Dealing with Guilt

Kerry & Phil feel guilty. They’re recently married and have settled down in their first home. Kerry has found out she’s pregnant and, during the usual pre-natal tests, the couple has discovered that their child is likely to have a serious disability. They don’t believe that an abortion is the right thing to do, so the pregnancy continues until their baby daughter is born. They love their little girl to bits, but they can’t shake off the feeling that somehow her disability is their fault. Kerry and Phil feel guilty. Read more

How can I know God’s will?

I want to begin with a story, a story about Quester and Guardian.  I hope you can tell who these characters might represent.  Quester had been brought up to live a purposeful existence; accomplish something, having a goal, a point of arrival.  Yet, as much as Quester loved being with Guardian and exploring the world together; they didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, they seemed simply to be going.  Then one afternoon Quester’s fears were confirmed.  As they continued their journey together, they entered a forest and were following a rocky path when they came to a fork in the road. 
‘Which way do we go, Guardian?’  Quester asked.
‘Which way do you want to go?’
‘You want me to decide which path to take?’
‘Yes.  Which way do we go?’ replied Guardian
Quester paused, confused.  Read more

Friends & Friendship (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; John 15:12-15)

Two little boys were the best of friends. As they grew up, their friendship only deepened. One became a teacher and the other a vicar. So strong was their friendship as adults they would meet each week for coffee at the local coffee shop, no matter what else might be happening. After one such meeting, they shook hands and started to part ways. One was parked in front of the coffee shop and the other behind it. Each went to his car and when one of them came around from the back, the other was turning from the front … and they collided. There they were, stuck in the street with both cars dented. After making sure the other was safe, the teacher begged the vicar that this incident would not hurt their lifelong friendship. The vicar agreed, reached into the glove compartment, and pulled out a small flask of whisky and two communion cups. He poured one full and handed it to the teacher and said, ’Here, let’s drink to our friendship.’ The teacher said, ’Here’s to our friendship,’ and knocked it. As the vicar put the whisky back in his glove compartment, the teacher asked him if he was also going to drink to their friendship and the vicar said, ’Yes, but I am going to wait until after the police leave first.’ Read more

What Makes a Good Priest? (2 Corinthians 4:1-12; John 21:15-19)

What makes a good priest? I’ll begin with a story that I know I’ve told a few of you that concerns my appointment to my last parish. I was told this story shortly after my arrival

When my predecessor left Immanuel & St Andrew Streatham, the leadership met together to begin thinking about finding a new Vicar. The Church Council met one evening. Very soon everyone was agreeing that, with such a large Vicarage on the side of Streatham Common and with a large number of young families in the church, it was a good idea to have what they called a ‘family man’ as Vicar (as if there were ever a man who did not come from a family!). Everyone agreed. Everyone except Eno, a Nigerian man with a large family himself. He never said a lot a PCC but when he did, it was worth listening to. “Here,” said Eno, “if we carry on like this, Jesus wouldn’t get the job.” And so the PCC realised that it was going in the wrong direction. And eventually I – a single man – became Vicar. And we had a great time together – a great time for God, I think, and a great time for the Parish. Read more