Audio | Gathering up

First things first

Will Howard — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 23:41:48 +0000

In last month’s piece about the Ten Commandments, we noted in particular that the one that comes first is that we are to have no other gods than God: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other… Read More »First things first

The post First things first first appeared on Gathering up.

The Order of The Ten Cs

Will Howard — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 10:08:00 +0000

The story goes that prior to giving Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt Sinai, God was having second thoughts. He was about to hit the print button but, as happens, there was a problem with the Wi-Fi. Put on hold by the IT department, He started to wonder if the order He’d put them in… Read More »The Order of The Ten Cs

The post The Order of The Ten Cs first appeared on Gathering up.

Making space

Will Howard — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:07:37 +0000

How will we reply to the greatest invitation of all this Christmas? This is a time of year when we often find ourselves needing to make space. For example, when we have to squeeze a couple of extra chairs around the table to make room for old friends we haven’t seen in ages; or when… Read More »Making space

The post Making space first appeared on Gathering up.

Sermon for Trinity 18

Will Howard — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:20:19 +0000

Sung Eucharist and Matins, Christchurch Priory, 20 October 2019 Genesis 32.22-31 2 Timothy 3.14- 4.5 Luke 18.1-8 ‘Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.’ In a few minutes, as part of our worship this morning we’re going to say the Lord’s Prayer together. ‘Our Father,… Read More »Sermon for Trinity 18

The post Sermon for Trinity 18 first appeared on Gathering up.

It’s a privilege

Will Howard — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 11:56:47 +0000

What’s the one thing we need in order to be church? This autumn marks the 20th anniversary since the completion of the Priory Church Nicholson pipe organ. In 1999, the sense of excitement in the air after the many years of hard work was tangible, even to us newbies (Jen and I had only just… Read More »It’s a privilege

The post It’s a privilege first appeared on Gathering up.

Sermon for Trinity 7

Will Howard — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 15:04:49 +0000

Sung Eucharist and Matins, Christchurch Priory, 4th August 2019 Ecclesiastes 1.2,12-14; 2.18-23Colossians 3.1-11Luke 12.13-21 It happens all too often, sadly. There’s been a family falling out over money. One son hasn’t got his fair share of the inheritance, or what he thinks is his fair share, and so calls out from the crowd for Jesus… Read More »Sermon for Trinity 7

The post Sermon for Trinity 7 first appeared on Gathering up.

The importance of rest

Will Howard — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 12:13:30 +0000

Relax: why the gift of sabbath has never been more vital. Every year, nearly all of us go on a holiday, with many of us doing so during August—especially if we have children at school. In fact, according to research by ABTA, over the course of a year, not only do 86% of us in… Read More »The importance of rest

The post The importance of rest first appeared on Gathering up.

All aboard!

Will Howard — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 10:12:40 +0000

What the story of SS Uganda can teach us about what it means to be the church. Christchurch Parish News, July 2019 Back in the 1970s, my brother went on a school trip on a steamship called Uganda. The exotic name caught my young imagination and having heard how enjoyable his experience had been on… Read More »All aboard!

The post All aboard! first appeared on Gathering up.

Sermon for Trinity 1

Will Howard — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 16:08:52 +0000

Sung Eucharist and Matins, The Priory Church, 23rd June 2019 Isaiah 65.1-9 Galatians 3.23-29 Luke 8.26-39 The sun is shining and as you walk by the school playground, you hear the sound of laughter and the shrieks of excitement as the children enjoy the last few minutes of break time. What you may not notice… Read More »Sermon for Trinity 1

The post Sermon for Trinity 1 first appeared on Gathering up.

Step by step

Will Howard — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 09:55:35 +0000

Summer fitness tips with a difference! Christchurch Parish News, June 2019 I am a reluctant convert. For at least a couple of years my wife, Jenni, had been trying to persuade me but I was having none of it. It wasn’t for me, I would protest. I didn’t need it. I was managing perfectly well… Read More »Step by step

The post Step by step first appeared on Gathering up.

What kind of church are we?

Will Howard — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:22:33 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, May 2019 What does it mean to be a church that takes the Bible ‘seriously’? A few years ago, a church noticeboard caught my eye. In big blue capital letters, it read: ‘This is a Bible-believing church!’ Underneath that confident statement, in only slightly smaller type, were the words, ‘We are a… Read More »What kind of church are we?

The post What kind of church are we? first appeared on Gathering up.

On the rise

Will Howard — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 10:10:03 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, April 2019. What the theme of Exodus and Resurrection can mean for us all this Easter. When we say we believe in God, first and foremost what we mean is that we trust in God. But how do we know that God is trustworthy? After all, just because we’re speaking of someone… Read More »On the rise

The post On the rise first appeared on Gathering up.

Lenten reflection: ‘warts and all’ or Facetune?

Will Howard — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 10:55:01 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, March 2019 In 1656, when sitting for his portrait, Oliver Cromwell insisted that the painter, Samuel Cooper, depict him ‘warts and all’. This stringent command would appear to be in sharp contrast to the prevailing zeitgeist of our own time, when many of us fine-tune our online appearance using filters and specialist… Read More »Lenten reflection: ‘warts and all’ or Facetune?

The post Lenten reflection: ‘warts and all’ or Facetune? first appeared on Gathering up.

Sermon for Lent 4

Will Howard — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 22:35:56 +0000

Sung Eucharist and Matins, Christchurch Priory, 10th February 2019 Isaiah 6.1-end1 Corinthians 15.1-11Luke 5.1-11 Good morning everybody. I was going to start with a question but instead, let me begin this way. When we gather together like this, Sunday by Sunday, the tradition that we’re a part of expects that in our act of worship… Read More »Sermon for Lent 4

The post Sermon for Lent 4 first appeared on Gathering up.

In-between times

Will Howard — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:05:51 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, February 2019 As we prepare for a later Lent, I ask what it means for us to live faithfully in the here and now. This year, Easter is almost as late as it can be. Falling at the end of April, we have to wait until the second Sunday in March for… Read More »In-between times

The post In-between times first appeared on Gathering up.

Living together in unity

Will Howard — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 09:48:23 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, January 2019

A reflection on Psalm 133 as we prepare for the week of dedicated prayer for Christian unity.

The post Living together in unity first appeared on Gathering up.

Sermon for Advent 2

Will Howard — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 18:36:20 +0000

Sung Eucharist and Matins, Christchurch Priory

It’s God who graciously makes the first move and comes to us. No matter the mess we’ve made of things.

The post Sermon for Advent 2 first appeared on Gathering up.

Darkness to Light

Will Howard — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 10:12:25 +0000

Christchurch Parish News, December 2018

A personal reflection on the hope of Christmas, even when times are difficult.

The post Darkness to Light first appeared on Gathering up.