On this fourth Sunday in Advent we are invited to share in the joy of those who recognised and realised the truth of God’s coming. They proclaimed their songs of joy amidst and despite the realities that confronted them. For Mary this required costly and sacrificial acceptance; for Simeon it meant …
Third Sunday in Advent – The peace of the Lord.
On this third Sunday in Advent we are invited to hear that voice from the desert calling us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” We light what many call the candle of peace, yet do so in a world that is wracked with war and conflict. Nation sides with nation to build and break strongholds; one rule …
First Sunday in Advent – The Word of the Lord.
As Advent begins, the repercussions of Brexit and the election of an unexpected candidate as U.S. president continue to echo. The message of the moment is that nothing is certain anymore. And for every unexpected outcome there are uncertain consequences. Yet in this season we are reminded of the …
Second Sunday in Advent – The love of the Lord
As our journey through advent continues, stories from Syria, Iraq and many less-noticed parts of the world sadden and disturb us. People remain the victims of war, conflict and oppression. Attitudes of hatred and division give way to acts of violence and persecution, causing many to flee to places …
After the Referendum – a recommitment to the Common Good
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) This week the people of the UK have made the significant decision to leave the European Union. Across our communities, including in …
The refugees’ story – a reflection
For two days now we had hardly slept or eaten. We just kept on walking, following the refugee trail, seeking to put as much distance as we could between ourselves and those who wished us certain harm. Even now I fear every noise and every stranger; the images of heartless slaughter still etched into …
What does the Lord require of us?
Revd Phil Jump offers some reflections in response to the refugee crisis. Our faith identity is rooted in stories of migration. Abraham left his home in Ur in response to God’s call and promise – and the story of Moses and the Exodus remains a defining narrative for Jews and Christians alike. …
A Prayer for the Situation in Calais
The Rev Phil Jump, Regional Minister for the North Western Baptist Association and JPIT Team Member from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, has prepared this prayer to coincide with the publication today of a joint statement by our church leaders on the situation in Calais. God of all …
Praying after the Election
‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The words above come from Psalm 46. They are a response to several realities that the Psalmist outlines in earlier verses; not least that “nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall”. We might not …
The challenge of Palm Sunday
There are many ways in which God’s people are called to worship; sometimes through the great words of a Psalm, maybe a choral anthem, a shared recited response, or perhaps a simple invitation through silence and stillness to “tune in” to his presence. However we are summoned – worship is an …