The Pulpit
Latest postings:
Lesson from a weddingOrdinary 28 : 11 October 2026
Today's Gospel reading tells the story of a wedding. But there is more to it. Nothing less than a guide to Christian behaviour.
Creation and usOrdinary 27 : 4 October 2026
“Today is the last Sunday in what is called by the Anglican Communion The Season of Creation”. Happily, Our Vicar finds today's Gospel reading ties in nicely.
Lip serviceOrdinary 26 : 27 September 2026
Today's readings touch on the easy-to-fall-into trap of paying only lip service to our faith.
God's generosityOrdinary 25 : 20 September 2026
This morning's parable of the workers in the vineyard has Our Vicar pondering God's generosity and how it fits in our lives.
ForgivenessOrdinary 24 : 13 September 2026
Just what is biblical forgiveness? The answer is not so obvious.
NeighboursOrdinary 23 : 6 September 2026
We are exhorted in today's reading from Romans to love our neighbours as ourselves. But who are our neighbours? And what is love?
Lessons from TVOrdinary 22 : 30 August 2026
This morning's Gospel reading brings to mind a favourite TV program. Amongst other things they warn us "...we must remember that God is in charge. Too often we feel that the church is the boss, but in fact God is...".
The utmost importanceOrdinary 21 : 23 August 2026
From science fiction and fantasy through the Gospels and Psalms, Father John arrives at “a declaration of the utmost importance”.
Mary of many partsFeast of The Assumption : 16 August 2026
“Knowing all this it is hard for me to look upon an image of Mary and think of her in just the characteristic normally given to her. Yes, she is faithful, humble, obedient, loving and holy, but she is also strong, fierce, loyal, courageous and compassionate”.
Jesus the human Ordinary 18 : 2 August 2026
“Sometimes we can forget Jesus' humanity. We focus on His divinity, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension but forget that He was fully human”.
Parable of joyOrdinary 17 : 26 July 2026
Our Vicar debunks a popular but errant interpretation of a favourite parable.
PatienceOrdinary 16 : 19 July 2026
Our life seems to demand immediacy. “The people listening to Jesus knew that life simply didn't work that way.”
Things which growOrdinary 15 : 12 July 2026
Starting with our recent wet weather, progressing through today's readings, farming and gardening, Our Vicar arrives at a suggested task for the faithful in winter.
Two for oneOrdinary 14 : 5 July 2026
Today's Gospel reading, Matthew 11: 25-30, can look like two stories in one. But are they really two parts of a single whole?
St PeterPatronal Festival : 28 June 2026
Celebrating our Patronal Festival, Our Vicar looks at the life of St Peter and some lessons he can teach us.
Christ unconfinedCorpus Christi : 7 June 2026
"The procession reminds us that Christ is not confined to the Sanctuary but comes among His people...".
A clerical jokeTrinity Sunday : 31 May 2026
Our Vicar starts with a standing joke amongst clergy to introduce perhaps the most difficult of all subjects for a sermon.
The work of the ChurchAscension : 17 May 2026
"So what is the work of the Church?" A look at how we can live our lives to reflect "the life of the resurrected Christ."
A walk with PaulEaster 6 : 10 May 2026
Father John takes a walk through 51AD Athens with the Apostle Paul.
Unfinished businessEaster 5 : 3 May 2026
"These events form the entire basis of Christian worship." – but there is still work for us to do.
Urban shepherdEaster 4 : 26 April 2026
The Bible makes much use of pastoral imagery. How does that fit with modern urban life?
The courage of faithEaster 3 : 19 April 2026
Peter developed the courage to follow Christ. Can we?
The point of a sermonEaster 2 : 12 April 2026
Father John's first sermon as Vicar discusses what a sermon should be – then demonstrates with Thomas.
United in Song
In September 2025 we received audio of a Service from St Mary's Liscard at the time when Father Carl Somers-Edgar was Vicar there. You can listen to Father Carl's United in Song Service here.
An unlikely saintAll Saints' Day : 31 October 2021
Father John tells a story of a saint we might not like.
What's in a name?Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 24 October 2021
Why are some actors in the Gospels named while others are not?
Unflattered disciplesTwenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 17 October 2021
“...once again we’re given a reading in which [the disciples] do not come out in a good light.” But they turned out not so badly. What would the world be like if we did as well?
DivorceTwenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time : 3 October 2021
There is nothing new about divorce – even the Bible accepts the fact if not the desirability of divorce. So what is the Christian teaching on the subject?
InterpretingTwenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 26 September 2021
“What a gospel reading we have this morning”. Father John finds a lot depends upon how one interprets the story.
The greatestTwenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 19 September 2021
Who was the greatest disciple of them all? Why did they care? And did it matter to anyone else?
Who is he?Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 5 September 2021
Father John looks into the nature of God.
Spreading the wordTwenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time : 5 September 2021
The tradition of the eldersTwenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time : 29 August 2021
Trust in trying timesTwenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time : 22 August 2021
Father John finds this morning's Gospel reading is entirely suited to our current level 4 circumstances.
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