Category Archives: Sermons and reflections

Readings: Genesis 25:19–34, Psalm 119:105–112, Romans 8:1–11, Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 The Parable of the Sower. Or is it? “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil,Continue reading “Reflections for Trinity 5, Sunday July 12th , 2020”

‘The Kingdom of God and the end of the age’, by Sue Berry. Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a Psalm 139:1-12,23-24, Romans  8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 Following on from last week’s story of the sower and the seed. This week’s gospel reading continues the agricultural theme in the parable of the wheat and the tares. A farmer sows seed in his field lookingContinue reading “Reflection for Sunday 19th July, 2020”

Readings:Genesis 24:34-38;42-49;58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19;25-30 “He’s a nice man, a very nice man”.  That was the catch phrase of an advertisement for breakdown cover a few (probably many) years ago.  The idea that “nice” is something to aspire to is probably quite close to society’s view of the perfect clergy or other church leader.  We don’t wantContinue reading “Reflection for Sunday 5th July 2020 by Barrie Cran”

Readings: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 A cup of cold water, seems a simple thing to us but I guess in Palestine a cup of cold water would be more significant as Jesus says in our Gospel ‘whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in theContinue reading “Welcome: Reflection for 28th June 2020 by Alan Finch”

Compassion, Kindness and Provision – Remembering the Persecuted Church by Sue Berry Readings: Gen 21:8-21, Matt 10:24-39, Rom 6:1-11, Ps 86; 1-10, 16 17.  Today our reading in Genesis looks at the distressing circumstances faced by Haggar and her son Ishmael who have been cast out and left to wander through the desert. Whilst in Matthew’sContinue reading “Reflection for June 21st 2020”

Genesis 18:1-15;     Psalm 116:1; 10-17;   Romans 5:1-8;    Matthew 9:35-10:8 Like many people in this unexpected new world we have, I have found that seemingly unimportant events happen which have had a greater impact than  I expect.    One early morning in the glorious sunshine of April, a sudden flash of gold held me mesmerised.    A pair of goldfinches (I think) were settlingContinue reading “June 14th: The First Sunday after Trinity. By Rev Fran.”

John 20:19-23; Acts 1:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:3 – 13; Psalm 104:24 – 34, 35b. By Sue Berry. Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. The story is a very familiar one as recounted in the book of Acts; with images of fire, praying in multiple languages, and attention focused on the church’s prophetic vocation inContinue reading “Pentecost, Sunday 31 May 2020”

Acts 1:6 – 14; Psalm 68:1 – 10, 33 – 36; 1 Peter 4:12 – 14; 5:6 – 11; John 17:1 – 11 Week 9, and we are all still waiting patiently for the world to re-open, reawaken to a different normal, one that embraces your love, your caring for those in most need, the vulnerableContinue reading “Understanding our humanness through the Ascension of Jesus, 24 May 2020”

Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:7-18, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 Paul’s “unknown god” sermon is probably well known to us all.  It is certainly a masterclass in reaching out to people where they are, getting alongside their beliefs and values and then moving them to where you want them to be.  Influencing skills that would be cherished byContinue reading “Reflection, 17th May 2020.”