The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Reflection
‘[Jesus said]: ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’’ - John 15:5 Friends, choice is everywhere. The freedom to choose seems to be the basis of modern s...
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‘[Jesus said]: ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’’ - John 15:5 Friends, choice is everywhere. The freedom to choose seems to be the basis of modern s...
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Once upon a time there was a magical dragon. He called down all the powers of Hell. And stood above a lake of burning fire.And there was a knight. A brave knight who came to battle the dragon. H...
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‘Jesus said ‘everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms’ - Luke 24:44 Brothers and sisters, how many of us st...
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‘Then Jesus told [Thomas], ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’’ - John 20:29 Brothers and siste...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: April Magazine. ----- Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! Phew! We have made it through the 40 days and 40 nights of Lent, through the l...
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'God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day’ Acts 10:40 In my line of work I spend a lot of time with a lot of grieving people. Grieving people think about the things we don’t want t...
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'When we were baptised into Christ Jesus we were baptised into His death'. - Romans 6:3 Brothers and sisters, on 11th February 1990 after 27 years in prison on Robben Island Nelson Mandela was s...
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'As a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.’ - Isaiah 53:7 What are Jesus’ most important words? “Love your neighbour,” perhaps? "Love ...
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‘This is my body which is for you.’ 1 Corinthians 11:24 Brothers and sisters, probably one way or another most of us will know the story of Les Miserables. You may not have read the book ...
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“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Mark 11:9 Brothers and sisters, in most families, particularly if you’re a child, there is a fav...
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‘God said ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ - Jeremiah 31:33 Sisters and brothers, we’re a...
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'Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son’. John 19:26 Brothers and sisters, today we came together to remember and to honour our mothers, and those who have taken care of us like mums...
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‘Jesus said, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’’ - John 2:19 Brothers and sisters, a big part of what I do is building relationships. When you&rsq...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: March Magazine. ----- Dear brothers and sisters, In the film ‘The Hobbit’ the great wizard, Gandalf, says something which has always stuck...
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‘[God said:] This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ - Mark 9:7 Brothers and sisters, last week as we dived into Lent we were challenged by our readings to make this the best Lent ev...
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'The Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness for forty days’ Mark 1:12 Brothers and sisters, we have begun our journey through Lent. I was thinking the other day...
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'Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prep...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: February Magazine. ----- Dear brothers and sisters, The Christian faith is a faith of fresh starts and they are plastered all over the Bible from b...
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‘Jesus said ‘Come, follow me’.’ - Mark 1:17 Brothers and sisters, it’s 1917, World War One has been raging for three years. The Germans have pulled back and the British ...
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‘Jesus said, ‘Come and see’.’ John 1:39 Brothers and sisters, the invitation to ‘come and see’—which we hear in our Gospel reading (John 1:35-42)&mdash...
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’The Wise Men saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.' Matthew 2:11 So I was talking to someone the other day and they said that they were really excited bec...
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'Jesus grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him’. Luke 2:40 As we end 2023, and look forward to 2024, as we perhaps think about Ne...
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Brothers and sisters, imagine it’s Christmas morning and you have worked your way through the pile of presents under the tree. You think you have unwrapped them all...
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'While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'.' Acts 7:59 The morning after the night before. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been...
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'In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son.' Hebrews 1:3 Brothers and sisters, when I was younger I had an old flip-phone. At the time it was great! It totally did it's job. Kids ...
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'The people walking in darkness have seen a great light’ Isaiah 9:2 Walking around with a dog collar you get people coming up to you and saying all sorts. From slurs to people begging for...
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'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled'. Luke 1:38 What is the difference between faith and belief? That’s a question that we (the clergy) ask most pe...
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'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.’ Isaiah 61:1 Brothers and sisters, Covid has crept back into our lives over...
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'the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken’. Isaiah 40:5 Brothers and sisters, Films these days are full of promise...
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‘[Jesus said] ‘keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back’ - Mark 13:35 Brothers and sisters, how are you at cooking? I must admit I’m not g...
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To help us make the most of Advent this year our diocese has produced a lovely booklet with a reflection for each day. You might like to find a regular time to read the scripture appointed, to re...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: December/January Magazine. ----- Dear brothers and sisters, I used to look forward to my dad coming home from work when I was a boy. When I was ver...
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‘[Jesus said] whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’Matthew 25:40 Brothers and sisters, I saw in a local supermarket that the count d...
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‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.’ Matthew 25:21 Brothers and sisters, Somebody reminded me th...
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‘those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ Matthew 23:12 Yesterday I found myself watching the cricket… Or at least, I set off w...
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'there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.’ Revelation 7:9 On this All Saints’ day it’s right that we think...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: November Magazine. ----- Dear Brothers & Sisters, We’ve entered the month of remembrance: All Saints, All Souls, and, of course, Remembra...
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‘give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’ Matthew 22:21 This morning we turn our attention to our Gospel reading, picking up where we left off last week in c...
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‘Jesus said: 'go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find’.’ Matthew 22:9 A while ago I received a really exciting invitation. I was sat there at my parent&rs...
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‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’ John 4:34 Brothers and sisters, what keeps you going? You know how you wake up and i...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: October Magazine. ----- Dear Brothers & Sisters, Our diocese has a helpful vision statement which encourages every parish to consider what it m...
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'They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ Revelation 12:11 I want you to imagine a theatre production. Even if you’ve never been to one, you wi...
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'[Jesus said] 'are you envious because I am generous'. Matthew 20:15 Brothers and sisters, What is a parable? A parable is story about something ‘every day’ in which the speaker adds...
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‘[Jesus said] when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.’ - John 12:32 "Snakes...why'd it have to be snakes?” ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny...
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'This is my command: Love each other.’ John 15:17 Sisters and brothers, most of you know, this is a very important week as for a lot of children all up and down the country, this week has...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: September Magazine. ----- Dear Brothers & Sisters,St George’s and All Saints’ are now one; one parish, with one PCC and one shared m...
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'The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground’ - Exodus 14:21 Sisters and brothers, on the 4th June 1940 as the Nazi army was approaching victory in Europe Bri...
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'the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way' - Exodus 13:21 After all of the plagues, the endless back and forth, the people of Israel were finally free. They could g...
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'Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought you out of Egypt’ - Exodus 12:17 Sisters and brothers, special meals are for for remembering somethin...
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'Lord said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh’ Exodus 11:1 Brothers and sisters, I was a bit nervous when I realised I’d got this reading to preach o...
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'the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let my people go’' Exodus 9:13 Justice and mercy, too often we look round our world today and we see too little of either. Criminals getting away,...
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'You are to say everything I command you, tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go’ Exodus 7:2 Brothers and sisters, we turn our attention again to the wonderful story for the Exodus. Over the pas...
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'the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go’. Exodus 6:10-11 Brothers and sisters, last week Fr Mike talked about how God calls us to use the g...
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'God said, ‘I will be with you.’ Exodus 3:12 Brothers and sisters, this morning we’re back in the Book of Exodus. In our last look at Exodus we were told that God had heard his peop...
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‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28 Brothers and sisters, whenever we gather together as the Church we do so in celebration of the Lo...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: July-August Magazine. ----- Dear brothers & sisters, I have spent almost a whole year living in Chorley now and I have already had a number of...
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'God heard [His people’s] groaning and he remembered his covenant’ Exodus 2:24 Brothers and sisters we continue today our study in the amazing book of Exodus. We’ve already heard th...
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'she got a papyrus basket for him placed the child in it and put it among the reeds of the Nile.’ Exodus 2:3 Brothers and sisters, we began last week a study of the first part of the Book of Ex...
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The midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.’ Exodus 1:17 Brothers and sisters, beginning today we are going to be working our way through the first ...
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'‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.’’ Deuteronomy 6:4 Brot...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: June Magazine. ----- Dear brothers & sisters, This month we pick up our studies in the Old Testament as we turn to the Book of Exodus in our se...
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'All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ Acts 2:4 Brothers and sisters, during Covid-19 one of the main efforts of th...
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[Jesus said] ‘When the Advocate comes He will testify about me […] you also must testify’ John 15:26-27 Brothers and sisters, I’ve said many times, and I will continue t...
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‘[Jesus said] ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33 Brothers and sisters, in 1989 a song from an Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical ...
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‘[Jesus said]’It is for your good that I am going away. If I go,I will send [the Spirit] to you.’ John 16:7 Brothers and sisters, over the past few Sundays we have been focuss...
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'whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant' Mark 10:43 What a memorable day it has been. We have literally entered into a new age this day. Decades from now people will look back on E...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: May Magazine. ----- Dear brothers & sisters, This month marks a coronation of a king, and I’m very much looking forward to it as I ...
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‘Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.’ 2 Timothy 2:8 Brothers and sisters, those who follow football will know right now it is crunch time...
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Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. […] Stop doubting and believe.’ John 20:27 You know, I have a lot of sympathy for Thomas, the disciple we like ...
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On Sunday 30th April, it’s the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. As the Church of England, we should be committed to seeing more vocations to the priesthood, for where there are priests t...
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'Early on the first day of the week [...] Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.' John 20:1 Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed.&nbs...
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'The angel said, 'Do not be afraid' Matthew 28:5 Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! The journey through Lent is a demanding one, especially as we reach the trauma of ...
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'For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son'. John 3:16 A father began a playful argument with his young child which continued for a very long time. It went like this: “...
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'[Jesus] emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave'. Philippians 2:7 As I prayed about this evening’s sermon I felt the Lord ask me “what is the weirdest job you’ve done?” a...
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Here is 'The Messenger' downloable for free: April Magazine. ----- Dear brothers & sisters, ‘The point of the Church is to point to Jesus’, so said a member of our PCC at...
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‘On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus’. Luke 2:21 Brothers and sisters, New Year’s Day is the day of resolutions, of taking an honest look...
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‘[Jesus said] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.' - Matthew 10:28 I want us to begin with a silly choice, one I’m sure you’ve ...
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'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good'. Genesis 50:20 ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these tru...
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‘[Jacob] said, ‘I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’’ Genesis 45:28 As we continue to read through Joseph this summer, today...
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'Joseph recognised his brothers, they did not recognise him.’ Genesis 42:8 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need to have watched Eastenders, to know that families have arguments, tha...
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'all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,’ Genesis 41:57 Brothers and sisters, if you have been keeping up with the news recently you may have begun to ask some serious quest...
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'Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’’ Genesis 41:38 Brothers and sisters, as we continue our series on Genesis, we finall...
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[Joseph said] 'when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness’ Genesis 40:14 Brothers and sisters, this week the news has been full of talk of the Prime Minister. Reme...
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‘the Lord was with him […] and granted [Joseph] favour in the eyes of the prison warder.’ Genesis 39:21 Brothers and sisters, you may have heard a Christian say,‘God ha...
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‘Here comes that dreamer!’ Joseph’s brothers said, ‘Come now, let’s kill him’. Genesis 37:19-20 Brothers and sisters, when I was a boy I was in to all things...
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‘[Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons and he made an ornate robe for him’ Genesis 37:3 Brothers and sisters, for the uninitiated having a conductor—or choir ma...
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‘Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’’ Genesis 22:8 Brothers and sisters, when I was 11 years old I went on a camp near Winder...
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‘Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.’ Genesis 21:1 Brothers and sisters, ‘Go, for I promise to catch you’ was w...
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'Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ Genesis 18:25 Brothers and sisters, Amelie, my daughter, is just getting to the stage where her sense of justice and injustice is starting to sho...
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‘[Abraham] brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before [the three strangers]. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.’ Genesis 18:8...
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‘I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers […] every male among you shall be circumcised. ’ Genesis 17:2,10 Brothers and sisters, growi...
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‘[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me’’ Genesis 16:13 Brothers and sisters, one of the remarkable parts of pregnancy was getting t...
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‘Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.’ Genesis 15:6 Brothers and sisters, the past year and a half has been difficult for all of us. The pandemic has force...
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‘The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’ Genesis 12:1 Brothers and sisters, now-a-days most o...
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‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’ ...
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'Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh […] Make yourself an ark of cypress wood...
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'Cain said to Abel, ‘Let us go out to the field.’ And [then], Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him […] the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him ...
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'the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid’ Genesis 3:9-10 Brothers and s...
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'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth […] and indeed, it was very good.’ Genesis 1:1, 31b Brothers and sisters, we begin today a series in the Book of Genesis, a series...
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I hope that many have found ways to pray at home during the lockdown. As we approach Ascension you might like to join the Archbishop of Canterbury's venture to pray especially from Ascension to Pentec...
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As we have now moved to an even stricter regime it is critical for our own spiritual health and for the good of the nation that we are all praying on a regular basis. Some may not have done this befor...
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