Prayer: Guarantees, glory and grit
Prayer: Guarantees, glory and grit
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Guarantees, glory and grit Lord, forgive us for the times when we feel our lack of faith and ask for guarantees on the work we do. Forgive our lack of trust. Help us to read the signs that your work is continuing in us. Lord, forgive us for the times when we look for glor…
Unexpected God
Unexpected God
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Unexpected God Unexpected God, when we follow you we never know what is round the next corner, but that is all a part of the package we accept when we take up your call. You constantly surprise us with new challenges and sometimes test our faith to the limits, but you wil…
JOHN: The people's bible commentary - From GARDEN to COURTYARD
JOHN: The people's bible commentary - From GARDEN to COURTYARD
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
From GARDEN to COURTYARD When Jesus warned the disciples after washing their feet that they could not follow where he was going, Peter offered to lay down his life for Jesus (13:37). Despite Jesus’ warning that he was more likely to deny him and everything in the Farewell Discour…
Mark The People's Commentary - Storm at Sea
Mark The People's Commentary - Storm at Sea
by BRF - Dick France
Storm at Sea In 1986 the complete hull of a cedar-wood fishing boat from about the first century ad was discovered buried in the mud by the shore of the Lake of Galilee. It is probably typical of the boats in use in Jesus’ time. It is just over 8 metres long by 2.35 metres wide a…
Psalms for Everyone - When You Feel Vulnerable and Threatened
Psalms for Everyone - When You Feel Vulnerable and Threatened
by SPCK - John Goldingay
When You Feel Vulnerable and Threatened Psalm 66 Today is the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. For some reason it has reminded me of the first time I visited the United States, during the first Gulf War in 1990. The plane was half empty, which seemed …
Psalms for Everyone - Death Cathches You When You Don't Expect It To
Psalms for Everyone - Death Cathches You When You Don't Expect It To
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Death Catches You When You Don’t Expect It To Psalm 49 We recently buried the second-oldest member of our congregation, who until she faded away quickly at the end had regularly attended church. We drove quite a way to the cemetery, and I wondered why, until I discovered that her…
Psalms for Everyone - Wake Up, God!
Psalms for Everyone - Wake Up, God!
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Wake Up, God! Psalm 44 In connection with Psalm 20 I’ve mentioned that our church has just had to accept that we could no longer afford to pay the salary of a pastor. I mentioned this to one of my sons in England, who expressed surprise that such a thing could happen, surmising t…
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Don’t Trust in Leaders
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Don’t Trust in Leaders
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Don’t Trust in Leaders Psalm 146 I remember the winter’s day when I announced to the students at the theological college in England where I used to be the principal that I would be leaving the coming summer. To my surprise, it aroused a feeling of anxiety among a number of studen…
Psalms for Everyone - I Whistle a Happy Tune
Psalms for Everyone - I Whistle a Happy Tune
by SPCK - John Goldingay
I Whistle a Happy Tune Psalm 56 During the past few days people on the East Coast of the United States have been living through Hurricane Irene, which the media report to be among the top ten most costly disasters in U.S. history. As the Rock River rose on Sunday morning in Willi…
Poem: If you have faith
Poem: If you have faith
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: If you have faith If you have enough faith to trust the bus driver to get you safely to your destination: if you have enough faith to believe that your train will eventually arrive in the station: if you can trust the bakery to make your daily bread fresh and edible and can…
Prayer: Sheltering God
Prayer: Sheltering God
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Sheltering God Sheltering God, we need your help and your protection – when we are under attack because of our commitment to you: when we feel vulnerable in an uncaring world: when we are made to feel foolish by those who think our beliefs are out-dated: when there is rea…
The unexpected move
The unexpected move
by Rev. Margaret Roe
The unexpected move Sarah – Genesis 12:1-9 It’s hard to be uprooted at my age. “Pack your bags” he had said. “Why, where are we going?” “I don’t know”, he replied. “Just pack your bags.” Well I know women should obey their husbands but this was too much. “How long are we going fo…
A Bit Like Jesus - What is faith?
A Bit Like Jesus - What is faith?
by SPCK - Robin Gill
WEEK 5 Faith What is faith? Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son…
Prayer: Psalm 31 – A responsive prayer