by Samuel Smithson | Jan 10, 2016 | Uncategorized
Both of today’s readings are about the third person of the Trinity – God the Holy Spirit. And this morning I’d just like to say a few words about the Holy Spirit and then look briefly at these two passages and see how they’re relevant for us today. Firstly, the Holy...
by Samuel Smithson | Dec 14, 2015 | Uncategorized
In this passage we meet John the Baptist the prophet sent by God to prepare the hearts of the Jewish people to receive Jesus as their Messiah. There hadn’t been a prophet in Israel for about 400 years – so John’s entry onto the scene caused quite a stir – and some...
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...
