' has an image of Rembrandt's 'Simeon in the temple', the quote from Luke 2 in the Message version, and an outline of the sermon... (and if I've learnt how correctly, the image is here!) Seeing what God is doing As you came into church this morning you were, I hope, given a sheet of paper with a picture and a ‘plan’ of this sermon on it. The gospel reading is all about seeing Jesus Christ, and it would seem strange to talk about the importance of what was seen in that story, but rely only on your being able to listen to what I’m going to say. So this is a sermon about seeing – and a sermon you can see: in the picture and in the plan of what the sermon is going to be about. If you get lost at any point in the sermon, what you have there is a bit like a map, to help you see where we’ve got to – it also means you can see when we’re near the end – which is often good news in a sermon! If you like you could just spend this time looking at the picture – it...

Readings I'm looking at are: Luke 2: 22-40 Presentation of Christ in the temple. Together with 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 It's quite a challenge - a sermon for the week of prayer for Christian Unity ( a bit late!) to 7 churches, with children present but probably only the older ones really listening while the younger ones make themselves busy at the back of church. Thoughts so far: Give everyone a 'handout' with a picture of Rembrandt's Simeon with the Christ child in the temple: for some they might just like to look at this & ignore everything else! Also the handout will have an outline of the sermon - to help young people (in particular but not exclusively!) to follow the sermon & see how it's structured. The theme - I suppose 'love', but love for christ, love with a purpose... It's only Monday - more to follow.

The 'core' of the readings I'm using are: 1 Corinthians 12: 14-27 Luke 4: 16-21 I know the lectionary readings slightly overlap these, but I had the interesting experience of trying to remember what they were for someone yesterday (so that they can get readers for one of the services) - and when I looked at a BIble they seemed about right. That's the sort of week I've had, really - doing the best I can with the time available. I was trying to have a 'study week' to get the first draft of my dissertation finished - but of course things kept intruding in (as they do in ministry). The result is I've gone from about half way to about two thirds of the way through the diss; but I am feeling a bit frazzled. Writing is not my natural form of communication (better just talking on my hind legs with no notes!) and I find swapping between 'academic' writing and sermon-writing quite difficult. Anyway - enough of the moan (and of course it is precisely that s...

With thanks to a blogging friend who's reflections on Haiti helped this make sense as God's word to us today: Wedding at Cana (John 2: 1-11) The story of the wedding at Cana is described by John as the first ‘sign’ performed by Jesus: this ‘revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him’. Before Nicodemus, before the woman at the well, before any healings – Jesus does this. There are many things we can take from this story. It’s interesting to see Jesus in a very ordinary context, at a wedding, celebrating with his friends and his family. Sometimes people chose this reading to be read at a wedding – Perhaps because it’s nice to think Jesus celebrated as we do, and perhaps because it helps remind people that Jesus is present at their wedding, too. Some people are interested to read a story about Jesus enjoying wine, having a good time and encouraging others to celebrate by making sure the wine does not run out. In a world where sometimes Jesus can be painted as a bit of...

Another well-worn Gospel path this week: John 2: 1-11 There is important stuff here about this 'sign' of Jesus' identity (particularly as we continue in the season of Epiphany); about the amazing super-abundance of God's grace, which provides gallons and gallons, not just a few bottles of wine; and about a Jesus who embraces human relationships, by attending a wedding, and who endorses human celebration, by providing wine for the party. But I was struck by reading the UCC in-depth Bible comments (at i.UCC@ucc.org) - which mentions the role of Mary in the story. What would have happened if Mary had not told Jesus about the need "they have no wine"? So I think the direction I am taking will be not related to weddings, or to the revelation of Jesus' identity, but to our role as those who pray for others. What's important is not the way the request is worded, but the great abundance of grace Jesus pours out to answer our requests. And yes, we will be sing...

The Gospel reading is Luke's version of the baptism of Christ: surely one of the most commonly recurring stories of the lectionary! This is the start of Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist has been offering the people of Jesus’ time baptisms for repentance from sins. He is full of talk about threshing and winnowing and unquenchable fire, which is all a bit scary, as he exhorts people to turn from their wicked ways.. or else. With the baptism of Jesus, God gets a word in edgeways and when he does he expresses not displeasure or judgement, but delight in Jesus, the Son. What better start can there be for Jesus’ ministry than to hear the Father’s blessing and know God’s presence and encouragement. And so Jesus himself begins to spread Good News – of love and acceptance and delight. I hope it’s not too far into tthe New Year to hear this as a message of encouragement for each one of us here. I'd like us to know God's delight in us - offering a new start, cleansing and refres...

Readings are: Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 The Gospel reading is Luke's version of the baptism of Christ: surely one of the most commonly recurring stories of the lectionary! This week I want to give it a 'New Year' twist for our Creative church service 'A new start'. This is the start of Jesus' ministry, and while John the Baptist is full of talk about threshing and winnowing and unquenchable fire, which is all a bit scary, when God gets a word in edgeways he expresses pleasure in Jesus, the Son. I'd like to encourage people to feel God's delight in them - offering a new start, cleansing and refreshment and setting !our feet on the road of purpose and love in 2010. It will be cold in church! - so we will worship in the (heated) space of the church room, but I think I'll invite people to dash out into the church to experience the cleansing water of the font. I'll put boiling water in before the service, and hopefully it...

For reasons that are too complicated to go into, I ended up doing a rather off-the-cuff 8am reflection on Epiphany (the main gist of which (I think) was that the magi were looking for the greater light which is the glory of God come near in Christ, not the lesser light of the guiding star - it is the former which is the light which dispels the 'deep darkness' to which isaiah refers). Then at 9.30 I assisted a bishop with a baptism (he was Bill Godfrey - Anglican Bishop of Peru & grandfather to Benjamin, the baby being baptised! And at the 11am I preached on presentation of Christ in the temple - or rather I reflected on Rembrandt's wonderful depiction and what it says about Epiphany - the glory of God coming close to us - in our hands and our laps and lighting up our faces... All of which was a rather hairy 're-entry' into work: normal service (s) will be resumed soon! But it was good to have chance to think about the glory which is revealed in Christmas and in...