What I said this Sunday – Easter 7

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Father Jerry

My sermon for this week.

John 17.6-19

Going on a journey abroad is a complicated and stressful business. It doesn’t matter how much you want to get to where you are going, sometimes sorting out the journey can seem more trouble than it’s worth. You might be going somewhere near enough to travel by train or ferry, but travel further afield and you need flights. Tickets need to be booked – and that is a task in itself. Nothing so simple as a flat rate for air tickets – prices go up and down from month to month and picking the right time to buy them when they are at their cheapest is an art. And then you have to make sure you’ve booked and paid for the essentials that some airlines now think are extras – like luggage. Read more »

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Ascension Day

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Father Jerry

This Thursday (17th) is Ascension Day. Masses at St John’s at 10am and Sung Mass for the whole Team at 8pm.

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What I said last Sunday for our Patronal

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Father Jerry

Last Sunday we kept the feast of Saint John before the Latin Gate, which we keep as our Patronal Festival. It was only while writing this week’s sermon that I realised I had forgotten to post last week’s. Here it is, somewhat belatedly.

John 21.19-end

Most clergy are only too happy to have a church without a burial ground surrounding it. The problem is that the rules and regulations governing burial grounds are so complex. And the restrictions on what the Church of England will allow in terms of headstones, of what can be written on them, of what they may be made, and of what you may place on a grave, are very rigid. Get it wrong, and the Diocesan Registrar will come down upon you like a ton of bricks. Read more »

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What I said this Sunday – Easter 4

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Father Jerry

Here’s my sermon for this Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday.

John 10.11-18

Every year on this 4th Sunday of Easter we keep what has become known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Now, since we kept Good Shepherd Sunday last year it’s not been a good year in the sheep world – for on the 4th Jun 2011, that great icon of sheepdom, Shrek the sheep, passed away. Read more »

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What I said this Sunday – Easter 3

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Father Jerry

Luke 24.36b-48

A ghost walked into a pub, went up to the bar and said to the landlord, “Can I have a brandy please?” “I’m sorry,” said the landlord, “we don’t serve spirits!”

I wonder if any of you have ever seen a ghost, or had a ghostly experience. Read more »

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Alleluia!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Father Jerry

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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Easter Day services

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Father Jerry

A reminder that we begin at 5.30am in the morning, before sunrise, with the Easter Fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. We expect to finish about 8am with the gospel reading of Jesus preparing breakfast on the seashore for the disciples. After which we head over to the hall for breakfast ourselves. For those who can’t manage to get up so early, our Parish Mass, at which we will bless the Easter garden, is at the usual time of 10am.

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Sermons for Holy Week – Good Friday Liturgy

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Father Jerry

The final sermon for Good Friday, preached at the Liturgy, was from Mother Anne-Marie. Good to see so many more people there this year!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This is our God, the Servant King. If you have been with us during the two hours preceding this service you will have been listening to reflections on this hymn written by the contemporary hymn writer, Graham Kendrick. Read more »

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Sermons for Holy Week – Good Friday 5

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Father Jerry

Sermon number five, based on the chorus from The Servant King, was from me.

Reading – Mark 9.33; 2 Corinthians 14.5-11

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. Read more »

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Sermons for Holy Week – Good Friday 4

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Father Jerry

Mother Anne-Marie’s turn to preach, sermon number four.

Reading: Colossians 3.1-4, Matthew 25.31-40

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me Read more »

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