Dear Friends, I don’t suppose most of us give much thought to how we walk into church. We just do it. Somehow it happens and there we are, sitting in our seats. And then we sit through church. And then a little while later we walk out of church. And it’s done for another week
Read moreDear Friends, Have you realised that coming to church on Sunday is a subversive act? How can that be? It hardly feels subversive. Odd, perhaps, but subversive? It’s not as if our names are being taken by the authorities, or gatherings of more than two or three are prohibited, or church leaders are routinely disappearing.
Read moreDear Friends, I will never forget the sight of Archbishop Peter Jensen joining our family one morning for Bible reading and prayer after breakfast, wearing his pyjamas and dressing gown. And I will remember him for something more, and that is the clarity and faithfulness of his leadership, most recently as General Secretary of GAFCON
Read moreHow are you feeling about your ministries at church this year? Sometimes, we can feel less than enthusiastic. Another year of teaching rowdy kids? Another year of leading a small group of complex people? Another year of coaxing a half-hearted congregation into singing? Another year of serving tea and coffee, or moving chairs. On top
Read moreDear Friends, Christianity is an unashamedly miraculous faith, just as it is also an historical faith. You can no more remove then miracles than you can remove the historical events and be left with anything worth believing. But which is the greatest miracle? I think I would instinctively say it was the Resurrection of Jesus.
Read moreDear Friends, With an Advent calendar counting down the days until Christmas, an Advent ring reminding us of those like the patriarchs and prophets who waited for the coming of Christ, and a book of daily readings for Advent called Love Came Down at Christmas, it would be easy to think that Advent is all
Read moreDear Friends, Have you been accused of making others feel guilty? Have you refrained from saying something for fear of making someone feel guilty? Have you heard someone protest, “You’re just trying to make me feel guilty”? Instinctively we feel it’s wrong to make someone feel guilty. And then I heard an older minister friend
Read moreDear Friends, Have you heard Christian speakers or writers tell us that we need to love ourselves? They may point to Jesus quoting the second great commandment to “Love your neighbour as yourself” (e.g. Mark 12:31) and say that it presupposes that I will love myself before I love my neighbour. True, Jesus does assume
Read moreDear Friends, It’s been another exciting week in British politics, with government ministers resigning over the proposed Brexit deal and speculation of a no confidence vote on the Prime Minister’s leadership. Although it’s the kind of excitement that makes you long for boredom instead! Some at least can see a funny side, and comedian...
Read moreDear Friends, Remembrance Sunday is especially poignant this year as it falls on the hundredth anniversary of Armistice Day when in 1918, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent and peace returned as the fighting of the First World War came to an end. Many of
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