Rev Christine preached a lively service for Epiphany this year, which began with a short sketch, in which she and Rev Helen played the parts of Seth and Jabez, two stable boys discussing the brief visit of the magi to Herod’s palace, whilst taking care of their camels. She continued: The two stable boys weren’t … More Epiphany 2024
On December 27 we mark the Feast of the Holy Innocents – the babies slaughtered by Herod’s men, hoping to kill Jesus. Tom and Carol sing the Coventry carol … More The Holy Innocents – the Third Day of Christmas
Christmas has a dark side. Soon after Jesus’ birth, king Herod – a weak ruler feeling the threat of a new King – sent his soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all infant boys. Mary and Joseph had already fled, having been warned to do so in a dream … More The Holy Innocents
Taken as a story today’s gospel reading has everything. Royalty and power, sex, violence, narrative tension – it’s no wonder that it inspired the play Salome by Oscar Wilde, an opera by Richard Strauss and a film starring Rita Hayworth. But it’s an unusual story to find in the gospels– it hardly refers to Jesus at all … More Power (still) corrupts
The fourth day of Christmas is when we mark the slaughter of all male babies, ordered by Herod. He was too late though. Mary and Joseph had already escaped, taking their baby Jesus with them. The Coventry Carol tells of the mothers’ grief. It is sung for us by our Organist Tom and our MD … More Carol for the Holy Innocents
Today we have the Coventry Carol, sung for us by our Music Team, Carol and Tom. It uses exquisite music to remind us of the darker side of Christmas.
Why am I writing about a Christmas Carol? Because it highlights a less palatable part of the Christmas story, which is often glossed over: the massacre of the innocents … More The Coventry Carol
This sermon was given by Rev Deborah on Sunday 29 December 2019, and was based on: Isaiah 63-7-9 Hebrews 2:10-28 Matthew 2:13-23 My Andrew, his brother and I were sitting having a ‘snacky’ tea – one of those where you use up the bits and pieces from the last few days. Andrew asked, ‘is it … More Sober Up Sunday/Lament and Hope
This sermon was given by Rev Deborah on Wednesday 26 August. You can listen again here … More The Life and Purpose of John the Baptist
During the last few weeks, others and myself have found ourselves listening to and reading about how people have answered God’s call on their lives to serve him and his people, which has not always been easy
… More Trinity 7
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 