John 1 v 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. How many lights did you have shining over the Christmas period? I looked round my house and was quite surprised at all the different lights: lights on the tree, lamps, t-lights, candles, solar lights in the garden, battery…
Some weeks ago, I found my diary for 1974. The first entry recorded the watch night service during which we had prayed our way into the new year almost half a century ago. As a young Christian, I was so fired up. I had pestered my grandma for a Thomson’s chain reference Bible. It was…
Much has been written about religious affiliation since the publication of the UK 2021 census results. There are many ways to interpret the numbers. For what it is worth, I think the numbers support what we know to be true, with an interesting overlay. Is it not the case that this time, at last, more…
As I walked along the seashore, my eye was drawn to the side of a rockpool, where, just sticking out of the sand and seaweed, was the point of an unusual shell. I stopped and picked it up. It was covered with mud and bits of seaweed, but intact. It was most unusual for this…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on Psalm 136:1-3.
First Sunday of Christmas Year A 1st January 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 63 v7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2 v10-18; Matthew 2 v13-23. Joseph’s obedience. Matthew’s gospel records the escape to and return from Egypt of Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus. After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to…
The 26th December is traditionally known as Boxing Day. This is the day after Christmas Day and has it’s Christian origins as the day when alms that had been collected in boxes in churches were distributed to the parishioners. It is also St Stephen’s Day and so, as a saint’s day is associated with charitable…
Happy Christmas everybody! Try to Google “Christmas Day” and click on images, I did this and of the top fifty images in my search, there was just one picture that made any reference to the birth of Christ whatsoever. I scrolled right through to the end of the initial search and could find only a…
The waiting is almost over! Christmas Eve. What does it mean to you? Perhaps it’s a time of rushing around buying the final items of food for Christmas lunch or buying the present for a relative you had forgotten about. Maybe you look forward to attending church on Christmas morning and being able to sing the 6th verse of “O Come…