The First Sunday of Advent
In the 1970s after the time of the first Star Wars film there was a line about “You know you’re a Lutheran when … you hear ‘May the Force be with you’ and you reply, ‘And also with you’!”. It seems that these days…
Thought for the Week
The Last Sunday of the Church Year
‘Come, Lord Jesus, come into this weary world. Oh, how we long for you to come, Lord, come.’ (Robin Mann © 1976 20ATN) It’s easy to sing this song when we’re looking at the news. I dare say that has always been the case…
The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
I hadn’t thought about it before the question was asked ‘Which Charlie Brown character are you?’. At the moment there is interest in Charles M Schulz and ‘Peanuts’ with a new film and book to mark 65 years since ‘Peanuts’ began. But I hadn’t…
The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
I am quite captivated by our first grandchild. (I do hope we take as many photos and film clips of the tenth or twentieth grandchild!) Ariana and her mother came to us after Claire’s wedding and they went home this week. (Jenny’s husband flies…
All Saints’ Day
As part of the follow-up from my trip to Israel and Palestine last April, I met yesterday at Cov-entry Cathedral with my fellow travellers. We are definitely an ecumenical group (I did say that it was nice that we were all together on the…
Observing The Reformation
In thinking about the Reformation – as one does at this time – I think it can be easy to have a sense of triumphalism that Lutherans are right in their teachings and of course by implication … and it is easy, if we…
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
I write this before the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup that will be played this weekend. The final eight teams are: Argentina, Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales – four from the northern hemisphere and four from the south….
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
The day after I returned from holidays I went to the Churches Together in England Forum (which is held triennially) and walked through the ecumenical landscape in the business sessions, at the displays, at the presentations and discussions and at meals. I was (nicely)…
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Yesterday was VJ Day and the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 2 in the Pacific. Yes, that’s a long way away in both time and distance. I was asked to conduct a brief service at the Mildenhall Cenotaph and here are…
The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
I did think it ironic at the recent news of the hacking of an ‘infidelity website’ which drew attention to the online dating world – I’m not sure that’s a correct term in this context – for extra marital encoun-ters that people those who…