https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56665 Jesus continues to school his disciples about love and trust and how we live. The story from the gospel this week is one that is easy to distort into a simple moral comparison or flatten into a basic exemplar of trust. I don't know about you, but when I hear the term "widow", I… Continue reading What does trust look like?

Call to worship In stillness and rest you are present Lord God. In action and activity, you are alongside us, In the silence of our days, in the noise of laughter and talk, In our waiting, in our waiting, in our waiting You are here, standing close. Embrace us with your love as we worship… Continue reading Love God and neighbour= love as love is

Call to worship We seek your presence, O God, not because we have managed to see clearly or been true in all things. Not because we have succeeded in loving or reverencing those around us. But because we want to see with clarity, Because we long to be true And desire to love as we… Continue reading Courage, Compassion, Commitment

The next story in Mark's account is one that offers us an opportunity to reflect on our own journey 'on the way'. You can read it below, or listen if your prefer Mark 10:46-52 and the full lectionary texts can be found here. lectionary readings, NRSV This story of healing the blind man Bartimaeus offers… Continue reading Bartimaeus is on the way

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=50316 Call to worship As he walked by a lake, Jesus called people to follow him. And immediately, immediately they left their work and went with him. As Jesus journeys through our lives, he asks us to follow him. In this moment, we have another chance to join with him as God is moving in,… Continue reading Leading and Serving – the Way of Christ

Although we've had several instances recently of the disciples being schooled about power, authority, status, service and humility, it seems they are as slow as we are to understand and integrate the values, priorities and qualities of the kingdom of God. Mark 10: 35-45 NRSV You can listen to the gospel reading above, or you… Continue reading One more time…squabbles over status

Candle lighting We light this flame to affirm that new life and lightis ever waiting to break through to enlighten our ways:that new truth is ever waitingto break through to illumine our minds,and that new love is ever waitingto break through to warm our hearts. May we be open to this light,and to the rich… Continue reading Rich in love

Image by un-perfekt from Pixabay The gospel reading this week is a well known story. To help you hear it freshly, I've recorded the message version here, but you can find all the lectionary readings (NRSV translation) here. Mark 10:17-31 As usual, listen to this text the first time with an ear open for the… Continue reading Giving it all away…

Call to worship We gather to worship as diverse peopleWe are a gift to each other from God. We come as we are,because it is God who invites us.We come as important partsof the body of Christ in this place. So together let us worship God who calls us, delights in us, and invites us… Continue reading Joining together

Despair of Job by William Blakehttps://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57697 The gospel reading this week is another hard one to stay with, especially if you or someone you care for has been through - or is going through - the pain of divorce. Mark 10:2-16 NRSV The full lectionary readings, which you can find here, give some context for… Continue reading tests and tricky questions