In the third chapter of the book that bears his name, Jonah, having learned his lesson about running from God, is recommissioned and returns to Nineveh to preach. The simplicity of the message is stark: ‘forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown’. Nineveh was a great city. There is some uncertainty about the dating…
We have two very, very, large, beautiful oak trees the other side of our fence. The leaves are now forming; we will have acorns and plenty of autumn leaves later in the year. The problems are the acorns drop on our side path, which makes it dangerous to walk down and the leaves drop all…
We are all under pressure at times – deadlines to meet, demands made by others, time pressure, financial pressure, losing car keys, health scares. Pressure comes in many forms, and like London buses pressures often come one after another. We might cry out “what else can happen!?” David was a man who knew pressure. He…
Pastoral Letter – East Anglia District Chair of the District – Revd. Julian M. Pursehouse May 2021 Dear Friends, I sat down the other evening with Jean to watch the film A Long Way Down; loosely based upon the novel by Nick Hornby of the same name. It tells the story of four desperate characters…
Rev. Julian Pursehouse was the preacher at the ecumenical Choral Evensong for Christian Unity service held on Sunday 16th May at St. Mary-le-Tower Church in Ipswich. His message was one of recovery and unity.
Bible reading: Numbers 11:1Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp Two boys were eating some grapes. One of them remarked, “Aren’t they sweet!” “I guess so,” the other replied, “But they’re…
Pentecost Sunday Year B 23rd May 2021. Lectionary Readings: Acts 2 v1-21; Psalm 104 v24-34; Romans 8 v22-27; John 15 v26-27; John 16 v4b-15. The Spirit is here to help us. Jesus said “I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you…
My mum wrote in her diary on Monday 15th March 1976 “Derek passed his driving test today” the words are underlined and even a whole forty five years later, I remember that day well. I put my success down to the fact that I had been warned by some of the lads at work to…
Have you ever reached the conclusion that you have just made a huge mistake? Most of us, at some time, will have had one of those experiences where we realise we have just made the wrong decision and the consequences will be tough; they may be with us for some time. World news is full…
Having a positive body image – Jesus took his body back into heaven. Acts 1:9 “…. he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men…