REV STEPHEN GAMBLE

Acts 17: 22 – 31 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples mad

On 25 March, Dame Sarah Mullally was enthroned as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in a service at Canterbury Cathedral. Most of the media coverage concentrated on the fact she was the first female Archbishop, however I was amused to see veteran broadcaster Anne Diamond on GB News (don't judge me) take a different angle, when in an off-the-cuff moment she candidly confessed the forth-coming enthronement of the new Archbishop, “does not excite me.” Her co-host, Stephen Dixon

Acts 7: 55 – end The Martyrdom of Stephen 54 When they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and t

Act 2: 42 – end 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad an

1 Peter 1: 17 - 21 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for

Pam Ayres published a little poem on social media recently, here it is... An algorithm’s watching me, I am not certain why, It sends advertisements for things I do not want to buy, It makes me feel uneasy, that upon me it has preyed, And if I could locate it, I would whack it with a spade. I have long enjoyed Pam Ayres, she is funny and gentle and, unlike some modern poets, she makes intelligent observations in easily intelligible ways. The notion we are being monitored onlin

James 1: 12 - 18 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it i

In the spring of 1865, in the little Yorkshire village of Horbury Bridge, the Rev’d Sabine Baring-Gould thought the children of his Sunday school should have something cheerful to sing as they marched to the nearby church of St Peter’s for the Whitsuntide festival. Thinking of the journey of the Christian life, he wrote a simple marching hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” I spoke about “Onward, Christian Soldiers” in my Remembrance Sunday homily, as it is a hymn that can div

Micah 4: 1- 5 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between man

Hebrews 10: 19 - 25 19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by...

Psalm 65 1Praise awaits b you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. 2You who answer prayer, to you all people will come....

Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” The...

Are you familiar with the game, Jenga? Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of fifty four wooden...

Isaiah 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has...

Isaiah 55 6Seek the Lord while he may be found,call upon him while he is near;7let the wicked forsake their way,and the unrighteous their...

I quite enjoy grave stones, and memorials on church walls. The inscription tells you something of the person memorialised, and the manner...

I have recently been reading 'The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living, and Holy Dying', by Rev'd Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667). Rev'd Taylor...

1 Timothy 6 12 – 16 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good...

Psalm 103 1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all...

A key job of a Parish Priest is to pray for the people of the parishes, either in public services, or when in prayer alone. People often...