Minister’s Message – September 27, 2026

Bible reading: Matthew 21:28-32.

Message.

Moira and I had a minor tiff (and it was minor!) last Saturday. It arose because we both enjoy reading. Although some of our books come from the library, we also buy many. That then leaves us with a problem: what should we do with the books once we’ve read them? Obviously there’s not much point hanging on to a murder mystery once you know who the killer is! Although a few, usually non-fiction, books get kept, most end up in an ever-growing pile, destined either for the book stall at our church fair or (sorry Ian) the Oxfam shop in town.

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Minister’s Message – September 20, 2026

Message (Matthew 20:1-16).

The working conditions of the London dock labourers 140 years ago were appalling. The men and their families lived in overcrowded and insanitary slums and their life was a constant struggle against heavy odds. At the root of this was the casual and uncertain nature of dock labour which produced bitterness and desperation.

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Minister’s Message – September 6, 2026

Readings – Luke 4:31-32.     Luke 19:46-47.

Message.

There has been a lot more traffic on the roads this week. Morning and afternoon buses have been crowded with young people. Parents have been chivvying their children to get up earlier in the morning. New clothes have been brought out of wardrobes. Timetables have been pinned up on kitchen noticeboards or stuck to fridges. Memories of happy holidays have been to the back of our minds. Why are all these things happening? You know the answer to that question as well as I do: it’s the beginning of the new academic year. For many of us, that means an end to the free-flowing days of summer and a return to our normal daily routines. However some parents, who have been trying to entertain their children and juggle their work routines during the summer, will be very grateful that life has got back to normal!

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Minister’s Message – August 23, 2026

Message.

The summer of 1540 was extraordinarily hot and dry across Europe. Temperatures reached heights which would not be repeated for over 400 years while only 2025 saw less rain. France, south-east England, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Poland, Slovenia, northern Italy and southern Spain were all affected. It was the worst climate event of the 16^th century.

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