Nativity of John the Baptist Readings: Isaiah 40. 1-11; Psalm 85. 5-12; Acts 13. 14b-26; Luke 1. 57-66, 80 (view all) As I’m sure you can imagine, my wife Amy and I have lots of conversations about our daughter, Evie. What kind of person would we like her to grow up to become? What will she be like when she’s older? What career path will she choose? Who is it that God might be calling her to be? In this […]

Third Sunday after Trinity Readings: Ezekiel 17. 22-24; Psalm 92. 1-4, 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5. 6-10, 14-17; Mark 4. 26-34 (view all) Some of you may well know that earlier in the year I turned thirty. Lots of people, including my younger brother and sister, were jokingly asking me whether I feel old now. But to be honest, it didn’t feel like that big a step at all. However, a few years ago when I was just on the cusp […]

Second Sunday after Trinity Readings: Genesis 3.8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4.13 – 5.1; Mark 3.20-35 (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 and they […]

Third Sunday after Trinity Readings: Ezekiel 17. 22-24; Psalm 92. 1-4, 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5. 6-10, 14-17; Mark 4. 26-34 (view all) Some of you may well know that earlier in the year I turned thirty. Lots of people, including my younger brother and sister, were jokingly asking me whether I feel old now. But to be honest, it didn’t feel like that big a step at all. However, a few years ago when I was just on the cusp […]

Second Sunday after Trinity Readings: Genesis 3.8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4.13 – 5.1; Mark 3.20-35 (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 and they […]

First Sunday after Trinity Readings: Deuteronomy 5. 12-15; Psalm 81. 1-10; 2 Corinthians 4. 5-12, Mark 2.23 – 3.6 (view all) I wonder whether you have a ‘claim to fame’ — a story of when you came across someone famous. My best story is about the time I had a kebab with Ed Sheeran, the singer songwriter. Some of my friends had met him at a gig in London and persuaded him to come to Newport and play for a […]

Trinity Sunday Readings: Isaiah 6.1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8.12-17; John 3.1-17 (view all) I wonder whether you’ve ever had one of those deep, late night conversations. The kind of philosophical conversation that takes place, usually after a few drinks, where you and those with you put the world to rights together. I can remember plenty of those kinds of conversations when I was studying — sometimes we would end up reaching a place of agreement and deeper understanding, but often […]

First Sunday after Trinity Readings: Deuteronomy 5. 12-15; Psalm 81. 1-10; 2 Corinthians 4. 5-12, Mark 2.23 – 3.6 (view all) I wonder whether you have a ‘claim to fame’ — a story of when you came across someone famous. My best story is about the time I had a kebab with Ed Sheeran, the singer songwriter. Some of my friends had met him at a gig in London and persuaded him to come to Newport and play for a […]

Trinity Sunday Readings: Isaiah 6.1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8.12-17; John 3.1-17 (view all) I wonder whether you’ve ever had one of those deep, late night conversations. The kind of philosophical conversation that takes place, usually after a few drinks, where you and those with you put the world to rights together. I can remember plenty of those kinds of conversations when I was studying — sometimes we would end up reaching a place of agreement and deeper understanding, but often […]

Pentecost Readings: Acts 2. 1-21; Psalm 104. 24-36; Romans 8. 22-27; John 15. 26-27; 16. 4b-15 (view all) I wonder you managed to catch the Royal Wedding yesterday? It’s one of those events, depending on what kind of person you are, where you either have to catch it at all costs or you’ve been desperately trying to avoid it. As I was watching the wedding, the thing that all the TV commentators kept saying was that it was a ‘game-changing’ […]