SPCK
The Post Evangelical - 2 We've never had it so good
The Post Evangelical - 2 We've never had it so good
by SPCK - Dave Tomlinson
2 We’ve never had it so good! By any standards, the period from the early 1980s to the mid- 1990s has been a remarkable period of transformation for British evangelicalism. In the years prior to this, the expectation of growth in most churches was minimal, media attention was vir…
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Remembrance
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Remembrance
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
REMEMBRANCE Service Contents: Hymn: O God, our help in ages past or Once crimson poppies bloomed Introduction Remembrance of those who have died is… Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd or By a monument of marble Offering Poem / Meditation We step back to a memory. Hymn: In heavenly love…
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Third Sunday before Advent – Remembrance - Proper 27 - Year A
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Third Sunday before Advent – Remembrance - Proper 27 - Year A
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Third Sunday before Advent – Remembrance - Proper 27(32) - Year A Service contents: Hymn: Now thank we all our God or A century passes, memories will fade Prayer: Understanding God Hymn: Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy or When nations are healed and all warfare is banish…
The Post Evangelical - 1 A symbol of hope
The Post Evangelical - 1 A symbol of hope
by SPCK - Dave Tomlinson
1 A symbol of hope It may seem strange to be talking about ‘post-evangelical’ just as others are talking about an evangelical renaissance, yet the subject is of vital concern to an increasing number of people who, for various reasons, feel the urge to explore new possibilities wi…
clouds and glory - Proper 18 - Year A
clouds and glory - Proper 18 - Year A
by SPCK - David Adam
Proper 18 Year A Sunday between 4 and 10 September inclusive Lord, awaken us to your glory. Open our eyes to your presence. Open our ears to your call. Open our hearts to your love, that we may proclaim that you are among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Incarnation
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Incarnation
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Incarnation (John 1) The classic statement of 1:14 (my trans.), “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,” establishes the incarnation theme. It is further amplified by 1:1…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Origin of John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1) Against this background of the role of women in Luke, one can examine in more detail passages unique to Luke that focus on women. Three women appear in this section (Elizabeth, Mary of Nazareth, and Anna) in roles far more powerfu…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God's Realm Breaking In
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - God's Realm Breaking In
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
God’s Realm Breaking In (Mark1-3) Jesus and the Realm of God (Mark 1:1–45) Although “According to Mark” was added later, Mark’s Gospel does have a functioning title in 1:1: “The beginning of the good news [gospel] of Jesus Christ, Son of God.” Each term is important. While “Jesus…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Creation and Destruction of the Heaven and the Earth (2 Peter 3: 1-13) In order to counter the arguments of the “scoffers” who deny the promise of the Lord’s coming, the author of 2 Peter asserts that “the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire” (3:7), and “the ele…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Passion of the Community
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Passion of the Community
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
The Passion of the Community (Mark 13) Chapter 13, a speech in the middle of the Gospel’s second half, parallels chapter 4, a speech in the middle of its first half. The parables of the first speech suggest how the realm of God begins to take hold on the earth in the present age.…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status and Authority in God's Realm
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Status and Authority in God's Realm
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Status and Authority in God’s Realm (1 Corinthians 1-4) In the opening section of the letter, Paul addresses the central problem afflicting the church: divisions among its members into competing groups (1:10). Status competition was endemic to the culture, but it was antithetical…
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,…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - End of the Age
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - End of the Age
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
End of the Age (Matthew 24: 1-51) Maternal imagery continues into the fifth discourse. Signs of destruction are “birth pangs” (24:8); the metaphor graphically indicates the inevitability as well as the increasing intensity associated with the end time…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Restoration and the Return of the Divine
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Restoration and the Return of the Divine
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Restoration and Return of the Divine (Ezekiel 25: 1- 48: 35) The oracles against the nations in chapters 25–32 form a kind of hinge in the book, as the scathing, judgment language against Israel comes to an end after the sign-action involving the lack of mourning observance for E…
Walking Backwards to Christmas - Annunciation: a poem
Walking Backwards to Christmas - Annunciation: a poem
by SPCK - Stephen Cottrell
Annunciation: a poem There is only one thing that prevents The gentle movement, heaven into earth: Not the fear which godly greeting brings, Nor cold presumption (God could never speak), Nor empty tomb, nor barren heart,…
Walking Backwards to Christmas - Chapter 11 Moses