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Gazing on the Gospels year c - The First Sunday of Lent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The First Sunday of Lent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The First Sunday of Lent Luke 4.1-13 Gaze on Jesus in the wilderness. Gaze on the harsh monochrome of fear and confusion, on the hard bed of stones that brings no comfort. Imagine forty days without the scent of grass, his feet cut raw against the ragged paths, as he searches for…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Fourth Sunday of Easter John 10.22-30 Gaze on a rough, stormy day in Jerusalem. Our usual picture of the Holy Land is of sun and heat, and a life led in the open air, but there can be cold winds and rain, too. Jesus is sheltering in one of the inner courts of the Temple. It’s…
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The First Sunday of Epiphany - Year A Isaiah 42.1–9 Acts 10.34–43 Matthew 3.13–17 Matthew’s is the only Gospel that shows any embarrassment about Jesus’s baptism by John the Baptist. In all of the Gospels, John knows that his baptism is a temporary measure, but he also knows that…
Poem: Father of Jesse and father of David
Poem: Father of Jesse and father of David
by Andrew Pratt
Father of Jesse and father of David, born of a foreigner here in their midst: Ruth would nurse Obed, then comfort and nurture. Boaz brought safety it seemed she had missed. Now as we listen we re-tell this story, try to untangle the mystery and worth, one thing is certain: a love…
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Hear the echoes of the scripture Hear the echoes of the scripture in the parting of the waters, see Elijah in the whirlwind, see Elisha, looking, waiting. See Elisha take the mantle, see Elisha strike the water, faith and action moving forward, faith is passed from hand to …
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Wine maker, bread breaker Wine maker, bread breaker source of festivity, coming to greet us with warm creativity. Here is Immanuel, in grace beholding us; Jesus the fear shaker taking, enfolding us, Continues... Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 8/1/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd…
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy Ascension Acts 1: 1 – 11; Acts 1: 6 – 14; Psalm 47; Luke 24: 44 – 53 Up! Up and away! Was it really that crazy? Seems too much like magic, so hard to believe. His ministry ended. The cross was behind him. Disciples commissioned, so …
When Moses uttered, ones who heard
When Moses uttered, ones who heard
by Andrew Pratt
When Moses uttered, ones who heard assumed he spoke for them, for now, not for some future time or place still wanting of a Saviour's grace. And yet those words would resonate beyond that early utterance, would still have force in later years to speak to latent needs and fears. V…
Within the Areopagus
Within the Areopagus
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: Within the Areopagus Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17: 22-31 Within the Areopagus debate was heated, talk was fast, Paul joined this lively interchange: debate goes on, the questions last. It was not easy to believe: the 'god' they worshipped was unknown. They harboured an un…
Times and Seasons - Significant gifts for the child of the manger
Times and Seasons - Significant gifts for the child of the manger
by Andrew Pratt
Significant gifts for the child of the manger, the riches of ages we fathom and find. Imagine the scene, those who knelt are arising, the print of this moment ingrained on each mind. And where will they go now? And where will they wander, these seers who have followed a star thro…
Sometimes when all our busyness
Sometimes when all our busyness
by Andrew Pratt
Sometimes when all our busyness is just much too bear remember Jesus kindly words with Mary sitting there. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: BELMONT Metre: CM Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 5/7/2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, www.stainer.co.uk. Please include any reproductio…
The Accused
The Accused
by Andrew Pratt
Meditation/monologue/drama: The Accused Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Romans 8: 1-11 'The accused'! It felt strange standing there and hearing those words. They were talking about me. Fair enough I suppose, but we never like to hear the truth about ourselves do we? 'The accused'!…
There we were, off up a mountain again
There we were, off up a mountain again
by Andrew Pratt
Dramatic monologue: There we were, off up a mountain again Ascension Acts 1: 1-11 There we were, off up a mountain again. My legs were aching. Not as young as I used to be. Near the summit, thank goodness, but I expect he could hear me moaning. He turned and faced us. Was it imag…
This rock raised above all others
This rock raised above all others
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: This rock raised above all others Proper 16 year A Matthew 16: 13 – 20 This rock raised above all others: 'Peter, here I build my church'. So we hear the words of Jesus, though this rock would shake and lurch. Peter was a human being, filled with insight, seeing clear, clos…
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear
by Andrew Pratt
When those whose thoughts are crystal clear meet those who are confused, reality can seem disturbed and sense can feel abused. We stand upon a sheer abyss while vertigo takes hold, the air above, the sea beneath, our actions uncontrolled. Verses 2-3 follow Tune: MACPHERSON’S FARE…
Wrestling stranger met with Jacob