Third Sunday in Advent Year B 17th December 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 61 v1-4, 8-11. The good news of victory. Psalm 126 Celebrating the harvest 1 Thessalonians 5 v16-24. Always be joyful and never stop praying. John 1 v6-8, 19-28. The message of John the Baptist. Deep roots. The prophecies of Isaiah…
One of the things I dislike doing, and will do anything to put it off as long as possible, is house cleaning. When I was working, I was fortunate enough to be able to pay someone to come in weekly and clean through the house. She retired after our youngest son started at university, and…
One of the tasks for the modern minister is that from time to time I am asked to write a biopic for one website or another. This is a fairly new phenomenon for me and is always an interesting process. The other task that I need to accomplish around this time of the year is…
I’m writing this Thought for the Day on Thursday and I’m so looking forward to Friday. I’m going to London to meet my son, Richard who is returning to the UK for a month. He lives in Singapore, and apart from on Zoom, I haven’t seen him since July. We are going to have some…
My granddaughter comes out of Mothers and Toddlers exhausted! What with physical activities in a large hall (pedal cars and slides), negotiations and tact needed (to accrue the best doll and pram), creative endeavours (painting, printing and sticking) and the musical challenge of singing and dancing (especially the exaggerated jumping needed to signify the sleeping…
Earlier in the year the famous sycamore tree beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland was deliberately and illegally felled. It was a sad act of vandalism but there is the chance that the stump may sprout again, and all may not be lost, even if it is completely different. I first wrote one of these thoughts…
Psalm 92 starts. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, For several years, I was privileged to work alongside residents and staff in a residential care home for elderly Christians. The words, from the Psalm quoted, formed what was then described as…
This week, our 10 minute service reflects on John 8:12.
December 2023 Preaching Plan
This thought was first published in December 2021 I was writing Christmas cards today. Having lived in many locations I know many people and it seems quite a chore. I remember a conversation with an elderly lady from our Church here. The lady died some while back but I remember so well something she once…