New Kid on the Blog

A colleague, who is also a great friend, found herself all of a tiz over other things happening in her ministry and asked if I had a sermon for the 4th Before Advent Year A on file anywhere - well, it seems that I have never preached on this particular Sunday before, so I set about writing a sermon that may well never be preached by me!  I may use this as inspiration for the same week in three years time when the same readings come up again, but don't know if I will want to say exactly the same thing!!!  This is a taster, the whole of the sermon can be found at New Kid Deep Stuff by clicking on /more/ 4 Before Advent (2011) Year A RCL Principal Micah 3.5-12 / 1 Thessalonians 2.9-13 / Matthew 24.1-14 The End Is Nigh! You have to feel sorry for Harold Campion.  Perhaps you heard his name on the news back in May when on the 21st of May this chap predicted with absolute certainty that the end of the world was coming and that the world would be destroy...

Today was one of those days that had a bit of the 'duty and the joy' about it... For those who don't recognise the reference it comes from the Eucharist Prayers of the Alternative Service Book 1980 - when the priest begins the prayer at Communion with these words (traditionally called the 'Sursum Corda') the congregation's responses are in bold type: The Lord be with you And also with you  Lift up your hearts We lift them up unto the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God   It is right to give thanks and praise  It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy , at all times and in all places to give you thanks and praise.... etc Sometimes having that role of priest and pastor to the people of God feels like a joy, other times it feels much more like a duty.  Today saw a lot of the joy - after an oversleep start to the day I made it to my 9am service with minutes to spare, and it was lovely - sparsely attended, but that happens s...