A Bit Like Jesus - The parable of the prodigal, his brother and their compassionate Father
A Bit Like Jesus - The parable of the prodigal, his brother and their compassionate Father
by SPCK - Robin Gill
WEEK 3 Compassion Healing and compassion Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathe…
Easter 6 Opening Prayers
Easter 6 Opening Prayers
by Christine Dutton
Opening Prayers of Approach and Gathering based on John 5:1-9 Gracious, loving God, We come before you today in worship. We come in expectation, waiting to meet you. You know how long we have been waiting. You know the stories of our lives. You know all we share with you, and all…
1 and 2 Kings for Everyone - GLOSSARY
1 and 2 Kings for Everyone - GLOSSARY
by SPCK - John Goldingay
GLOSSARY aide A supernatural agent through whom God appears and works in the world. Standard English translations call them “angels,” but this term suggests ethereal figures with wings, wearing diaphanous white dresses. Aides are humanlike figures; hence it is possible to give th…
A Bit Like Jesus - Preface
A Bit Like Jesus - Preface
by SPCK - Robin Gill
Preface The picture on the cover by the Indian artist Jyoti Sahi captures wonderfully well what this short Lent Book is struggling to achieve. I bought the original collage on a visit to his ashram near Bangalore. He depicts the Parable of the Sower. Yet it is an Indian Jesus who…
Drama/Monologue: Talking about Lydia
Drama/Monologue: Talking about Lydia
by Marjorie Dobson
Drama/Monologue: Talking about Lydia She’s a wealthy woman, that Lydia. She specialises in selling that really expensive purple cloth that all the rich people buy, so she must be rolling in money. What’s she doing hanging out with a crowd like that? And what are they doing here? …
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?
by Marjorie Dobson
Psalm 148 – a reflection Does the east wind howl in praise of God? Does the lightning flash to bring light to the world? Does the snow swirl to purify the dark earth? Does the hail rain down in a dance of joy? Do the clouds rejoice that above them is light? Do the mountains and h…
Poem: New world
Poem: New world
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: New world New heaven, new earth, is what folk say will greet the morning one fine day. All will be well, all tears be gone, no pain, no mourning from then on. The Holy City will appear and heaven will be very near for God will live upon the earth and everything will have ne…
Reflection: Love one another
Reflection: Love one another
by Marjorie Dobson
Reflection: Love one another “Love one another as I have loved you.” What a challenge Does that mean I’ve got to love my enemies? Does that mean I’ve got to love my political opponents? Does that mean I’ve got to love those whose opinions I can’t tolerate? Does that mean I’ve got…
GOD's rich Pattern - Up, up and away
GOD's rich Pattern - Up, up and away
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
Up, up and away The next five years were incredibly rewarding and challenging. As I grew in confidence as a married woman, I grew in my desire to explore the world around me, and Ralph was the one to help me to do it. His attitude of ‘You’re not disabled, you’re just someone who …
GOD's rich Pattern - A devastating moment
GOD's rich Pattern - A devastating moment
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
A devastating moment One morning I awoke to hear Ralph making some very strange noises, squealing and screeching sounds, and a noise from his mouth as though he were blowing bubbles. He couldn’t speak to me and he couldn’t move. My first thought was that he may have had a stroke.…
GOD's rich Pattern - Building blocks for God
GOD's rich Pattern - Building blocks for God
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
Building blocks for God We were at the stage where Ralph was beginning to help me with some of my consultancy work. I was asked to appear on television. We had to go to Bristol for the recording. We stayed in a five-star hotel that was supposed to be wheelchair friendly, and have…
GOD's rich Pattern - A time of discovery
GOD's rich Pattern - A time of discovery
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
A time of discovery A romance, in the truest sense of the word, is a wonderful time of discovery – a meeting of minds and bodies, of personal strengths and weaknesses, and of tenderness between a couple. In my case, Ralph had many moments of discovery about issues relating to dis…
GOD's rich Pattern - A new life together
GOD's rich Pattern - A new life together
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
A new life together The wedding and honeymoon were fantastic. But I now had to face the harsh reality of learning to cope on my own during the day, for the first time in thirty-seven years. Occasionally, people would pop in, but for the most part I was by myself, and I was terrif…
GOD's rich Pattern - Wedding day
GOD's rich Pattern - Wedding day
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
Wedding day The frenetic preparation on the morning of my wedding day hardly gave me any time to think about what I was undertaking. The whole day put me in a whirl. I can remember my mother asking me at six o’clock in the morning whether I had any regrets. I told her I couldn’t …
GOD's rich Pattern - Go forth and tell
GOD's rich Pattern - Go forth and tell
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
Go forth and tell Seven years of study and preaching commitment were now to culminate in a service commissioning me as a fully accredited Methodist local preacher. What a moment. A day I had longed for. I can remember the beautiful summer’s evening the day before, warm yet cool. …
GOD's rich Pattern - One small step along the way
GOD's rich Pattern - One small step along the way
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
One small step along the way Ralph regularly attended our local Methodist church. He had come a long way spiritually because now his visits were not just when I was preaching. When taking Holy Communion our minister always brought the bread and the wine to our pew and offered it …
GOD's rich Pattern - Another Interesting twist
GOD's rich Pattern - Another Interesting twist
by SPCK - Dr Lin Berwick
Another interesting twist Remember how I said that all the things that have happened so far were part of God’s rich pattern? Broadcasting was still very much my first love, but I never thought an opportunity would come quite like this one. David Wood, the manager at the bank, cam…
GOD's rich Pattern - A change of direction