How can you tell whether God is pleased with you or not? One approach, popular since time immemorial, is to look at how things are going in your life. If things are generally going well and you enjoy health, prosperity
It’s Time
What’s the time? It’s easy to find out if you have a watch or there’s a clock nearby. Although I’ve seen people look at the time, and then be asked ‘what time is it?’ and they have to look again.
Fishing for People
I have never been fishing before in my entire life (well, maybe for crabs at the seaside once or twice with the Boys’ Brigade when I was little). But our reading this Sunday (Luke 5:1-11) uses it as a major
What did the Prophet Say?
Have you heard any prophets recently? With so many would-be prophets around it’s hard to sift the shepherds from the wolves. Internet algorithms try to help, but recent advances in Artificial Stupidity (that is what AI stands for, isn’t it?)
Gaudate – Rejoice in Advent
Advent, like Lent, is a time to prepare. And for things as auspicious as the birth and the death of the Son of God, these penitential purple Christian Seasons gives us time to consider our sin and repent. (We shouldn’t
Stir Up Sunday
This Sunday is the last one in the Church Calendar before the new liturgical year begins with Advent. Historically, it’s been known as ‘stir up Sunday’ because the collect for this week was said to remind people to bake their
What’s New
Has the world changed? I watched Prime Minister’s Questions Time this week – the sides have swapped, some faces have moved, but how different was it from a year ago? But there is a difference, a change – even if
Saints saved by Grace
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘saint’? My guess is that most people think of the saints as some sort of super Christian, whose spiritual life is above and beyond what we mere mortals are capable
Together we do
At a funeral this week, two people wore Manchester United football shirts, and the order of service featured a photograph of the deceased alongside the 1991 European Cup Winners Cup. He was a big fan, often taking the coach from
Sure and Steadfast
This week we are welcoming the 1st Newbury Boys’ Brigade Company, to give thanks for the opportunity to partner with them, to pray for them and to dedicate the Company as they make St Mary’s their new home. The motto