At University, the college chapel invited a guest speaker every Sunday evening. One Sunday before Ascension the best speaker ever invited spoke on how Christ deals with Guilt. Word got out. On the Sunday after Ascension numbers were up, but
Daring to hope
‘Hope’ is one of those words we use in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes we use it to talk about something we want to happen in the future – whether or not it is likely. I ‘hope’ the weather
What is hope?
What is it that you and I hope for? A sunny day for a walk? We often speak like this, and we genuinely wish for something pleasant. But the ‘hope’ seems weak, we cannot do much about it, so we
Patron Saint
It was St George’s day this week. The patron Saint of England (and of Georgia, and soldiers, among other things), whose cross is the centre of our national and union flags. The hagiographies are varied and often contain ’embellishments’, but
Resurrection is Vital!
Last week, we saw that the resurrection of Jesus was one of the things “of first importance” in Paul’s message (1 Cor 15:3). This week, we see that it’s not just important intellectually – as a theological idea – it’s
Redoubtable Thomas
What do you make of Thomas? We give him the adjective ‘doubting’ and the combination is a modern idiom: Doubting Thomas. I wonder how he would feel about that. Maybe he’d be glad for the part he continues to play
Friday Sunday
I heard of a preacher who repeatedly contrasted the despair of Good Friday with the Hope of Easter Sunday. After each point (and there were many) he would say ‘But that was Friday, and Sunday’s coming’. For us as a
A statement entrance
With the Oscars ceremony two weeks ago, the film and TV awards season came to an end for another year. While the major winners and losers vary year on year and between the different awards ceremonies, there is one constant
A Plan
Baldrick’s cunning plan was to carve his name into a bullet. If somewhere there’s a bullet with your name on it, by owning that bullet he can’t get shot with it! (Blackadder S4E1). All around us today we see plans
A Heavenly Family
It is traditional on the fourth Sunday in Lent to give thanks for and to remember our mothers. For most people, our relationship with our mother is one of the most intimate in our lives. Even before we are