SPCK
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - N T Wright
The First Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33.14–16 1 Thessalonians 3.9–13 Luke 21.25–36 It is January, ad 69. You are a Greek-speaking Christian in a Roman town in Turkey. You are deeply anxious about the fierce war in Judaea: the Romans have laid siege to Jerusalem; the city faces sta…
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - Preface
Twelve Months of Sunday year c - Preface
by SPCK - N T Wright
Preface This book brings together my reflections based on the weekly biblical readings in the official lectionary now in use in the Church of England. The pieces first appeared in the Church Times; the encouraging response to them suggests that they should be made available in a …
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Luke 1.39-45 [46-55} Gaze on a woman in pregnancy. At the beginning, when the baby first moves, it is a secret known only to the mother, then shared with her partner, family and close friends, and in time, the domed belly will force all around to know …
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Third Sunday of Advent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Third Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Third Sunday of Advent Luke 3.7-18 Gaze on all these people arriving at last by the river where John is busy baptizing the penitents. They run on eagerly, but when they get within earshot, they rock back on their heels, as he explodes ‘You brood of vipers!’ Is it for this tha…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Second Sunday of Advent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The Second Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The Second Sunday of Advent Luke 3.1-6 Gazing on the Gospels year C Gaze on a lone hiker, setting out on a long distance walk in the Lake District, or Scottish highlands, perhaps. Imagine it’s you, dressed in the latest Gore-Tex® to keep out the wind and rain, waterproof trousers…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
Gazing on the Gospels year c - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
The First Sunday of Advent Luke 21.25-36 Gaze on all the climate change nightmares we read about – mountains sliding into rivers, icebergs breaking off from the Antarctic mass; rising sea levels and waves breaching sea defences, and winds that upend ancient oaks. Is this the fina…
Gazing on the Gospels year c - Introduction
Gazing on the Gospels year c - Introduction
by SPCK - Judith Dimond
Introduction This is the second in the series of Gospel reflections following the Anglican Church’s lectionary, and it follows the same simple pattern as before, which even busy people can find time for as they approach Sunday. It will take no more time to read than would a quick…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Micah 5.2–5a Hebrews 10.5–10 Luke 1.39–45 The readings from Micah and Hebrews are so dauntingly obscure that it is tempting simply to concentrate on the lovely passage from Luke. Luke’s is the only Gospel that has any of John the Baptist’s biography be…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Third Sunday of Advent Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Third Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Third Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3.14–20 Philippians 4.4–7 Luke 3.7–18 The book of Zephaniah is not, on the whole, cheerful reading, and almost everything about it is disputed by the various commentaries on it. No one is absolutely sure when it was written, despite its firm p…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Second Sunday of Advent Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The Second Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Second Sunday of Advent Malachi 3.1–4 Philippians 1.3–11 Luke 3.1–6 The passage from Malachi and the passage from Luke go together well. At first glance, the alternative reading from Baruch (5.1–9) matches the Luke passage even better, since Luke and Baruch both seem to be qu…
Hymn: God we need to know your mercy
Hymn: God we need to know your mercy
by Andrew Pratt
God we need to know your mercy, feel your grace around our lives, sense the presence of your spirit, loving kindness that survives. Faults that haunt us from our history are eroded by your grace; through your mercy life is lifted to a brighter finer place. Verse 3 follows Tune: S…
The Gospels in Art, Music and Literature series - Christ in Majesty
The Gospels in Art, Music and Literature series - Christ in Majesty
by SPCK - David Stancliffe
The West portal of the Abbey of Ste Foy at Conques: Christ in Majesty - Photograph by David StancliffeAdvent 1 Year C For each lectionary week and major festival, the series includes: The Gospel reading A related piece of Art A Commentary and reflection by the author and the …
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Smyrna
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Smyrna
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Letter to Smyrna Revelation 2.8-11 I was involved some years ago in making a series of radio programmes where people from quite different backgrounds came together for an hour to discuss complex and challenging topics of the day. Since this was being made by the British Broad…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Advent Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The First Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33.14–16 1 Thessalonians 3.9–13 Luke 21.25–36 Intelligent waiting seems to be the theme of these three readings – not a bad theme for the start of Advent, but definitely to be distinguished from Aunt Juley in Forster’s Howard’s End, who goes th…
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Thyatira
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Thyatira
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Letter to Thyatira Revelation 2.18-29 Some cities are known by their industrial products. The city near where I grew up, Newcastle in the north-east of England, was famous for two hundred years as one of the chief suppliers of coal to the country, and to many places abroad. T…
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Pergamum
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Pergamum
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Letter to Pergamum Revelation 2.12-17 From the train, many miles away, you can see the skyscrapers. You come up through New Jersey, from the direction of Philadelphia, past the lovely town of Princeton, and on through somewhat less lovely townships; and then, if you’re lookin…
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Ephesus
Revelation for Everyone - The Letter to Ephesus
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Letter to Ephesus Revelation 2.1-7 The first time I visited Ephesus, I was overwhelmed with the size and scale of the place. Massive buildings still stand, dating back to the first century and beyond. The amphitheatre alone takes your breath away. Streets, houses, shops: it’s…
Revelation for Everyone - Jesus Revealed