This is a sermon I gave in October at Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church. The set readings for that morning were Genesis 32:22-31 and Luke 18:1-8. Both of our stories today can be understood as relating to that most mysterious of Christian activities, prayer. In both cases, arguably, the original context of the passages gave … Continue reading Giving God a black eye!

A few weeks ago an e-mail came into my inbox that made me stop and pause for quite a long while. It was the list of Methodist circuits seeking ministers in 2017. I had been expecting it for a long while as I had known we would be moving for some time. Methodist ministers are … Continue reading On the move

This is a sermon I delivered at Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church at the beginning of July. This was the first Sunday after the referendum on British membership of the European Union had been held. It was also the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. There were two readings, both … Continue reading Called to a ministry of reconciliation

This is an article I wrote for one of my church’s magazines shortly after Pentecost. This is the time of year Christians remember the work of God’s Holy Spirit. It begins with a quote from a hymn by Charles Wesley. To read the hymn in full, click here.  “Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire, Let … Continue reading Come, Holy Spirit!

This is a sermon I gave in May, 2016, a few days after Ascension Day. This is the day when Christians recalls Jesus’ return to heaven, forty days after his resurrection. The Bible readings that day were two Biblical accounts of the Ascension: Luke 24:44-53 and Acts 1:1-11. Today we heard two very interesting passages from the … Continue reading Now is the time!

This piece was written for one of my church's magazines in April, 2016, after a very happy visit to Bavaria in southern Germany. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) After Easter this year, I was lucky enough to visit Bavaria in southern Germany for a week’s holiday with some friends. We … Continue reading False gods

This is a sermon that I delivered at one of my churches on Easter Sunday 2016. The Bible reading that morning was John’s account of the resurrection of Jesus: John 20:11-18. As a church we had been studying John’s gospel together throughout Lent. Recognising voices can be hard. If we just hear someone’s voice alone, … Continue reading Master, speak! Thy servant heareth.

This was written for one of my church’s magazines in April, 2016, as we celebrated the festival of Easter. There is a famous story told about an important communist official from 1930s Soviet Russia. Nikolai Bukharin had helped to lead the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and became not only the editor of the famous Soviet … Continue reading He is risen indeed!

This was written for one of my church’s magazines in March, 2016, as we prepared to enter the season of Lent. This is the period before Easter, when we remember the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness and when we recall the events that led up to his crucifixion and resurrection at Easter. … Continue reading Into the wilderness

This was written for one of my church’s magazines in January, 2016. The church is continuing to discern God’s will for its future but I hope the message is relevant to everyone. ‘Christians, where is your hope?’ (Hilary of Poitiers, 365 AD) This question was written nearly 1,700 years ago by the fourth century bishop … Continue reading Where is your hope?