Lectionary 16/11/2025
- Second Sunday before Advent - Year C
- Proper 28 /Ordinary 33-Year C
Lectionary Readings
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We were not idle
We were not idle
by Marjorie Dobson
Reading: We were not idle (could be used as a reading for three voices) Busy, busy, busy – always busy. Busy doing nothing. Watching, waiting, playing, anything to stop thinking. Busy chatting, gossiping, moaning, criticising, judging, always looking for the dull side of life, or…
Come let us sing a melody
Come let us sing a melody
by Marjorie Dobson
Come let us sing a melody to praise the God of harmony and blend our voices, weak or strong, in thanks to God who gave us song. So, sing our praise out loud and clear in songs that all the world can hear. Come each musician use your art and every instrument take part. Let trumpet…
All Desires Known - Labour Pangs of the New Age Collect
All Desires Known - Labour Pangs of the New Age Collect
by SPCK - Janet Morley
LABOUR PANGS OF THE NEW AGE Collect Mark 13.8–end; Luke 21.25–36; Romans 8.18–25; 1 Thessalonians 5.1–11 God our deliverer, whose approaching birth still shakes the foundations of our world... Advent 1 (ABC); 2 before Lent (A); Pentecost (ABC); Proper 11 (A); 2 before Advent (ABC…
Luke for Everyone - Signs of the End
Luke for Everyone - Signs of the End
by SPCK - N T Wright
Signs of the End Luke 21.5-19 A news reader announces that an asteroid passed close to the earth. When they say ‘close’, they mean about half a million miles; but in terms of the solar system, that’s quite near at hand. It shows, as one commentator said, that the planet Earth is …
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - The Dangers of Idleness
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - The Dangers of Idleness
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Dangers of Idleness 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13 The dancers swept on to the stage in perfect formation. It was breathtaking. Even I, who know almost nothing about ballet, found the whole performance enthralling. And part of the beauty of a well-performed ballet is the way in which…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Second Sunday Before Advent Malachi 4.1–2a 2 Thessalonians 3.6–13 Luke 21.5–19 The material in today’s reading from Luke can be found in a very similar form in Mark 13 and Matthew 24, and all are agreed that the temple is the trigger for these terrible sayings. Jesus seems to…
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Second Sunday Before Advent Malachi 4.1–2a 2 Thessalonians 3.6–13 Luke 21.5–19 Warnings against idleness seem irrelevant in our culture. Those who have work seem to have more and more of it; those who don’t seem stuck in a trap. No doubt there are shades of grey, and some man…
Meditation - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
Meditation - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
by David Middleton
Meditation – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C Crumbling materialism Luke 23: 33-43 These are truly terrifying words, Lord. You paint a bleak and depressing picture: destruction of the centre of worship, wars, insurrection, earthquakes, famine, epidemics and many more terrifyin…
Gazing on the Gospels Year C - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels Year C - The Second Sunday Before Advent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Second Sunday before Advent Luke 22: 5-19 Gaze on the Temple again. This time look up at all the gold that burns in the sunlight, and shouts out its wealth. Look at the gigantic bunches of golden grapes adorning a central archway – each grape cluster as tall as a man. Was Her…
Hope is built in present moments
Hope is built in present moments
by Andrew Pratt
Hope is built in present moments, times of visions, times of dreams, times when love transcends the present, long outlasting human schemes. Hope will open gates of promise, herald dawns of glorious light, help us live within this moment, lead us onward from the night. Verses 3-4 …
Here is love-the prophet’s promise!
Here is love-the prophet’s promise!
by Andrew Pratt
Here is love - the prophet’s promise! Here the Christ has come to birth! Hear the loud angelic chorus peace is promised for the earth. Joy for all the world – God’s blessing: wisdom wakes, and hope is found. Crying quenched, all anguish ended, Christ has come to Bethl’ems ground.…
Two
Two
by Rose humphrey
TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software. (Will reduce image proportionally) • Insert as Picture in the normal way. • If needed fill the slide area by placing the image in…
Singing a new song
Singing a new song
by David Perry
Image accompanying reflection Imagining the Lectionary: Singing a new song (Second Sunday before Advent / Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C) TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software…
Coventry cathedral inside out
Coventry cathedral inside out
by David Perry
Image accompanying reflection Imagining the Lectionary: Singing a new song (Second Sunday before Advent / Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C) TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software…
Imagining the Lectionary: Singing a new song
Imagining the Lectionary: Singing a new song
by David Perry
Reflection accompanying images “Singing a new song” and “Coventry cathedral inside out” Imagining the Lectionary: Singing a new song (Second Sunday before Advent / Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C) On the steps of Coventry Cathedral a busker sits down and begins to play his guitar. As h…
Busker outside coventry cathedral
Busker outside coventry cathedral
by David Perry
Image without text to accompany reflection Imagining the Lectionary- Singing a new song (Second Sunday before Advent; Proper 28C; Ordinary 33C) TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image edi…
Gathering Prayers and Blessing based on Psalm 98
Gathering Prayers and Blessing based on Psalm 98
by Christine Dutton
Hopefully these are gathering prayers which bring us together to worship and sing a new song, recognising that the week that has past may have brought us joy or pain, celebration or struggle. The blessing continues the theme of singing. Gathering Prayers based on Psalm 98 O Sing…
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 142
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 142
by Twelvebaskets Ltd
A selection of commentary, reflection and prayer ideas from various Christian authors and the full bible texts from the NRSV for this week's lectionary. NOW INCLUDING SERIALISED BOOKS FROM SPCK AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BRF. Check below for details. Subscribe to Fresh Thoughts For S…
With My WholeHeart - Psalm 97:1, 11
With My WholeHeart - Psalm 97:1, 11
by SPCK - James Jones
Psalm 97:1, 11 Psalm 96 invites us to ‘worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him’ (v. 9). And here we hear that the well-being of the earth flows from our recognition of the sovereignty of God. When creature and Creator are in harmony the…
LWPT Meditations - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 I wonder how many churches will include the reading from 2nd Thessalonians in today’s service? It is the epistle for the day, but to read these words, or at least to read them without further comment, would b…
Things we thought were firm foundations
Things we thought were firm foundations
by Andrew Pratt
Things we thought were firm foundations, words in which we put our trust, buildings where we offered worship, all these things may turn to dust. Here when wars and devastation seem to damn all future hope, we must find new ways of loving, means to broaden human scope. Verses 2-3 …
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future
by Marjorie Dobson
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future A I can’t see much future in that kind of life, can you? I mean, it was all about wars and disasters and earthquakes and things. I think that’s too scary to even think about it. B Well, he did say that all that kind of thing was just routine…
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Theology of a Pharisee
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Theology of a Pharisee
by SPCK - N T Wright
Chapter TWO LIKE BIRDS HOVERING OVERHEAD: THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL The Theology of a Pharisee It is not difficult to draw out from what has already been said the main lines of Pharisaic theology, bringing into brief and I hope sharp focus the larger and longer treatm…
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Monday Evening Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Christmas - Monday Evening Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
CHRISTMAS - Monday Evening Prayer O magnify the Lord with me; for God’s mercy lasts for ever. Blessed are the poor, for they are free to hear; those who have nothing left are able to receive; those who are fast bound – they know what freedom means...
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - The Real King of Kings
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - The Real King of Kings
by SPCK - John Goldingay
The Real King of Kings Psalm 97-98 According to news reports, Muammar el-Qaddafi, who had ruled Libya for over forty years, once declared, “I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam of Muslims, and my international status …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Mountains
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Mountains For some strange reason, human beings connect mountains with God. In many ancient religions, worship took place on the ‘high places’. Even today, we talk of ‘mountain-top experiences’, despite having left behind the notion that mountains are closer to God’s supposed dwe…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Those who are burdened with heavy loads
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Those who are burdened with heavy loads
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Those who are burdened with heavy loads The ministry of the ox The keynote for Luke’s portrait of Jesus is set in his initial visit to the synagogue at Nazareth (4.16–30). Luke’s story is three times longer than the equivalent accounts which occur much later in Mark and Matthew (…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book IV
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book IV
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book IV (Psalm 90-106) Book IV opens with “A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God.” It is the only psalm in the Hebrew Psalter ascribed to Moses. Its words are a plea to God for mercy: “Turn [shub], O YHWH! How long? Change your mind [nakham] concerning your servants” (90:13, my trans…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jerusalem's Hopeful Future
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jerusalem's Hopeful Future
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Jerusalem’s Hopeful Future (Isaiah 60: 1-22; 62: 1-12; 66: 7-13) Chapters 60–62 at the center of Third Isaiah echo language and themes of Second Isaiah most closely. Chapter 60 addresses Jerusalem much as Isaiah 49 had, directing her eyes to see her children coming from afar and,…
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - Mark's gospel A Drama in Three Acts
Mark The People's Bible Commentary - Mark's gospel A Drama in Three Acts
by BRF - Dick France
MARK’S GOSPEL- A DRAMA in THREE ACTS After a prologue which sets the scene, Mark’s story unfolds in three main sections, each of which has a distinct geographical setting: 1:1–13 Prologue (set in ‘the wilderness’) 1:14—8:21 Act 1: Galilee 8:22—10:52 …
Isaiah for Everyone - A Day When There Will Be a Song to Sing
Isaiah for Everyone - A Day When There Will Be a Song to Sing
by SPCK - John Goldingay
A Day When There Will Be a Song to Sing Our city’s annual Black History Parade this year had the theme “Looking back and remembering: we’ve come a mighty long way.” The words reminded me of the hymn, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.”…
The Womens' Bible Commentary - The Messenger, Justice, and the Father’s Special Possession
The Womens' Bible Commentary - The Messenger, Justice, and the Father’s Special Possession
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Messenger, Justice, and the Father’s Special Possession The three dialogues of 2:17–4:3 begin with an accusation: “You have wearied YHWH with your words.” The image of a weary Deity captures the emotional escalation that occurs in these passages…
The Act of Prayer Year C - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
The Act of Prayer Year C - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
by BRF - John Birch
Third Sunday of Advent Year C Opening prayer This is Advent, the season of expectation. In homes throughout the land, Christmas cards stand on mantelpiece and windowsill. Festive trees are adorned with tinsel and baubles, and children wonder what gifts will lie beneath the tree t…
glimpses of glory - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
glimpses of glory - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
by SPCK - David Adam
The Third Sunday of Advent Good and gracious God, grant us a glimpse of your glory, That we may rejoice in your presence and abide in peace; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen…
glimpses of glory - Christmas Day - Year C
glimpses of glory - Christmas Day - Year C
by SPCK - David Adam
Christmas Day Almighty Father, we rejoice in the coming of Christ our Lord. We pray that, as he has taken on our humanity, through your grace and goodness we may share in your divinity, and so partake in the radiance of your glory; through him who came down for us and is alive an…
Isaiah for everyone - Straight-Talking Meets Straight-Talking
Isaiah for everyone - Straight-Talking Meets Straight-Talking
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Straight-Talking Meets Straight-Talking I sometimes have a hard time persuading people that prayer is an act of communication between us and God and that there’s a mutuality about this communication. The idea has got around that prayer is really more like a form of reflection and…
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Third Isaiah
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Third Isaiah
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Third Isaiah The last eleven chapters, set in Jerusalem after the return from exile, further Zion’s story while developing a variety of themes from previous chapters. Not only does personified Zion continue, but other themes of interest, such as inclusion and justice, both human …
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Moral Exhortation
The Womens' Bible Commentary - Moral Exhortation
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Moral Exhortation Typically of Pauline letters, moral exhortation (paraenesis) follows theology. The authors have heard that some members are “idle/ disorderly” (atakt?s), not “busy” (ergazomenous), but “busybodies” (periergazomenous) (3:11)…
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Proper 28 (33) - Year C
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Proper 28 (33) - Year C
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Full Service Proper 28 (33) - Year C Service contents: (Additional resources for Remembrance Sunday can be found elsewhere on the website and two hymns and a poem are added at the end of this order of service.) Hymn: Jesus,stand among us or God is here, as we his people or A hous…
CHRISTIANITY AND THE RENEWAL OF NATURE - 3c Reading Luke and saving the planet
CHRISTIANITY AND THE RENEWAL OF NATURE - 3c Reading Luke and saving the planet
by SPCK - Sebastian C.H. Kim and Jonathan Draper
Reading Luke and saving the planet After this brief snapshot of Palestine then and now, I return to the central issue: how does reading Luke affect the agenda of global warming? We have looked at the context for Jesus’ ministry, but what of its content?…
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Reflection/Poem: Thankful for the Law
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Psalm 148 – a reflection Does the east wind howl in praise of God?
Psalm 148 – a reflection Does the east wind howl in praise of God?
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Poem: Call to speaking
Poem: Call to speaking
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Psalm 121 v1
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by Doug Burke
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by SPCK - N T Wright
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The wisdom of elders is sometimes berated
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by Andrew Pratt
The wisdom of elders is sometimes berated yet Anna and Simeon saw what was true: persistence rewarded, their waiting accomplished, their journey of faithfulness starting anew. Verse 2 follows Tune: STREETS OF LAREDO Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 30/1/2014 Stainer & Bell Ltd,…
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Another mountain on the road
Another mountain on the road
by Andrew Pratt
Another mountain on the road that led them to Jerusalem, a rising path, a stony way, the climb towards a brighter day. They broke through mist, looked down on clouds, the earth below now veiled to sight. Above, the summit, time to rest, a place of blessing for the blessed. Verses…
APCE Advocate - Celebrating Christian Education
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by Norman J Goreham (1931-2021)
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by Dave Hopwood
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by Digistry
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by Marjorie Dobson
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Not in some future span of time
by Andrew Pratt
Not in some future span of time, but every moment that we live, is when to trust the grace of God, to offer love and to forgive. Now is the hour to realise the height and depth, the breadth and length of love in which our lives are held, God's everlasting grace and strength. Vers…
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by Keynsham Methodist Church Eco Group
ECO-HINTS FROM THE LECTIONARY November 2011 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year A 6 November 2011 Amos 5: 18-24 Psalm 70 I Thessalonians 4: 13-18 Matthew 25: 1-13 They were dark days for Amos. They are for us, too, quite literally at this time of year. Sometimes trying to do one’s …
Hymn: Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test
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by Andrew Pratt
Hard sayings of Jesus that challenge and test, that bring us to crisis, will not let us rest. Confronted by holiness, righteousness, light, our lives are exposed whether wrongful or right. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: DATCHET Metre: 11.11.11.11 Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 23/8/…
They met within an upper room
They met within an upper room
by Andrew Pratt
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Acts for Everyone part 1 - Human Inventions and Divine Instructions
by SPCK - N T Wright
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by Andrew Pratt
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Numbers in the Bible Assembly Collection - 30 Pieces of Silver Assembly
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by Christian Assembly Team
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Through the city streets they hurried
Through the city streets they hurried
by Andrew Pratt
Through the city streets they hurried where each shadow, like a shroud, hung across the darkened doorways, sounds of commerce echoed, loud. This had been the scene of bloodshed, Hist’ry heard, a nation sighed, factions fought and people suffered, mothers wept while children cried…
The Earth is the Lords v2
The Earth is the Lords v2
by Mark Boulton
Psalm 24 v1 'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness therof, the world and those who dwell therein.' Set against background of Planet Earth from space taken from Apollo mission NASA, USA. Other images in this series: The earth is the Lord's - Psalm 24 The earth is the Lord's v3…
Prayer: Perceptive God
Prayer: Perceptive God
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Perceptive God Perceptive God, you know our thoughts and our behaviour. You know when we are sincere and when we are deceiving ourselves. We try to do what is right. We try to live blameless lives. We believe and have confidence in you. We worship and praise you. So we tr…
No turning back, God's path can lead us forward
No turning back, God's path can lead us forward
by Andrew Pratt
No turning back, God's path can lead us forward, this is the time of challenge, time for choice, to set our sights on all that lies before us, to wallow in the past or to rejoice. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: INTERCESSOR Metre:11.10.11.10 Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 11/6/2013 S…
Poem: Stone Circle
Poem: Stone Circle
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: Stone Circle Ancient stones circle a hilltop, their origins for ever mysterious, their purpose undefined. An aura, not evident to all, drifts in the clear air creating its own history and energizing traces of the builders who laboured long to place these slabs of rock into …
What news is good? That Christ will live forever?
What news is good? That Christ will live forever?
by Andrew Pratt
What news is good? That Christ will live forever? Beyond a cruel death an empty grave? And whether this is fact or faith means nothing unless Christ's Spirit gives the means to save. If we endure derision, in this moment, or share communion bread within this place, unless our liv…
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - The Second Sunday of Easter Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - The Second Sunday of Easter Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Second Sunday of Easter Acts 4.32–35 1 1 John 1.1—2.2 John 20.19–31 The recent popularity of The Lord of the Rings has helpfully given new vitality to the word ‘fellowship’. The people who make up the ‘fellowship of the ring’ are not natural allies. They have little in comm…
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future
by Marjorie Dobson
Dialogue/drama: Trouble for the future A I can’t see much future in that kind of life, can you? I mean, it was all about wars and disasters and earthquakes and things. I think that’s too scary to even think about it. B Well, he did say that all that kind of thing was just routine…
Poem: Determination
Poem: Determination
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: Determination Nothing could deter him. Not religious opposition. Not the wily Herod. Not the prophetic predictions. Not the Pharisees with their plotting, nor the teachers with their testing, nor the disciples and their doubting. Nothing could stop him. Continues... ©Marjor…
There are stories in the Bible
There are stories in the Bible
by Michael Docker
There are stories in the Bible Where this world's turned upside down - Wine from water; health from sickness; Bread from none; a Kingdom shown. Jesus stands in all these stories, Human being with godly powers; By his words and signs and spirit We shall find God's life is ours. Th…
Singing Praises
Singing Praises
by Doug Burke
“How good it is to sing praises to our God.” Psalm 147:v1 TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software. (Will reduce image proportionally) • Insert as Picture in the normal wa…
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 12 Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 12 Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Proper 12 2 Kings 4. 42-44 Ephesians 3: 14-21 John 6: 1-21 The story of the feeding of the five thousand is found in all four Gospels, making it one of the best attested of Jesus’s miracles. John’s Gospel sometimes uses memories and stories that clearly come from different source…
Fresh Thoughts for Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 78 23/08/15
Fresh Thoughts for Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 78 23/08/15
by Twelvebaskets Ltd
A selection of commentary, reflection and prayer ideas from various Christian authors and the full bible texts from the NRSV for this week's lectionary. NOW INCLUDING SERIALISED BOOKS FROM SPCK AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BRF. Check below for details. Subscribe to Fresh Thoughts For S…
Mark for Everyone - The Twelve Are Appointed
Mark for Everyone - The Twelve Are Appointed
by SPCK - N T Wright
Mark For Everyone MARK 3.7–19 The Twelve Are Appointed... ...When I was a boy, the football team I support, Newcastle United, won the FA Cup, the world’s oldest football trophy, three years out of five. Think what it was like in Newcastle when the players came back from the match…
O shepherd of Israel, you hold in your hand
O shepherd of Israel, you hold in your hand
by Andrew Pratt
O shepherd of Israel, you hold in your hand, the nations, the people, from each far flung land. Your grace is sufficient, to meet every need, you reach beyond nationhood, language and creed. You brought restoration when all once seemed lost, you poured out your life love, not cou…
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Tuesday: Fifth Week in Lent Year B
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B - Tuesday: Fifth Week in Lent Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Lent for Everyone Mark Year B WEEK 5 TUESDAY... ...Mark Twain is reputed to have said that history never repeats itself, but that it often rhymes. In other words, although every event is unique, many events resemble others. They fall into a pattern. Sometimes, looking back along …
Nothing Too Religious - Prayer:Time flies
Nothing Too Religious - Prayer:Time flies
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: Time flies. Time flies. The years slip away. Spring soon turns to winter and the days become shorter in the passing. Never-ageing God, when we begin to count the years it seems impossible that so many have passed. How did they slip by so quickly? Is the birth certificate …
Hymn: Visions of paradise: heaven disclosing
Hymn: Visions of paradise: heaven disclosing
by Andrew Pratt
Visions of paradise: heaven disclosingsomething of beauty, of joy and delight; colours cascading that shimmer before us, tempting from darkness to temples of light. But we are grounded, the earth pulls, constrains us, keeping us close to the things that we know. Ours is the commo…
Monologue: Temptation – Hungry wasn't in it!
Monologue: Temptation – Hungry wasn't in it!
by Andrew Pratt
Monologue: Temptation – Hungry wasn't in it! Hungry wasn't in it. I'd decided to fast. Not forty days. Twenty four hours. The first hour was the worst and the other hours were not even that good! All I could think of was chocolate and chips. Not on the same plate. I mean, anythin…
Hymn: There was no respite from the crowds
Hymn: There was no respite from the crowds
by Andrew Pratt
There was no respite from the crowds, no place of calm retreat, no place of rest or solitude where he and friends could meet. They sought the healing of his hands, the calm within his voice, his challenge or his empathy gave reason to rejoice. Verses 3-4 follow Tune: ABRIDGE; BEL…
Intangible strands bind your people together
Intangible strands bind your people together
by Andrew Pratt
Intangible strands bind your people together, as one in your Body, so wonderf'lly made, close joined by humanity, sisters and brothers, yet fractured and broken, you find us dismayed; For we have not trusted the person of Jesus, the risks that he took, the example You gave. When …
Prayer:God of the harvest
Prayer:God of the harvest
by Marjorie Dobson
Prayer: God of the harvest God of the harvest, we pray for all those who work the land, farming with crops and animals to provide food for our tables. Their work is hard and demanding. They often feel under-valued and at the mercy of market forces that set prices, which make it d…
Revelation for Everyone - Four Horsemen
Revelation for Everyone - Four Horsemen
by SPCK - N T Wright
Four Horsemen Revelation 6.1-8 All doctors, and all pastors, know that when someone comes to them with a problem, the problem they talk about may not be the only problem they have. The pain that gets someone into the doctor’s surgery may well be only a symptom of much deeper ills…
In the beginning God created v3
In the beginning God created v3
by Mark Boulton
Text Genesis 1 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.' Set against NASA background image cosmos. Other images in this series: In the beginning God created - Psalm 19 In the beginning God created v2- Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God - Psalm 19 The h…
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - The Seventh Sunday of Easter Year B
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - The Seventh Sunday of Easter Year B
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Seventh Sunday of Easter John 17:6-19 Gaze on the face of Jesus, rapt with attention. At this point, he is so deep in prayer that the disciples dare not fidget or interrupt such a holy moment. They do not cough or break the stillness of Jesus, who is directing his entire ener…
Poem: Too much to take in
Poem: Too much to take in
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: Too much to take in If Jesus knew that his disciples would not remember half of what he was saying and that they would panic and worry and hide away from their troubles, puzzled by misunderstanding and full of fear – doesn’t that give us some kind of comfort when we find ou…
Cooling streams and fiery depths
Cooling streams and fiery depths
by Andrew Pratt
Cooling streams and fiery depths, heaven and hell shall beckon, those who have, have much to lose, all have much to reckon. Verses 2-3 follow Metre: 7 6 7 6 Tune: MELLING Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 7/9/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.co.uk. Please i…
Through all generations our God has walked with us
Through all generations our God has walked with us
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Through all generations our God has walked with us Proper 25 year A Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 Through all generations our God has walked with us, has shared in our pain while we lived on this earth. Though mountains pre-date our existence and knowledge, this God who has formed us…
Hymn: This towering edifice of shining glass
Hymn: This towering edifice of shining glass
by Andrew Pratt
This towering edifice of shining glass which speaks of power, of status and of class. will one day fall, a glittering shower of shards, will flutter like the children's house of cards. These temples of our vanity and pride like expectations of the crucified will lie in dust and r…
Poem: This towering edifice of shining glass
Poem: This towering edifice of shining glass
by Andrew Pratt
This towering edifice of shining glass which speaks of power, of status and of class. will one day fall, a glittering shower of shards, will flutter like the children's house of cards. These temples of our vanity and pride like expectations of the crucified will lie in dust and r…
Formed In God's Image
Formed In God's Image
by Norman J Goreham (1931-2021)
This hymn reflects part of the wording in the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving in the eucharistic liturgy, used in varying forms throughout the ages and across the world. In modern liturgies Thomas Cranmer's "our bounden duty" becomes "our joy and our salvation".
Poem: Heavenly vision
Poem: Heavenly vision
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: Heavenly vision A city of gold wrapped in a vision of light, where there is no night, nor a temple in sight, but with a river pure and crystal bright flowing between twelve trees of life planted to heal the nations’ strife. Such is one vision of heaven. Continues... ©Marjor…
Bless those who are healers
Bless those who are healers
by John Birch
Bless those who are healers of mind and body. Surgeons, doctors nurses, psychiatrists, all whose lives are dedicated to bringing wholeness. Bless those who are carers... Bless those who are prayers... Continues... Taken from 'A God of Compassion' by John Birch. A Book…
Glory Blue
Glory Blue
by Rose humphrey
TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software. (Will reduce image proportionally) • Insert as Picture in the normal way. • If needed fill the slide area by placing the image in…
Mark for Everyone - A Deaf and Mute Man Is Healed
Mark for Everyone - A Deaf and Mute Man Is Healed
by SPCK - N T Wright
Mark For Everyone MARK 7.31–37 A Deaf and Mute Man Is Healed... ...I received a leaked memo the other day on my fax machine. It wasn’t a very serious leak – something that would be in the papers in a couple of days anyway – but it gave me a strange feeling. It goes on all the tim…
Mark for Everyone - The Feeding of the Four Thousand
Mark for Everyone - The Feeding of the Four Thousand
by SPCK - N T Wright
Mark For Everyone MARK 8.1–10 The Feeding of the Four Thousand... ...Two more loaves, a thousand less people, and five fewer baskets remaining. It’s almost like a dream; we’ve heard the story before, it seems, two chapters earlier, and yet it’s different. The disciples seem to be…
Mark for Everyone - Jesus Predicts His Death
Mark for Everyone - Jesus Predicts His Death
by SPCK - N T Wright
Mark For Everyone MARK 8.31—9.1 Jesus Predicts His Death... ...I watched from a window as the riot police got ready. They looked like sportsmen preparing for a match, putting on pads and helmets, gloves and special outer clothes. Only this wasn’t a game. It was real. They didn’t …
Maker of Life and Lord of Lords
Maker of Life and Lord of Lords
by Andrew T Murphy
A hymn about grace, atonement and discipleship. The hymn would be ideal for Lent or Passiontide, and has a traditional style and metre for use by most congregations. A suggested tune is 'Abridge (St Stephen)' [CM], although there are plenty of others.
Jeremiah for everyone - In the Interests of the living
Jeremiah for everyone - In the Interests of the living
by SPCK - John Goldingay
In the Interests of the living A woman recently inherited a diary her mother kept during the last months of her life. It showed a side of her mother she hadn’t seen before—angry, afraid, self-recriminatory. It was upsetting to read…
Hymn: The whirring of wings amid smoke in the temple