LWPT Meditations - Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – Fourth Sunday in Lent Year A 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 I once resigned from a church because of its practice of shutting out God’s good daylight, especially the sunshine, and holding the services by the inferior light of fluorescent strip…
I Don't Believe It
I Don't Believe It
by Clare Truman
A lighthearted sketch for two actors who discuss the rumours surrounding Jesus' ministry and the healing of the Centurion's servant. Ideal for all age worship, youth groups or assemblies. I Don’t Believe It! Year C - Proper 4 Luke 7: 1-10 The actors are dressed in street style cl…
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Jezebel, Elijah, and the Northern Kings
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Jezebel, Elijah, and the Northern Kings
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Jezebel, Elijah, and the Northern Kings At 1 Kings 16 the narrative turns much of its attention to the intrigues of the northern kingdom, focusing upon it until the inception of the Jehu dynasty and the end of the Omride dynasty in 2 Kings 10. The kings of Israel receive no benef…
Isaiah for everyone - (Un)spiritual Practices
Isaiah for everyone - (Un)spiritual Practices
by SPCK - John Goldingay
(Un)spiritual Practices I was talking with a friend about the way Christians in our culture have got interested in “spiritual practices” such as meditation, silence, and fasting. This development is taking place in a context where Christians don’t have as much sense of God as the…
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - A Gentle Response Turns Back Wrath
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - A Gentle Response Turns Back Wrath
by SPCK - John Goldingay
A Gentle Response Turns Back Wrath Shortly I must attempt a third draft of a reply to a message concerning our congregation’s terminating the employment of our long-time gardener, who is getting elderly and was finding it harder to do the work that needed doing…
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Be Realistic
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Be Realistic
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Be Realistic Reading the line in Ecclesiastes 4 about a triple cord not breaking quickly, I remembered an occasion in seminary when I gave our professor of preaching a hard time for using that line to support the idea that a sermon ought to have three points…
Isaiah for everyone - On Following God’s Prompting
Isaiah for everyone - On Following God’s Prompting
by SPCK - John Goldingay
On Following God’s Prompting We were at a singer-songwriter venue and the singer’s last song was about her mother’s death two or three years ago. The song title referred to the year of her mother’s birth, which was the same birth year of someone who was with us. She later told us…
Isaiah for everyone - Three Ways a Prophet Speaks
Isaiah for everyone - Three Ways a Prophet Speaks
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Three Ways a Prophet Speaks It’s Pentecost Sunday. I came home from church with some mixed feelings. There were fewer people in church than usual (it happens also to be a holiday weekend), but the day had a sense of celebration, including red balloons flying from the pews. People…
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - With Modesty There Is Wisdom
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - With Modesty There Is Wisdom
by SPCK - John Goldingay
With Modesty There Is Wisdom In an earlier volume of The Old Testament for Everyone I referred to the fact that I’m inclined to think that nothing I do as a teacher or writer or pastor makes any difference to anyone…
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Yahweh Tests Minds
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Yahweh Tests Minds
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Yahweh Tests Minds A year after we came to California, one Sunday evening my son called to tell us that they had just had their first child on Monday morning in London. When Monday morning came in California, I rushed to book an air ticket to go back to London for the next weeken…
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Even in Laughter a Heart May Hurt
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs for Everyone - Even in Laughter a Heart May Hurt
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Even in Laughter a Heart May Hurt A friend of mine told me last week about a dinner he and his wife had had with another couple. The other wife was my friend’s ex, but both couples are happily married so it seemed that this piece of history would not be a problem, and the couples…
Psalms for Everyone - How to Stand Tall-I
Psalms for Everyone - How to Stand Tall-I
by SPCK - John Goldingay
How to Stand Tall-I Psalm 52 The dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was scheduled this weekend in Washington (but a threatened hurricane has caused a delay in this event). Inevitably, perhaps, there’s some difference of opinion about whether it is the right sort of…
All saints sermon
All saints sermon
by Jonathan Miller
A sermon for All saints day or halloween What an image! Thousands upon thousands of people clothed in the brightest white giving God the worship he deserves. Lots of people this weekend and tomorrow have and will be celebrating Halloween, and very few of them have any idea that i…
Imagining the Lectionary: wholeheartedly faithful (Proper 24C / Ordinary 29C)