Author Archives: tim

A Call to Action

On the 13th of May, 1940, a new Prime Minister stood up to speak in the Palace of Westminster. It was his first speech to the House of Commons, having replaced the previous leader of the government three days earlier. As the United Kingdom prepared to enter perhaps the most dangerous period of the war, […]

November 12, 2009 – 12:55 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How much is enough?

He ran up to Jesus. He knelt. He must have thought a lot of Jesus. He knelt in the road. He must have heard and been impressed by Jesus’ teaching. He knelt in the road, in the dust. How highly must he have rated Jesus. Have you ever run up to someone and knelt in […]

October 12, 2009 – 2:12 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

A hot favourite?

Imagine a meeting. With all the words about courts and judges, James is probably picturing a kind of court room, a place where disputes are sorted out, maybe even between fellow Christians. So, picture the scene, the church has gathered to sort out a disagreement between two of its members. The first one arrives, looking […]

September 6, 2009 – 1:17 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

It’s the Law

What is happening to this ball? What happens when I let go of it ? Why does that happen? Does it make any difference who drops it? Will it always fall? Dropping this ball illustrates the law of Gravity. This morning I’d like us to think about some different kinds of law that crop up […]

August 30, 2009 – 2:23 pm | By tim | Posted in Cobridge | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Memories

I’ve spent a fair amount of time this week talking to people about what things used to be like. I’ve been with families preparing for the funerals of their loved ones, who remember what family life used to be like when they were growing up. I’ve had conversations with people living in Cavour Street in […]

July 19, 2009 – 10:47 am | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Say no to cynicism.

Cynicism. Ezekiel faced cynics, Jesus faced cynics, and Paul faced cynics. Those of little faith. Those who could not see past the ordinary. Past the slightly odd priest who was prone to have visions and dreams that were hard to understand. Past the man who we grew up with, whose brothers and sisters we know. […]

July 9, 2009 – 8:20 am | By tim | Posted in Birches Head, Shelton | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Speaking into Silence

I wonder how you feel about silence. What your story of silence is. Last week, when I went on retreat before my ordination, we spent a fair amount of time in what we called silence. But it wasn’t really. Although we weren’t speaking to each other, there was still the sound of the pipes rattling […]

June 30, 2009 – 1:01 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Children of God

I’m really pleased to be here, with the opportunity to preach this morning. Of course, I’m always enjoy preaching, especially to such a fine bunch of folks as you lot, but today I’m especially excited. That is because today is Trinity Sunday, and I love the Trinity. I think that it is one of the […]

June 9, 2009 – 12:23 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Chosen?

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” Jesus spoke these words to his friends and followers nearly two thousand years ago, and I believe that he continues to speak them to us today. Maybe it will help us to hear them […]

June 2, 2009 – 10:32 am | By tim | Posted in Cobridge | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

F’s for Fruitfulness

As some of you may know, I have a vegetable plot. It’s not a very big vegetable plot, but it has produced its first crop this year. Some spinach. Not very much spinach so far, but enough for a couple of salads and a meal for Liz and me. The rest of the plants divide […]

May 10, 2009 – 4:25 pm | By tim | Posted in Shelton | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)