Short Talks
This section of the website comprises short stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals. More talks/sermons/homilies/articles will be added in due course.
The section of the website entitled The Christian Faith provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments.
The Ascended Ministry
“So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them…” (NRSV, Mark 16:19,20)
On the face of it Our Lord’s ministry in Palestine seemed to collapse in utter failure, in spite of the fact that it possessed all the qualifications needed for success. His miracles caused the same sensation then as they would do now. We can imagine the stir and astonishment there would be if someone was going around our towns and villages curing so many people that the hospital wards stood empty because no one needed them. No wonder the people of Capernaum were all amazed and glorified God, saying. “We have never seen anything like this!” (NRSV, Mark 2:12).
Jesus in the midst
“…where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (RSV, Matthew 18:20)
It is St Luke who tells us that Our Lord appeared to his Apostles at intervals during the 40 days following his Resurrection on Easter Day. As a result of those appearances the Apostles were convinced by the conclusive evidence of their own eyes and ears of two facts.
Pentecost
The word ‘Pentecost’ is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘fiftieth’. Fifty days after Jesus was raised from the dead came the first Pentecost when God the Holy Spirit was given to the Apostles and the Christian Church was formed and has continued to grow ever since to this day. So Pentecost is not only the Feast of God the Holy Spirit, but is also the Birthday of the Church. It is a day which we celebrate with great joy and thanksgiving.