I tend to think that the Epistle shouldn’t be read in church. It’s usually knotty in argument and not easy to take in fully at one go. It doesn’t work well when read in a “churchy” voice – it demands someone like Paul, truculent, opinionated, uncompromising. Jeremy Clarkson would be ideal. And then, when youRead more

(plus Harvest supplement) Leviticus 24: 19-20 (NIV) 19 Anyone who injures his neighbour is to be injured in the same manner: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. Below are questions which would take a far greater theological mind than mine to answer properly,Read more

God, where are you in all this? There doesn’t seem to be anything good going on in the world right now, don’t you think? When you watch the news, read the newspaper or overhear a polite conversation, the status quo is more often one of doom and gloom than anything remotely cheerful or heartening inRead more

“Not not a Christian” Home (where, as Paul Simon says, my thought’s escaping) figures a lot in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the House of God travelled as a tabernacle with the Israelites as they searched to find and secure a homeland (an ongoing narrative, as we know only too well) where a permanentRead more

Last Sunday at Cooksmill Green, we celebrated our 160th anniversary. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, we had an inspiring service and enjoyed a picnic lunch together in the garden after. All ages together, everything it seems was in harmony – some might say it was even a little taste of heaven… OneRead more

“Man’s ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if they had to be restrained by fear of punishment, and hope of reward after death” – Albert Einstein Einstein the scientist, presents us with a very humanistic ideology onRead more

In these days of financial and political turmoil, you might well be considering an evening of relaxation at the theatre. In which case, I imagine that Shakespeare may not necessarily be your first choice of escapist entertainment, and even if he is, then his greatest tragedy, “King Lear”, is unlikely to have you singing itsRead more

Here we are, two thirds of the way through Lent, just two weeks to go before the glorious celebrations of Easter Sunday. But will we be celebrating? We’ll come back to that. Last Month Danny reminded us of the three pillars of Lenten observance offered by the church, abstinence, prayer and alms giving. I wonderRead more

Feel like giving up? In a few days we will be into our seasonal observance of Lent, hopefully each making our own commemorative journey towards that most precious moment in time, when a sacrifice, borne out of love, was given to save the world, a life freely given in suffering to save each of us,Read more

Sun, sea, and Santa Like most church organists, from time to time I crave a break from the rigours of Christmas services and umpteen performances of the same old carols. Previously this has been impossible to find – Israel and sundry Muslim countries all seem to cater for tourists who might be missing their firstRead more