Bread and Circuses

What do you think about the idea of a personal devil...a real 'Satan' who tempts people to turn away from God? What do you think 'the devil' was doing during the Temptation of Jesus in the desert?  These are some of questions that I wrestle with in tomorrow's sermon.  Please click here to read it.

Dust and Ashes

What's all this ashing about then?  Why do Christians mark themselves with Ash Crosses tomorrow?  To read my Ash Wednesday sermon, please click here.

Mountaintop Experiences

Ever had a mountaintop experience that you didn't want to end?  Last Sunday's sermon had some reflections on that theme, prompted by the story of the Transfiguration.  To read the sermon, please click here

Stilling the Storm - Trusting in God

We've had another African Bishop staying with us this weekend.  Bishop Edmund from Ghana has been reminding me, simply by his conversation, of how differently African Christians trust in God.  If you want to read tomorrow's sermon, which includes some reflections on this, please click here

We're on a Mission from God!

The Blues Brothers believed they were on a Mission from God...so did the Taliban who attacked the Government buildings in Kabul last week.

What does a mission from God actually look like? To think a little more about that, you might want to read tomorrow's sermon. To do so,  please click here

Wise Men versus the Astrologers

Have you ever wondered why the story of the Wise Men who followed a star is a key part of the Christian story, while at the same time the church has always condemned astrology?  This sermon might give you an angle on that.  To read it click here.

New Facebook Page

I've started a new Facebook page for St Mark's - for those who are into such things :-)

If you have a  Facebook account, and want to become a 'friend' of St Marks - click on the link above.  You will then receive occasional messages alerting you to upcoming events.

The Second Coming

After two thousand years of promises that Jesus will soon return, what are we to make of the prophecies of the Second Coming?

To consider some ideas on that theme, please click here to read today's sermon for Advent.

We will remember them...

We will remember them.

I had a wonderful time at one of our local schools this morning. After thinking about what it means to 're-member' (i.e. to put something or someone back together in our mind) I invited the whole school to stand in silence for two minutes. Some of the smaller children didn't quite get it...but most of the school did amazingly well. Kids today are not used to such a discipline, and Northern Parade Junior School did themselves (and our armed peace-makers) proud.

Later, at 11.00am, I went down to my church. I rang the bell 11 times at 11 o'clock, and then stood to attention at the front of the church. I was surprised, and rather disappointed, that no-one in the street outside the church bothered to join me, or even to stop for a moment (even in a military/naval town like Portsmouth). They carried on walking past, with arms full of shopping. I suppose I should not be surprised...but how sad for those who have given their lives for us to have the freedom to go shopping (among many other freedoms) to have their sacrifice so callously dis-regarded.

To read what I hope is a thought-provoking meditation/sermon for Armistice/Remembrance Day, please click here. It was preached on Sunday, and again this morning at our 10am Armistice Day service.

The Dead are Raised!

To read last Sunday's Sermon for All Saints Sunday, please click here