Readings: Acts 16-14; John 17:1-11 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain. Citizens of a different kingdom Friends, it was a former Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who allegedly coined the phrase, A week is a long time in politics. Well, we’ve seen that in the UK over the past few days. Local council elections, mayoral contests, devolved parliament results — all reshaping the political landscape. Questions raised about the suitability of

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-end; Luke 24:44-end Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain. What were the chances of that? Katherine Brunt, Arran Brindle, Charlotte Edwards, Clare Connor, Lydia Greenway, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Beth Morgan, Laura Newton, Jane Smit, Claire Taylor. The names of eleven women. Do you recognise them? Well, these were the England women cricketers who won the Ashes Series against Australia in 2005. This was the sa

Readings: Acts 17:22-31; John 14:15-21 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain. People of Woodside! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around the St James’ campus and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I found the Parish Centre, the Horsforth Shed, the Horsforth Pantry, and this fine building. I even found a banner with this inscription: TRY PRAYING. Now, I’ve borrowed that opening from Paul’s sermon in Athens

Readings: Acts 7:55-end; John 14:1-14 Today’s reflection is by Reader, Pete Gillions. If this passage from John was accompanied with mood music, it would be dark and foreboding because Jesus is well aware that he will soon be facing His death. Jesus is together with His disciples and John gives us a very intimate insight into Jesus trying to assure his disciples. What is very clear to see is that the disciples desperately struggle to understand what is really going on. But i

Readings: Acts 2:42-end; John 10:1-10 Today’s reflection is by Reader, Cal Bailey. Getting to know another person well is both exciting and scary. As I was getting to know Jo, while we were courting, I remember her calling time occasionally by saying “That’s a bit up close and personal.” It was her way of saying ‘We’re going fast enough. Don’t get too close too soon.’ Adam and Eve came to a moment when God was getting up close and personal with them in the garden after

Readings: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Luke 24:13-35 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain: Resurrection faith: open mind, open heart, open eyes Among another stream of crazy international and political news headlines this week, there was a more domestic story that caught my attention; a recent report highlighting the academic underachievement of girls from poorer or, as the report framed it, working class families. Sadly, not perhaps a surprising headlin

Readings: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; John 20:19-end Today’s reflection is by Reader, Pete Gillions: A film called ’ The Man Who Crossed Hitler ‘, set in Berlin in summer 1931 gives a biographical account of one man, Hans Litten, a German lawyer who represented in court opponents of the Nazis. He actually cross-examined Hitler in person, something Hitler never forgot or forgave. Later in 1933 as Hitler came to power he ordered Litten’s arrest. What happened next really challenged m

Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 28:1-10 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain: The laughter begins There’s a television show called Last One Laughing. Ten comedians are locked in a room for six hours. Their task is simple: make everyone else laugh while keeping a straight face themselves. The first smile or titter earns a yellow card. A second earns a red card and you’re out. The winner is the last one laughing. During the show, each contestant is

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-end of 53; Psalm 22; John18:1-end of 19 Today’s reflection was prepared by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain. The cross and the world ‘It is finished’ is what Jesus cries out from the cross. His ordeal is over. He has gone through all human experience, save death which is about to take him. He has walked this sorrowful path with passion and dignity, and it is over. It is finished. And yet there’s more to this. The New Testament writers invite us t

Readings: John 13:1-17,31b-35 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain: Two birthdays Have you ever wondered why the British monarch has two birthdays? One real, one official. One private, one public. One celebrated quietly, the other marked with ceremony and spectacle. Apparently, the tradition goes back to 1748 and King George II, who shifted his official birthday to the summer months so the celebrations could take place in better weather. The privat

Readings: Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 Today’s reflection is by Reader, Cal Bailey. I wonder if you like watching videos of the 10 greatest tries in rugby, or the 10 best goals in football or the top sixes in cricket? I think the video of this event in chapter 11 of John’s gospel, the illness, death and raising of Lazarus, will be in the top 10 in heaven, because it has everything in it. It speaks loudly to our world of illness, pain, and violence. The gospel of John is locate

Readings: Exodus 2:1-10; Luke 2:33-35 Today’s reflection is by the Vicar, the Revd Canon Jonathan Cain. Holy Ground Preaching is always to be approached with humility and care; perhaps never more so on a Sunday like today, Mothering Sunday. In our tradition this was the day to return to worship at your mother church, the place where you were baptised and first nurtured in faith. In more recent times, the church has absorbed the secular and originally American custom of