Author Archives: stpetersburnley

Delivered at the Civic Service of Thanksgiving on 5th June 2022 by Alan Roadley Has it struck you how many times words like “Build, “Building”, and “Built”have occurred during this service so far? And we haven’t done yet! My mindgoes back to childhood, and building things from Lego bricks. From theirearliest days babies and toddlersContinue reading “900th Anniversary Address”

The annual Halstead sermon at St Peter’s is on the text from Hebrews which we heard as our first reading Hebrews 13 verse 14 “for here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come “ And when I hear the word enduring my mind isContinue reading “For We Have No Enduring City – Halsted Sermon 2nd May 2021”

Today our thoughts are with all those who have mothered us. Whether that mothering has been from birth and has sustained us throughout our lives or perhaps that mothering has been someone who has cared for us – who wasn’t our birth mother, who showed us affection and care and who enabled us to growContinue reading “Mothering Sunday – Sermon 14th March 2021 (Colossians 3.12-17; Luke 2.33-35)”

V17, zeal for your house will consume me. Have you ever tipped over a table in anger?have you ever banged the table in frustration? it creates a great noise, it creates a clatter, you might even break things.Today we see Jesus getting angry, righteous indignation, frustration that his Father’s house has become a market place.Continue reading “Clearing the Temple (Lent 3) – Sermon 7th March 2021 (1 Corinthians 1.18-25; John 2.13-22)”

Last Sunday we heard the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert which finished with the line “Satan left Jesus until an opportune time”. The question occurred to me, when did Satan return? and I think we have that answer today in the gospel. Here we are midway through Marks Gospel in ch 8Continue reading “The Way of the Cross (Lent 2) – Sermon 28th February 2021 (Mark 8.31-end)”

Baptism decision questions In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask: Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God? Candidates – I reject them. Do you renounce the deceit and corruption ofContinue reading “Temptations of Christ (Lent 1) – Sermon 21st February 2021 (Luke 4)”

Having just heard that gospel, you’re thinking well those are the words that end the carol service. The final piece of scripture that gives us the image of who this baby is in a universal context. These first verses of John’s Gospel have been proclaimed, scrutinised and wondered over for many a century and todayContinue reading “Who is Jesus? – Sermon 7th February 2021 (Colossians 1.15-20; John 1.1-14)”

It seems strange we’re back at the beginning with a baby Jesus. In fact we are 40 days since the celebration of his birth, well 38 to be exact.For us we’re already in the New Year, we’ve had Sundays of epiphany, of Jesus beginning of his ministry and being revealed as the son of GodContinue reading “Presentation of Christ in the Temple – Sermon 31st January 2021 (Luke 2.22-40)”

Two weeks ago I told I taught you a Greek word Metanoia, if you remember it means a new beginning. Today’s Greek word isKAIRIOS.In verse 15 Jesus says the time has come, the word we have for time is Kairios. it is a Form of time, kairios time is about a breaking of something new,Continue reading “Kairos Moment (Epiphany 4) – Sermon 24th January 2021 (Jonah 3.1-5,10; Mark 1.14-20)”

Normally we would be in panto season, a favourite occasion of many Christmases, to join in the warm glow of Theatreland, to be with the crowds shouting  “he’s behind you”, “oh no he isn’t”. Our readings today have an element of panto about them, as both of them involve misunderstanding and happily end up withContinue reading “Call of Samuel and Nathaniel (Epiphany 3) – Sermon 17th January 2021”