Search Results
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Day of Pentecost Year B
Lectionary Reflections - Year B - Day of Pentecost Year B
by SPCK - Jane Williams
Day of Pentecost Acts 2.1-21 Romans 8.22-27 John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15 The Holy Spirit has been in danger in recent years of becoming the soppy one of the Trinity. Think about it for a bit – the Holy Spirit doesn’t go off and do uncomfortable and challenging things like getting cruc…
The Pastoral Letters - God's Kingdom and Generosity - and Ours
The Pastoral Letters - God's Kingdom and Generosity - and Ours
by SPCK - N T Wright
God’s Kindness and Generosity – and Ours Titus 3.1-8a I went to a spectacular birthday party last weekend. Our host, who was turning 70, had laid on a lavish evening. Nothing had been spared to make his guests comfortable and happy. The food was terrific; the wine of the highest …
John for Everyone part 2 - My Kingdom Is Not From This World
John for Everyone part 2 - My Kingdom Is Not From This World
by SPCK - N T Wright
My Kingdom Is Not from This World John 18.33-40 The ancient world knew more about kings than we moderns do. Where kings and queens still exist today, they mostly live and work within a carefully constructed framework. They are not ‘absolute’ monarchs, but ‘constitutional’ ones. T…
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - The Law and the Spirit
Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians - The Law and the Spirit
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Law and the Spirit Galatians 5.13-21 In the middle of Oxford University there stands a wonderful building, surrounded by well-kept grass. The building is a library, circular in shape, topped by a great dome. It is beautiful inside and out. People photograph it, paint it, admi…
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Sower Explained
Matthew for Everyone Part 1 - The Parable of the Sower Explained
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Parable of the Sower Explained Matthew 13.18-23 I stood still, puzzled. There was a high hedge to my right, and another one to my left. And now there was a third high hedge straight in front of me. The grass was flattened down in this small space. Clearly lots of other people…
John for Everyone part 2 - The Raising of Lazarus
John for Everyone part 2 - The Raising of Lazarus
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Raising of Lazarus John 11.38-46 We saw a programme on the television last night about the fossilized remains of what looks like an ancient race of creatures. They seem to be like humans, but much taller. They appear to have been significantly different from any monkeys or ap…
LWPT Meditations - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year C
by Susan Thorne
05 May 2013 LWPT Meditation Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 5:1-9 If we read the context of the passage in Revelation in today’s lectionary, the picture that the writer gives us of the New Jerusalem/heaven/eternal life is complicated and disturbingly unfamili…
LWPT Meditations - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C Amos 8:1-12 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-42 We have almost forgotten that Christianity is a radical phenomenon. In the UK – even in our present pluralistic society – Church and State are closely linked. On national occasions we are …
LWPT Meditations - First Sunday of Advent - Year A
LWPT Meditations - First Sunday of Advent - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Advent, leading to Christmas, is a time of hope and expectation, and the lectionary readings reflect this. The Christmas story is included, of course; Matthew’s account, and Luke’s with the shepherds and the heavenly choir, together with a beautiful passage from Titus. It is not …
LWPT Meditations - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr C Isaiah 5:1-7 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56 When God wanted to warn his unfaithful people, he beguiled them into thinking they were about to hear a love song. “I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard” (Isaiah 5:1).…
LWPT Meditations - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr A Philippians 2: 1-13 Matthew 21: 23-32 We have a very high standard set before us in today’s readings; to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2 v 5). Specifically, we are to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain …
LWPT Meditations - Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
LWPT Meditations - Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
by Susan Thorne
Meditation - 31stSunday in Ordinary Time Year B Hebrews 9 v 11-14 Mark 12 v 28-34 Burnt offerings and the sacrifice of animals formed an essential element of Jewish worship. It was impossible to approach God or to atone for sin unless blood was shed (Hebrews 9 v 22). On atonemen…
LWPT Meditations - Third Sunday of Advent - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Third Sunday of Advent - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – Third Sunday of Advent Yr A Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:5-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 John the Baptist had put his full faith in Jesus. He had foretold Jesus’ coming, heralded him as the Lamb of God, sent his own disciples to follow him. But John’s faith had not be…
LWPT Meditations - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
LWPT Meditations - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr B Isaiah 40: 21-31 Mark 1: 29-39 “Do you not know? Have you not heard?” Yes, of course. We know about God. We have heard all about him!... Created by Susan Thorne on behalf of LWPT (Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust) for more infor…
LWPT Meditations - Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – Seventh Sunday of Easter Year A Acts 1:6-14 Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 1st Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 John 17:1-11 The Israelites knew God by a multiplicity of names and titles, including “the One who rides on the clouds” (Psalm 68:4). In this guise, God presented himself as po…
All the skill and art, each problem
All the skill and art, each problem
by Andrew Pratt
All the skill and art, each problem, that the human heart can bear we can bring before the God-head through our thought and in our prayer. Those who suffer seek God's comfort, those whose lives are seared with pain, bring your anguish in this moment, let God share your stress and…
Empty tomb, the body stolen