Thought for the Week

How to get what you want

Sunday 19th January 2025 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven … your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV) How to get what you want Have you heard of ‘manifesting’?  It has been defined as “the idea that, through the power

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Heading for Heaven

Sunday 12th January 2025 “In my Father’s house are many rooms.” John 14:2 (NIV) Heading for Heaven What is your idea of heaven?  Before reading on, it is worth pausing for a moment to picture what it is… My feeling is that our ideas of heaven are often individualistic and centred on pleasure.  It is

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Rejoice with the Magi at Epiphany

Sunday 5th January 2025  “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11 On 6th January in the church

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Christmas is weird

Sunday 22nd & 29th December 2024 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh. John 1:1, 14 (NIV) Christmas is weird In a recent interview with The Times, the Australian musician Nick Cave spoke of his experience of going to different churches:

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The Mystery of the Incarnation

Sunday 15th December 2024 The Word became flesh. He appeared in the flesh. John 1:14, 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) The Mystery of the Incarnation I have been enjoying reading our church devotional for Advent/Christmas, Sing in Exultation, in which the author Jonathan Landry Cruse helps us to explore some of our favourite carols (and also

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The Right to Choose

Sunday 8th December 2024 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) The Right to Choose It seems obvious that we should have the right to choose.  We choose which chocolate bar to buy, or we choose not

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Rejoicing in judgement

Sunday 1st December 2024 Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. Psalm 96:13 (NIV) Rejoicing in judgment This wonderful psalm ends by encouraging us to rejoice in God’s coming judgment.  That seems a

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What makes God sad

Sunday 24th November 2024 “I weep for you.” Jeremiah 48:32 (NIV) What makes God sad These words are most surprising, but to feel their force we need to understand who is weeping and for whom.  It is the LORD who is weeping, and he is weeping – most surprisingly – for the nation of Moab,

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‘Assisted Dying’

Sunday 17th November 2024 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. Genesis 9:6 (NIV) ‘Assisted Dying’ You will no doubt have heard debates in the media concerning a proposed law to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and

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Slow down

Sunday 3rd November 2024 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV)  Slow down We are used to saying that we can come confidently into the

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