(Luke 9.51-62, Galatians 5.1, 13-25) Pentecost 3 30 June 2019 – © Neil Millar ‘For freedom Christ has set us free’, Paul writes (in his letter to the Galatians 5.1), and a little later, ‘you were called to freedom brothers and sisters… Paul writes with clarity and authority, but how do his convictions square with … [Read more…]
(1 Kings 19.1-17) Pentecost 223 June 2019 – © Neil Millar Two mountains dominate the landscape of the prophet Elijah’s story. The first, Mount Carmel, is where famously he does battle with the prophets of Baal. The second, Mount Horeb, is where fearfully he flees to escape the wrath of Queen Jezebel. In the course … [Read more…]
Half-day retreat reflecting on prayer, particularly praise, and on those circumstances and questions that hold us back from a whole-hearted ‘Hallelujah’. Meditations on scriptural texts and poetry will be followed by times of silence in order to find and express our authentic praise, even within troubled circumstances.1.30 – 5pm, Sunday July 7, Williams Room, St … [Read more…]
(Romans 5.1-5 & John 16.12-15) Trinity Sunday16 June 2019 – © Neil Millar According to the great 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724 -1804), ‘the doctrine of the Trinity provides nothing, absolutely nothing, of practical value, even if one claims to understand it; still less when one is convinced that it far surpasses our understanding…As … [Read more…]
(Acts 2.1-21) (Pentecost/Whitsunday)9 June 2019 – © Neil Millar Come Holy Spirit… Veni Sancte Spiritus… Ven Espíritu Santo… Viens Saint-Esprit… Komm heiliger Geist… All over the world, in thousands of different languages, Christians are reciting these words in worship today. Which raises the question of what it is we’re asking when we say these words? … [Read more…]
(Acts 16.16-34) (Easter 7)2 June 2019 – © Neil Millar I only ever taught Sunday School for a short while, it was many years ago and I don’t actually remember a lesson on this story, but as I was reading it through the week, I imagined it must have been part of the Sunday School … [Read more…]
(John 5: 1-18) 26 May 2019 – © Sarah Bachelard It’s a familiar kind of story, at least in gospel terms. Someone is sick; Jesus happens to be in the vicinity; and he effects the healing. In some of these stories, as in the one we just heard, the healing is connected at some level … [Read more…]
(John 13.12-35) (Easter 5)19 May 2019 – © Neil Millar God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (Jn 3.16) I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, … [Read more…]
(Luke 24.13-35) (Easter 4) 12 May 2019 – © Neil Millar Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! For the past four Sundays this declaration has marked the opening of our worship, it’s the great Christian affirmation and when things are going well it’s a joy to proclaim it. But what about when things aren’t … [Read more…]
(John 20.19-31) (Easter 2) 28 April, 2019 – ©Koula Poulos My friend Jill and I often talk about Bible stories. We find they can really help us think about things more carefully. Over our thirty-five years of life together, the stories of the Woman at the well, the Good Samaritan, Mary’s perfume being spilled over … [Read more…]