(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…]
(Luke 24.1-12) (Easter Day) 19 March 2019 – © Neil Millar He is risen in the morning,he is risen from the dead;he is laughter after sadness,he is light when night has fled.He has suffered, he has triumphed,life is his alone to give:as he gave it once he gives itevermore, that we may live. — … [Read more…]
(Luke 22.66-23.49) (Good Friday)19 March, 2019 – © Neil Millar As they were leaving church last Sunday, someone told me that Good Friday services were disrupted for them as soon as the preacher got up to speak. That’s a challenging comment to as a preacher when you’re preparing for Holy Week but, you know, I … [Read more…]
(Luke 15.1-3, 11-32) (Lent 4) 31 March 2019 – © Neil Millar In the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia, there’s a famous painting by Rembrandt called ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’. Of all the paintings I’d like to see, this one is top of the list. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get … [Read more…]
(Luke 13.1-9) Lent 3 24 March 2019 – © Neil Millar In 2004, on Boxing Day, near Sumatra, an earthquake registering 9.1 on the Richter scale quake triggered a series of massive tsunamis that devastated communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean. All up, nearly 230,000 people died. Understandably, a tragedy like this … [Read more…]
(Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18) Lent 217 March 2019 – © Neil Millar Last week, I spoke of deserts as beautiful and difficult places. In the spiritual life, literal and metaphorical desert experiences often go together. The story of Jesus’ in the wilderness is an example of this, and today’s Old Testament reading is another, and it’s … [Read more…]