asadmin A brief break from John, to commemorate Candlemas – ‘the presentation of Christ in the temple’ – which is today: I love this story. I make no apologies for taking a brief pause to include it in this week’s Inspirations. Simeon has got to be one of my favourite characters in the Bible. He only … Read more
The Trinity is an eternal mystery – God who is three-in-one and one-in-three, perfect unity and also perfect community: Father, Son and Spirit. They are all equally God, but they also have different roles or functions as part of the Godhead. Today’s passage is a case in point. Jesus is the complete and representation of … Read more
If you want to know exactly what God is like, look at Jesus. Such has been the conclusion of church leaders and scholars down the centuries. For example, Archbishop Michael Ramsey famously declared: ‘God is Christlike, and in him is no un-Christlikeness at all.’ But this is not one of those statements that has been fathomed out … Read more
‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.’ So begins the sixth chapter of the great prophet Isaiah, someone who was privileged to witness what few people ever get the chance to see in this life: … Read more
At this time of year, we are familiar with the idea of light not lasting very long! In fact, as I write this reflection mid-afternoon, Jesus’ words ‘you are going to have the light just a little while longer’ rings true in a very literal sense. At this time of year, any tasks which require … Read more
Human beings have long associated glory with elevation. The winner of a gold medal stands on the top step, higher than those who come second or third (or lower). A monarch usually sits on a seat which is raised off the ground. Even in old churches, it is traditional to have at least one step … Read more
If you watch a programme nowadays you may hear this message before it begins, or written near the top of the opening scene: ‘Warning: may contain content unsuitable for some viewers.’ A similar ‘warning’ could well be applied to our passage for today. It begins with some unexpected visitors – and here we can see … Read more
Big Basics, our group for 14 – 18 years olds starts back next Sunday, 1st February from 4.00 – 5.30 pm, for a new Spring series called “Faith Confirmed”. It’s for everyone who took part in last Autumn’s programme, and also forms the preparation course for those 14-18s who may be interested in baptism and/ or … Read more
This week is the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today, we skip forward a few chapters in John to honour the importance of this week, and what it means for us. This is a subject dear to our hearts, since our team of churches in Walton is an ecumenical one: that is, we … Read more
If you like watching thrillers, you’ll know the moment in the story when the tables turn. The heroes have their backs against the wall – but suddenly the very thing that their captors or enemies thought they had under their control is turned against them, and the heroes prevail. The idea repeats itself so often … Read more