Seven Churches in South Oxfordshire

Warning Against Idleness

Remembrance Sermon, St John’s, November 13, 2016, 9.30am (non Communion). 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Warning against Idleness 6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we…

Elijah Flees from Jezebel

Parish Communion St Mary’s, Whitchurch on Thames June 19 2016, 9.30. 4th after Trinity: 1 Kings 19:1-16 Elijah Flees from Jezebel Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make…

Sermon – Buildings or Bodies

St Mary’s, W-O-T 2nd Sunday before Advent, 9.30 Parish Communion, November 15, 2015. Year B  Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25 11 And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’, 13and since…

Sermon – Advent Sunday 29th Nov 2015

Advent Sunday 2015. 29.11.15, St Mary’s Parish Communion, Whitchurch on Thames. Year C begins. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.…

Sermon – About a Child

Trinity 16B St Mary’s Parish Communion, Sept 20th 2015. James 3:13-4:3; 7-8a. Two Kinds of Wisdom Who is wise and undererstanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come…

Sermon – Advent Sunday 29th Dec 2015

Sermon for Advent Sunday   It is Advent, so this means time is very short now. We need to be ready, and we are not. Christmas is coming, and at the same time, we are told, I.S. is coming. Violent Islam is challenging Europe both physically, intellectually, and also spiritually. There is a war on, and, like our military in 1939, we…

Sermon – Belief

Nicodemus Belief (John 3:1-21) I stumbled on the steps going up to the roof, nearly pitching myself off into the darkness. I don’t know whether there was an uneven stone, or whether my foot caught on the hem of my robe. There was no moon that night and I could scarcely see. The stars were shining but their beauty was useless, as…

Sermon – Grief

David & Jonathan Grief (2 Samuel 1) You held out a bloody crown Smiled, and broke my heart. You made a mistake, Amalekite True to form, you murder the defenceless Your people picked off the stragglers in Sinai; You “happened by” when Saul, my King Needed rescue, bleeding, broken on Gilboa. But it is easier to fold a crown in a cloak…

Sermon – Terror

Belshazzar Terror (Daniel 5) I am the centre of the world I command, and gold runs Like wine through my fingers And a thousand princes gasp With wonder and applause. I am higher than the gods I clap my hands, and as A gesture we will drink with Chalices from temples of the nations Now you, my guests, are gods! I am…

Sermon – Lies

Abram Lies (Genesis 12:10-20) We travelled with the promises of God ringing in my head The children cried for joy at the sight of Canaan, but we drew away When those who were before us drew their swords. Hunger drove us on out of the sanctuary of the wilderness Thirst drove us down to beg for water at the Nile. Did God…