A collection of Andy’s writings – reflections, sermons, poems, random thoughts over the years.
An Important Update – Children, youth and families
At the beginning of last week, I spent a couple of days on a training residential for vicars across the country. The first session was from someone who works for the Church of England centrally and she began by outlining the overall vision of the Church of England for the 2020s. I have to admit that…
Still building bridges … !
Today marks 3 years since my first book, Loving the Enemy – Building bridges in a time of war was published. It was the culmination of a labour of love that began with a trip to Dresden back in February 2015 when I reconnected with my roots, journeying from my new home, Coventry to the…
Jesus, our daily bread (sermon based on John 6:56-69)
As you know, I have been on sabbatical for a few months, which has been a real blessing – it was precious to be free to spend more time with the family, more time with the Bible, more unstructured time with God. I’ve been thinking of the best way to describe the sabbatical, the best analogy…
A Pit Stop in the Race of Life
I’m in the early days of returning to church/work after a sabbatical that I began in late April (if you’re interested in the background behind the sabbatical, you can read about it here). For those who don’t want a long read and aren’t familiar with the terminology, a sabbatical is a break from the normality…
The Essential James Arthur – Top 30 Songs
James Arthur is so much more than an X factor winner. He’s had two number one singles, 7 top ten singles and recently achieved his second number one album. The song that launched his career after winning the X Factor in 2012, “Impossible”, sold 2.5 million copies worldwide and over 1 million in the UK.…
Learning to Abide
Last week I spent a precious time at Lee Abbey, with teaching led by Paul and Becky Harcourt. The theme of that week was rooted in John 15, with Jesus’s beautiful teaching on the Vine and the Branches where he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and…
Jesus the Good Shepherd (sermon based on John 10:11-18)
“I am the Good Shepherd” we hear – and what springs to mind? For me, from my years in Sunday school, no doubt, it’s colouring sheets of Jesus holding a cuddly sheep. Maybe, if the budget stretched to it, you got to stick cotton wool on the sheep – oh yeah! Well, this morning we are…
Letting go and letting God
For those of you who don’t know, I am days away from taking a sabbatical from my role as vicar of St Christopher’s Church in Coventry. One of the great gifts of this role is that we are granted occasional sabbaticals – three month periods of rest, recreation and restoration. In Coventry Diocese you are…
Gig Review – James Arthur in Coventry and Birmingham
Just after Christmas I knew only two James Arthur songs – Impossible and Say you won’t let go. But then, seeing that it was on offer in the iTunes Store I decided to download his 3rd album, “You”, not knowing if I’d like any of them. On first listen, the first half was good but…
A mini-devotional for Holy Week and Easter
Here are 28 daily readings and reflections for Holy Week and Easter. If you wish you could use this as a short devotional during this season. Day 1 – Palm Sunday When Jesus came near the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the…
When the rains come down and the floods come up … (sermon based on Matthew 7:24-29)
Well, we’ve come to the end of our journey through the Sermon of the Mount and we conclude with perhaps the most famous bit of all. 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the…
I will sing of the goodness of God – reflecting on 10 years
Today’s a big deal for me. It’s the tenth anniversary of the start of my ministry as vicar of St Christopher’s Church, Allesley Park and Whoberley in Coventry.When I’d got the role people often said, “Been sent to Coventry, have you?” It was a joke relating to the civil war. I had to Google it…
@OurCofELike – a week in the life …
Click here for a snapshot of my life in @ChurchofEngland , as I’ve been guest Tweeter for @OurCofElike this week. I’ll keep updating this page until I finish on Sunday evening.
Filled with God’s fulness – Ephesians Pt 6 (Ephesians 3:14-21) – 20 February 2022
We’re about halfway through our series in Ephesians and we come to perhaps the most incredible prayer in the New Testament. One that we could not go far wrong in praying for ourselves and for each other. Before we dive into the prayer, it’s worth exploring how this passage begins, how he introduces this prayer. [Please get…
God’s new society – Ephesians Pt 4 (Ephesians 2:11-22) – 30 January 2022
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve found these beginning weeks in Ephesians quite overwhelming. I feel a bit like Aladdin when he finds himself in the cave of wonders – overwhelmed by the treasure that surrounds him. He has to make himself focus on the one piece of treasure he has come for -…
Open your eyes – Ephesians Pt 2 (Ephesians 1:15-23) – 16 January 2022
Our Bible passage this morning is almost entirely made up of a prayer. Last week we heard Paul reminding his readers of the many blessings they – and we – enjoy as Christians, as those who belong to Jesus and are saved by grace, and now he moves on to pray for his readers – and…
All spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians Pt 1 (Ephesians 1:1-14) – 9th January 2022
Well, I have to admit that it’s funny standing up here this morning for my first Sunday morning sermon since August! Obviously, you’ll now be used to the high production qualities that we enjoyed in the Alpha series that you’ll be expecting the same thing. Well, I’m delighted to say that I too will be jetting…
Weekly Update – Stand together (3rd March 2022)
On Sunday our family joined my parents at their church near Witney. The Bible reading was Hebrews 10. What leapt out at me was the exhortation in verses 23-25.”Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and…
Weekly Update – The power of praise (17th February 2022)
I don’t know about you, but I found it so helpful to worship God together as church family on Sunday. I came to church with a sense of heaviness; I’d attended the prayer meeting on the night Ali died and found it really difficult, but worshipping God, declaring truths about our faith – remembering that whatever we go…
Weekly Update – Life on Pilgrimage (3rd February 2022)
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5). The image of the Christian life as a pilgrimage is a common one, and it’s one that I find particularly helpful. Wikipedia defines pilgrimage as “a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in…
A painful privilege
Last week, I led the thanksgiving service for a lovely young woman who died of cancer. She was a friend who’d asked me to take her funeral. I hoped I’d never have to, that God would heal and bring deliverance. He has, of course, in his own way, for she knew she was going home.…
Weekly Update – This is my story (20th January 2022)
At the beginning of this week I had the privilege of being interviewed on UCB 2 Radio by Ruth O’Reilly-Smith, who has a daily programme, “This is my story”, which is described as a a show about sharing stories of how God’s amazing love has changed lives forever. In the description of my interview, it says,…
Weekly Update – Integrity matters (13th January 2022)
As I write the main headlines surround the party that took place in Downing Street on 20 May 2020 that the Prime Minister has now admitted he attended, although he argues he didn’t realise it was a social event. While it isn’t appropriate to comment on this issue much here, it is worth reflecting that 2…
Transcript of Interview on UCB 2, “This is my story”
On Monday 17th January, I had the privilege of being interviewed live by Ruth O’Reilly-Smith for her “This is my story” show, which is described as a a show about sharing stories of how God’s amazing love has changed lives forever. Here’s the transcript of the interview. Ruth O’Reilly-SmithHis grandparents’ story is in a new book…
Imagine how good it’s going to feel
Imagine how good it’s going to feel to walk through those doors where many have walked beforeto see familiar, beloved faces, and sit near them once moreImagine how good it’s going to feel to be with this family, old, young and everything in betweento hear laughter and tears, to see the children tearing aroundImagine how good it’s…
2020 – this was the year
2020 this was the year Of pandemic and full of fear COVID. Lockdown. Death. Infections R rates. Line graphs. Bad projections. Stay home, Save lives, and keep your space. Please Wash your hands and mask your face. No hugs or touch with friend or stranger Please, please don’t put them in danger. A sickness that…
Life in Lockdown – A church leader’s perspective
I’ve had a burden to write this for a while – to share my own perspective on what it’s been like to live and minister through this COVID-19 crisis over the past four or so months. I don’t claim to speak for all clergy or church leaders, but some of this may resonate for you.…
Easter Sermon – The life-changing faith of Puddleglum – “I’m on Aslan’s side”
One of the delights of being a dad is reading stories. Bedtime is one of my favourite times of the day, because it’s story time. Sometimes we manage to sneak in a quick time for a cuddle and a read first thing in the morning if I’m awake enough. Alicia and I are reading through…
Jesus the King and his crazy glory
written when Easter Sunday happened to be April Fools’ day Part 1 I want to tell you the real storyof Jesus the king and his crazy glory.He broke all the rules, didn’t play by the bookWant to know why? well let’s take a lookBegin at the beginning, with his birthCircumstances of which were quite absurd.If…
One Saturday
A headline in the paper read,“Religious nut and freak is dead.”The spokesman for the Pharisees Explained (while looking very pleased),“This man had caused us lots of trouble,We had to get him on the double.He claimed he was the Chosen One,Almighty God, His only Son.We Pharisees weren’t having that! – Even worse, he claimed he’d sat At God’s right…
The Big God Story – The New Testament
At St Christopher’s Church this year, we’re exploring the Big Story of the Bible, beginning this month with a whistlestop tour of the whole bible in just two weeks, before journeying with some of the key characters in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, gaining inspiration from their stories – their strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures…
Immeasurably More
This is the sermon I preached today, based on Ephesians 3:14-21 It’s holiday season and some of us will be heading to the coast. Nearly all of us have. When we stand on the shore, there’s so much more out there. And sometimes you can stand on the shore, and if you look left, all…
His ability, my availabilty
Just listening to the audio Bible, and got as far as Exodus 3. I have a soft spot for Moses. The story of the way God led him, spoke to him and worked through him has been so helpful to me already, and God has used that story to encourage me in the past. This…
A personal story of reconciliation
Tomorrow I travel to Dresden, Germany as part of a party from Coventry to join in with the commemorations marking 70 years since that city was bombed. The two cities were both (along with many others) devastated by bombing in the course of World War II. After Coventry was bombed in 1940, leaving the cathedral…
Stephen Fry, God and Suffering
This is the text of a sermon I preached last Sunday in response to the interview held with Stephen Fry the previous weekend. I add my voice to the many who have already shared their reflections. Last weekend Stephen Fry the comedian and broadcaster was asked in an interview what he’d say to God where…
Proclaiming the saviour of all
This is the text of a sermon I preached yesterday on “Making New disciples”, based on Luke 2:8-20. We live in a world where news, good or bad, can travel extremely quickly and far. Social media like facebook, etc, enables us to be part of the news sharing process, and we share everything from the…
#JeSuisJesus – What the world needs
This is the text of a sermon I preached yesterday for our local Service of Christian Unity based on Bible text – John 4:4-42 Good evening everyone, it’s wonderful to be together to worship, isn’t it? I hope you’ll forgive me for beginning with a joke … How many Christians does it take to change a light…
The Magi – A journey of worship (Sermon – 11 January)
We’re at the beginning of a new year. No doubt the dawn of this new year has come full of expectations and hopes and fears, and perhaps resolutions? How many of you have made new years resolutions? How many of you have broken them? As we’re at the start of the new year, it seems…
People of Truth and Grace
This is the text of the sermon I preached this morning, reflecting on Paul’s courage to speak the truth in Acts 13:1-12. Life was good for Jonathan Aitken. He was a high-profile, successful politician, destined for greater glory as a future leader of the Conservatives and therefore possible Prime Minister. Then, in 1995 Jonathan…
Joy in heaven
I love the verses in the Bible that talk about God’s delight in us, about partying and rejoicing in heaven when people come to him. Jesus said, “Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” And, in my favourite verse in…
#christmasmeans my wonder and worship …
I wrote this poem a couple of years ago. I tried to convey my continuing wonder at this most familiar of stories. I don’t want to ever “get over” Christmas and what it means. I hope this will inspire you and make you wonder just a little too. … Perhaps you might be stirred to…
Martin Luther-King and the Power of Hope
50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr gave one of the grestest speeches in modern-day history. On 28 August a crowd of up to 250,000 marched on Washington as a mass demonstration for freedom. He was introduced as “the moral leader of our nation,” and the next 15 minutes were political dynamite, a clarion call…
Be strong and courageous
Just over 32 years ago, I was given the name Andrew. It means “strong, courageous, manly.” I remember being in secondary school assembly one day when the local Christian worker was talking about the meaning of names, and he mentioned the meaning of my name. There was a titter that went around those sitting near…
All Your Children
I am made in your image – Like all your children. I am fearfully and wonderfully made – But so are all your children. A product of the master craftsman – Along with all your children. Of infinite worth – Like all your children. Unique – a once-off – Like all your children. There were…
The Passion Ballad
All eyes on a garden – a kneeling manCries out to his father, “Take this cup if you can.”A gasp heard in heaven – angels can’t bearWatch the scene of a broken man crying down there. The fate of the world is now left unsure,The plan for salvation could stutter and fall.It hangs on a…
Watching and waiting
Watching and waiting My heart aches this evening. the general synod has voted against a resolution to appoint women bishops. Although the measure was passed overwhelmingly by the houses of Bishops and Clergy, it fell just 6 votes (out of 206) shor…
A dream of the church
I have a dream… I dream of a people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength; Who worship with passion, serve with conviction, who hunger for revelation, who know and love God’s Word, who know they will never stop learning;lifelo…
Cross-road – total obedience
This is the text of the sermon I preached this morning at my first main morning service in our new parish, St Christopher’s, Allesley Park in Coventry. It’s based on Mark 8:27-38 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%208:27-38&version=…
I have seen the Lord – sharing the message of hope
The sermon I preached at my farewell service in Werrington and Wetley Rocks as my curacy comes to an end and as we move to Coventry where I’ll be the Vicar of St Christopher’s, Allesley Park, and Whoberley Community Church. The sermon is based on …
The foolishness of the cross
This is the text of the sermon I preached this morning, based on 1 Corinthians 1:18 – “The message of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” He was young, free and single. In the prime of …
Marching on … Part 2 – Experiencing God’s guidance
When we visited for the interview at Allesley Park and Whoberley, Liz and I were both excited by what we saw and experienced. I certainly felt filled with a love for the people we met (which is peculiar, seeing as they were complete strangers!). A…
Marching on … Part 1 – A New Beginning
On Sunday 26 February an important announcement was made for me and my family, as well as a number of people we don’t yet know. It was announced that subject to the usual stuff (CRB, blah blah blah), I’ve been appointed as the Vicar of Allesley Pa…
Joseph – reluctant hero
The previous blog I took a look at Mary. Now the spotlight moves to Joseph, as depicted in Matthew 1:18-25, which is another gloriously understated passage, isn’t it? Once again someone is given the most extraordinary news – “Joseph, I’m pregnant;…
There’s something about Mary …
As we approach Christmas, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about the major characters we hear so much about …. A few questions about Mary – how did Mary know that her mysterious visitor was an angel – was it white, with wings and a halo? Why w…
Why church?
This is the text of a sermon I preached on Phillippians 2:1-3 a couple of weeks ago. It remains the most challenging (to me) sermon I’ve felt called to preach, which is why I’m sharing it here. I was preaching to myself as much as anyone else. Wha…
Love wins
In Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Helm’s Deep is under attack from an army numbering thousands fighting for the evil Saruman. It has only one aim: the complete annihilation of its enemy, including women and children. It seems very likely that …
Some questions … A prayer.
Dear Lord, Firstly, I just want to say thank you so much for the wonderful gift of Isabelle. She’s beautiful – yet another example of your amazing creative abilities – and I feel honoured to be able to be her dad. She helps me to believe the truth…
Snowflakes Stopping Traffic
Originally appeared as Yoursfaithfully column in Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent local newspaper) on 23 March 2011 War and civil unrest. Airstrikes. Earthquake and Tsunami. Nuclear threat. Recession. Record unemployment. The news headlines make depressin…
Loving the last and the least
Gypsies really are the last and the least here in Romania. At the bottom of the pile when it comes to hygiene, housing, healthcare, education, employment – everything. Doctors need to take a bribe before they will consider giving anaesthetic to a …
God’s got your back
Sometimes following Jesus is a struggle. The Bible, prayer, and church all can feel a drag. It feels like you’re wading through treacle. If you’re feeling like this now, then I may have some encouragement for all of us. This morning I was reading …
No room
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from th…
Only by Grace
Most of the time, I’m a hopeless Christian – especially when you consider that the literal meaning of Christian is “little Christ”. Most of the time I bear very little to Jesus, who … Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with Go…
“Any man’s death diminishes me”
On Sunday evening millions of people were gathered in pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants across the world to watch the World Cup final. Many in Africa wanted to celebrate the first World Cup held on African soil. Kampala was no different; that is, …
Flying by the seat of my pants
Since I began full-time church work as a curate in the Church of England last year, I have become increasingly convinced of the need for the church to engage with the local community, to be salt and light, to allow the light of Jesus to shine out …
Struggling to Serve
In less than a month, I will be ordained as priest in the Church of England. It will be my second ordination, as I was ordained deacon nearly a year ago. But what does that actually mean? What does it mean to be a deacon? In many people’s eyes, th…
About Me
Hi, I’m Andy, I’m a husband, vicar, follower of Jesus, full-time vicar and newly (self-) published author of “Loving the Enemy – building bridges in a time of war”. Here I share reflections, sermons, and occasional random thoughts.
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