REV STEPHEN GAMBLE

Is Love a Noun or a Verb? Love can be both. As a noun 'love' names a thing, such as an emotion, or an attitude, or a relationship. As a verb 'love' describes an action, that is, something you do, such as an act of the will, or of selfless generosity, or of commitment. Have you heard the popular wisdom “Love is a verb, not just a noun?” This expresses the truth that genuine love should be more than just a feeling; it must result in action. Equally, without the inner reality of

1 Peter 4: 7 - 11 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, th

Daniel 6, 7 – 12 & 16 “7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.

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

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

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....

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 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...

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...

Verses from Psalm 104 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent 3 and lays the beams of...

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though...

1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal....