by Samuel Smithson | Dec 14, 2015 | Uncategorized
So we find ourselves once again in the season of Advent when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus – God made flesh – as a tiny baby 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. But Advent is also about preparing ourselves to be ready for Jesus’ second coming – and today’s...
by Samuel Smithson | Nov 28, 2015 | Uncategorized
Today’s Old Testament passage is the third of the four so-called “servant songs” in the second part of Isaiah, which we’ve been looking at recently. Written around 680 BC the “Suffering Servant” which these passages speak about, point to Jesus, the Messiah...
by Samuel Smithson | Oct 18, 2015 | Uncategorized
Luke 11 verses 45 to 54 In today’s gospel reading from Luke we see Jesus being very critical of the religious leaders of his day – in particular the Pharisees and teachers of the law. So firstly who were these people? Well the Pharisees were a Jewish religious party...
by Samuel Smithson | Sep 15, 2015 | Uncategorized
How would you assess the state of All Saint’s church? What about the Diocese of Rochester…? Or the C of E…? If God decided to tell you what he thought of All Saints, what would he say to you, his people, here? The book of Isaiah begins with God’s verdict on his...
by Samuel Smithson | Aug 14, 2015 | Uncategorized
I think there is a link between today’s readings – and I think the link is about God wanting to share his abundant life with us – and for us then to share that abundant life with us others. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul prays that the Ephesian church may...
