Author Archives: Mark

We’re delighted that we will be back in church this Sunday 23rd May. Fittingly it is Pentecost, the celebration of the Birth of the Church.It promises to be a wonderful and joyful evening. We have yet to confirm whether we are back for good – we may do a blend of virtual and in personContinue reading “Back to Church”

If there was ever a year to think about Lent differently, this may be it. We have been in a season of Lent for a whole year – this has been our long journey through the wilderness. And Lent is about walking in the footsteps of Jesus in his 40 days in the wilderness. AndContinue reading “Lent 21 – The Long Wilderness”

Our annual advent project is on the theme of ‘Small Mercies’ and members of our community are reflecting on that theme of the simple blessings from God found in every day life that offer joy and hope in difficult days. You can follow along here facebook.com/churchonthecorner

One of the unexpected things to come out of lockdown has been the number of people searching the internet for how to pray. Perhaps it is natural when we are afraid and feel out of control, even if we are not sure that we believe in God to want to pray for ourselves and thoseContinue reading “How do I pray?”

Today is the traditional celebration of Midsummer. I often feel a bit anxious at this point that the summer is slipping by. But midsummer is actually rather misnamed – it is really mid year and in astronomical terms it is the start of summer. So many good things lie ahead. It is also the celebrationContinue reading “24th June – Midsummer”

Helen wrote the loveliest piece about what we have discovered during lockdown. Read it here. Independent 14th June.

46 ‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, theContinue reading “3rd June – Clearing the clutter”

Those of us who are fortunate enough to be healthy and safe will by now be facing the frustration of lockdown, the feeling of being limited and hemmed in, perhaps losing focus and lacking motivation. This is not over yet and often these days I find myself daydreaming about new adventures. However if you haveContinue reading “22nd April – The long road”

The classic 1993 movie Groundhog Day remains brilliant all these years later. If you haven’t seen it you have a treat in store, if you have it certainly bears rewatching at a time like this. It imagines Bill Murray as a weatherman trapped living a single day over and over again and asks the questionContinue reading “6th May – Groundhog Day”

If there is a blessing to be found in these difficult times, perhaps it is that at long last the rain which made this winter rather gloomy has been replaced by glorious sunshine. Spring has burst forth. Most years we find ourselves too busy to really notice it, this year we can actually pay attentionContinue reading “The greatest show on earth.”

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5v3-5 In a matter of days the city has gone fromContinue reading “Thomas Cranmer”

Yesterday in London we came close to lockdown. In the end the government stopped short of forcing people to stay in their homes, but for much of the day we faced the possibility of 12 weeks of confinement. And essential though social distancing measures are, after the long weeks of winter that feeling of beingContinue reading “Solitude”

In the midst of this city with its constant busyness and noise and demands, it is hard to listen to the other gentle rhythms of life. But they are there none the less. And in these strange silent days perhaps one of the small blessings is the possibility of tuning in to those.  The treeContinue reading “Rhythm”

It’s less than 24 hours since our worst fears were confirmed and public worship was suspended in all our churches. It has been a dizzying day of managing the questions and the many unknowns, and trying to come to terms with what it means to care for a parish without church. But of course churchContinue reading “Public worship is suspended”

During advent we had a clergy quiet day with the wonderful Jane Williams. One story that she told was of a fast growing underground church in China. She was in conversation with the leaders, and she asked them how they discipled the many people who were coming to faith. Did they have a particular course or programme ofContinue reading “The Lord’s Prayer”

Our new series starts tonight. Throughout this term we will be studying some of the most famous stories in the Bible, stories which have shaped our culture, and still have the power reshape our understand of ourselves and our world. We are haunted by Genesis – the Promised land, Forbidden fruit, The Garden of eden,Continue reading “In the beginning”

Summer starts here at Church on the Corner. We’re choosing to take things a little more slowly, to enjoy the simple things. And we will be reflecting together on the lovely epistle to the Philippians.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which is of course the start of Lent. As we said on Sunday, Lent is intended not to be a time of hardship, but instead an invitation to follow Jesus into the wilderness and find restoration for the soul. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is yourContinue reading “Lent 2019”