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New Jerusalem
New Jerusalem
by Andrew T Murphy
Seen alongside William Blake's original poem, this is a reworking for Christian congregations, using the same tune (by Parry). Suitable especially for occasions where 'Jerusalem' is requested but the words of the original are not relevant. The first verse deals with the mystery…
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 5 Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Proper 5 Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Proper 5 Genesis 3: 8-15 2 Corinthians 4: 13-5: 1 Mark 3: 20-35 Things are moving at a relentless pace for Jesus in these early chapters of Mark’s Gospel. Already he is being followed everywhere he goes by large crowds of people. Already he has made bitter enemies out of the loca…
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - The Third Sunday before Advent Year B
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - The Third Sunday before Advent Year B
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Third Sunday before Advent Mark 1: 14-20 Gaze on the Sea of Galilee. No one who comes here remains unmoved. What is it about particular places that give them a holiness at their very core? Why does this place emanate such undisputed beauty? It is referred to in the Jewish Tal…
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - Trinity Sunday Year B
Gazing on the Gospels Year B - Trinity Sunday Year B
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Trinity Sunday John 3: 1-17 Gaze at this conversation, taking place at night in Jesus’ rooms, somewhere in a dark Jerusalem back street. The room is barely lit by a small earthen oil lamp. Jesus and his unexpected guest sit cross-legged on cushions. The furnishings of the room ar…
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 21 Year B
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 21 Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Proper 21 Esther 7.1-6, 9-10 James 5.13-20 Mark 9.38-50 The ancient world was full of stories in which the threatened hero or heroine is rescued at last, and the people who had almost overcome them are condemned instead. David kills Goliath. Homer’s heroes – some of them, anyway …
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 20 Year B
Twelve Months of Sundays Year B - Proper 20 Year B
by SPCK - N T Wright
Proper 20 Proverbs 31.10-31 James 3.13-4.3, 7-8a Mark 9.30-37 Fortunately, Jesus stopped the disciples in their tracks before they acted out James 4 as well as James 3. Envy and selfish ambition, yes; but covetousness had not yet led to murder. The internecine strife in Jerusalem…
Great God your love has held our lives
Great God your love has held our lives
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn - Great God your love has held our lives NEW HYMN FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER Great God your love has held our lives across the years down to this day. Your constant presence held us fast: remain with us we plead and pray. We watched the …
Meditation/Monologue: The New Jerusalem
Meditation/Monologue: The New Jerusalem
by Andrew Pratt
Meditation/Monologue: The New Jerusalem Was it on a wire, like some great Peter Pan on a west end stage? Or did they use computer graphics? Perhaps it was a dream or some ancient painting? It just seems surreal! 'I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven f…
Monologue: Jesus and Herod
Monologue: Jesus and Herod
by Andrew Pratt
Monologue: Jesus and Herod I love me. No, don't get me wrong. I know you can see me! And I see myself in the mirror...each morning. Seeing me waking up is not a pretty sight! I'm not always proud of what I say or do. I have my regrets, oh yes. But...you knew there'd be a but, but…
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…
Hymn: No royal robes, but donkey riding
Hymn: No royal robes, but donkey riding
by Andrew Pratt
No royal robes, but donkey riding, the Christ, our King, had come to town, Jerusalem came out to meet him. Would gold or thorns compose a crown? The people spread their palms before him, they wondered what this day would bring: as Jesus, humble, riding quietly brought contrast to…
Hymn: When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day
Hymn: When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day
by Andrew Pratt
When Jesus came to Bethlehem there was no worse a day, they say a census had been called, there was no place to stay; this baby who would shake the world, would first lay down his head, not in a royal house or hall, but in a manger bed. When Jesus went to Nazareth his father had …
Like some tsunami pulling back
Like some tsunami pulling back
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Like some tsunami pulling back Proper 19 Year A Exodus 14: 19 – 31; Exodus 15: 1b – 11; Psalm 114 Like some tsunami pulling back, the sea piled up, the ground was dry. The Hebrews saw a way across, a way to flee, a way to fly. Egyptians followed in their wake, but all at on…
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - The Third Sunday of Easter Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - The Third Sunday of Easter Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Third Sunday of Easter Acts 3.12-19 1John 3.1-7 Luke 24.36b-48 A puzzled seeker writes: I’ve been interested in this Jesus movement for years, but I’m no closer to understanding it now that I’m an old man than I was all those years ago in Jerusalem. It started when my uncle t…
Gazing on the Gospels Year A - Palm Sunday Year A
Gazing on the Gospels Year A - Palm Sunday Year A
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Palm Sunday - Year A The Liturgy of the Palms Meditation on Matthew 21: 1-11 Gaze on the old city of Jerusalem, the narrow lanes choked with shoppers and craftsmen and crowded with pilgrims. Walk past the noisy blacksmiths’ quarter, and wander through the district where they dye …
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones
by Andrew Pratt
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37: 1-14 Where jackals gnaw the drying bones and vultures wheel above, the people languish losing hope, is this the end of love? This exile tore them from God's grace, yes that is how it seemed... Andrew Pratt (bo…
Through the city streets they hurried