Have you ever looked around the people in your church and thought “There’s something a bit … fishy about them”? I know I have. But, just like when I sit in a traffic jam complaining about the congestion to which I am contributing, I am one of the fishy ones, too. But take heart, gentle reader, … More Fishy People
What? What was that? A story? Can I listen too?
Narr: Of course you can. It’s a story that Jesus told, about two man who went to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Rod: A Who-isee and a What-alector?
Narr: Oh sorry. A Pharisee was someone who was very religious and was very careful to do everything right. The tax collector was a cheat who took more money than he was supposed to. … More Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14
Of course it’s fun to wear dreadful jumpers to work, it’s lovely to sing carols by candlelight, it’s even OK to eat so many mince pies that your friends have to roll you home.
But just before we dive head-first in to the glitter-infused double cream (with a healthy dash of sherry for Gran), let’s take this opportunity to slow down, and use Advent to prepare for, rather than pre-empt Christ’s coming. … More Isaiah 64:1-9 – A ribbon-wrapped box containing nothing?
Repent: not merely to say ‘sorry’, but to turn around, to change direction in life. Believe: not merely to give assent to a truth, but to stake one’s life on it. … More Matthew 3:13-17 – Baptism of Christ
The first child is called Jezreel. That probably means nothing to you (I had to go look it up) but it meant a lot back then. Today, it would be like calling a child Auschwitz or Hiroshima or Nine-Eleven. Ouch. … More Hosea 1:2-10
God uses loved, mended, broken people to bring broken people to be mended and loved.
It’s like Eton Mess – crushed fruit, broken meringue, bashed-up cream – yet so good. Our broken-ness, in God, is redeemed. … More Psalm 51
What? What was that? A story? Can I listen too?
Narr: Of course you can. It’s a story that Jesus told, about two man who went to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Rod: A Who-isee and a What-alector?
Narr: Oh sorry. A Pharisee was someone who was very religious and was very careful to do everything right. The tax collector was a cheat who took more money than he was supposed to. … More Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14
Epiphany 1 – It’s easy to fake repentance, and even great deeds, as Jesus said in Matt 7. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’” Ouch! Their faith was not real. It looked great from the outside, but had no inside. So how can we tell what’s real beauty and what’s just good make-up? How can we tell real repentance from following the crowd? How can we tell wheat from chaff? … More Baptism of Christ – Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Advent 3 – “Welcome, dearly beloved. You’re all bunch of hypocritical snakes.”
OK, ummn, interesting tactic. Has the Rev been at the communion wine a little early?
It gets worse.
“So you’ve been at St Dithering’s for forty years, man and boy? Don’t care. There are drunks down the Red Lion closer to God than you!”
I say, steady on there, Vicar! … More Luke 3:7-18
Advent 2 – Refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap? How is fire like soap, and what’s a fuller when he’s at home? (That’s Northern for ‘whoever he is’.) Stand back, here comes the science bit! … More Malachi 3:1-4
The Reflectionary 