1st Sunday of the Kingdom Readings: Deuteronomy 6. 1-9; Psalm 119. 1-8; Hebrews 9. 11-14; Mark 12. 28-34 (view all) I have a real problem with writing long sentences. Particularly when I was studying for ordination, I used to ask my wife Amy to proofread my essays, and she’d often have to cut down the huge sentences I’d written which were sometimes three or four lines long. It was always a difficult process having to choose what to prioritise, what […]

Last Sunday after Trinity Readings: Jeremiah 31. 7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7. 23-28; Mark 10. 46-52 (view all) One of the wonders of modern technology is ‘call screening’ — you can now see who is phoning you before you take their call. I wonder whether, for whatever reason, you ever see who’s calling and decide to ignore it. Perhaps because you know it’s a marketing call, or because you’re busy, or don’t have time for that person. I know I’ve […]

Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity Readings: Isaiah 53. 4-12; Psalm 91. 9-16; Hebrews 5. 1-10; Mark 10. 35-45 (view all) Not long ago, Amy, Evie and I went across to St Fagan’s for the day, and discovered that they have a new attraction — a high ropes course! You are harnessed in and taken up a long staircase until you are at the tops of the trees, and then have to negotiate your way around various tightropes and other obstacles, ending […]

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Readings: Joshua 24. 1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34. 15-22; Ephesians 6. 10-20; John 6. 56-69 (view all) One of the most terrifying days of my life so far was the day when Evie, my daughter was born. Amy, my wife, had been in labour for over 24 hours and nothing was happening, so the doctors decided that she needed to have a C-section. So Amy was taken to be prepared for theatre, and I was taken to […]

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Readings: Proverbs 9. 1-6; Psalm 34. 9-14; Ephesians 5. 15-20; John 6. 51-58 (view all) I was brought up in a very active Christian family, and so, throughout my childhood, believing the things that Christians believed and doing the things that Christians did, especially in church, just seemed normal to me. I can remember the period in my early teens when I began to realise, though, that what I thought was normal wasn’t necessarily what was normal […]

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Readings: 1 Kings 19. 4-8; Psalm 34 1-8; Ephesians 4.25 – 5.2; John 6. 35, 41-51 (view all) I have to confess that I love that feeling of being absolutely full. Whether it’s after a nice Sunday roast, or whether Amy and I have ordered a cheeky takeaway after Evie has gone to bed, and as usual ordered far too much food for ourselves. That sense of leaning back in your seat with a full stomach, […]

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Readings: 2 Kings 4. 42-44; Psalm 145. 10-18; Ephesians 3. 14-21; John 6. 1-21 (view all) It’s everyone’s worst nightmare isn’t it? You throw a dinner party, you lay the food out, and then more and more people arrive and you realise there isn’t enough to go around. Perhaps that’s why, when we entertain, we so often put on so much food that there’s heaps left over. In both our Old Testament and Gospel Readings, we’re […]

Feast of Mary Magdalene Readings: Song of Solomon 3. 1-4; Psalm 42. 1 – 8; 2 Corinthians 5. 14-17; John 20. 1, 2, 11-18 (view all) My Father’s side of the family are North Yorkshire farmers, so I have lots of fantastic memories growing up of going to visit the farm. I also remember being jealous of the exciting things that my cousins were able to do growing up, like hand-rearing lambs and riding cross country motorbikes around the fields. […]

Seventh Sunday after Trinity Readings: Amos 7. 7-15; Psalm 85. 8-13; Ephesians 1. 3-14; Mark 6. 14-29 (view all) I’m afraid this morning I need to get off my chest that I’ve failed as your priest this week. I confess before you and before God that I did sneak away early from the Ladies’ Forum Eucharist on Wednesday night so I could watch the end of the England match! It was a dramatic night, and a real mix of emotions. […]

Sixth Sunday after Trinity Readings: Ezekiel 2. 1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12. 2-10; Mark 6. 1-13 (view all) I’ve always been fiercely independent — my parents tell me that growing up my catchphrase was always ‘I can do it myself!’ In fact, there’s one famous story from when I must have been around five or six years old, and my parents had decided to redecorate my bedroom in our brand new house. So we went to the shops together […]