In touch

Week beginning Sunday 11 October 2026 Proper 21 Year A

Terrible decisions

How do we decide what to do?

Context

She’s back! The Queen of the Castle with her great knitwear, fringe and of course twenty-one new celebrity guests on the ultimate hunt for the traitors.

And this series has started with a bang. From blowing up a ship on a Scottish loch, to the infectious joy of Richard E Grant on discovering he’d been picked as a traitor to Ross Kemp’s immediate paranoia, Celebrity Traitors has been a treat! Whether you’re watching it or not you probably can’t escape the chatter about what’s happening and who’s actions are looking suspicious.

Of course the interesting part of The Traitors, celebrity or civilian, is the way people behave when trying to identify who the traitors are, based on just their suspicions, vibes and a whole lot of nothing much to go on! Even the best minds in there find it very hard to work it out and even harder to avoid all sorts of group-based behaviours. The British Psychological Society produced a really interesting article about the psychological decision-making at play in the castle. 

Amongst other phenomena, the article discusses normative social influence. This is the idea that we go along with something, not because we necessarily believe it is right, but because we are craving acceptance by the group and therefore safety in that context. Clearly this means that terrible decisions are made with such herd behaviour and just the act of trying to stand up for something different to the herd immediately makes you the object of suspicion – it’s all very complicated. The group are also isolated, tired and have been taken away from their usual norms, all feeding into them making a lot of bad choices.

The Israelites were not trapped in a castle in Scotland, but to some extent were trapped in the desert at Mount Sinai. And it’s really fascinating to note that their behaviour reflects some of the same problems the Celebrity Traitors are struggling with. Reading Exodus 32 we get a sense of the herd mentality kicking in. The demand for something they knew to be wrong and the switch up to view Moses as a traitor, a concept that clearly spread, quickly led them to the Israelites making some really poor decisions. Even Aaron, with some status as a leader, was not immune to the pressure to go along with something that was a long way from what he knew to be right.

In some ways it’s reassuring to see that humans have struggled with the same problems for centuries. The golden calf story draws a line between humankind then and humankind now. We might like to think we would make different decisions, but perhaps not? Maybe the point is for us to stay as close to the truth as possible. The celebrity traitors are making bad herd choices because they are isolated in a castle and cut off from many of their norms. The Israelites had not seen Moses for a month. They were cut off from the person who had led them, spoke the truth to them and helped them shape their understanding about what was happening. But the reality is that we can always stay close to the truth. God is eternal, ever-present and always close to us. A relationship with God means we are permanently held in light and truth. Perhaps we need to look at where we are in relation to the divine truth and pray this is the ultimate guide for our lives.

Discussion questions

• When and how have you made a good choice for your life?
• Who influences you?
• How do you let God shape your decisions?
• What does it mean for you to stay close to the truth?

Fiona is a freelance leadership consultant and mediator.

Week beginning Sunday 4 October 2026 Proper 21 Year A

Compete with honour

This week’s readings all involve rules, laws or commandments. So do three popular competitive TV shows.

Context

It feels like the ‘celebrity’ competition season is in full swing, with all the following TV favourites kicking off new series within a few weeks of each other:

• Strictly Come Dancing
• The Great British Bake Off 
• Celebrity Traitors

For some of us the start of these new series feels a bit like some kind of early Advent calendar countdown to Christmas! But will all the celebrity competitors take part with honour? Perhaps any such expectation would miss the point in terms of the last of those three competitions, with Celebrity Traitors due to start this Thursday?

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Even though so much has changed with the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, the essential rules remain the same, as Stuart Wild describes in this week’s Check-in (see below). Whilst the four judges may vary on taste in terms of what they like to see from contestants, they are usually in agreement on the fundamental rules of ballroom and Latin dance competitions. Imaginative innovation may be encouraged, but there is a line to be drawn between the rules of this competition and those of street-dance, or indeed any other of the celebrity disciplines such as skeleton bob-sleigh, football, etc. The rules of the dance are there for all competitors to honour for the benefit and fairness of all concerned, as if they were commandments written on the judges' stone score paddles, numbered 1-10. Likewise, God gave focused commandments to Moses (Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20) in order to help him to guide the people in ways that honoured the Lord and each other. Like a verdict issued from Craig Revel-Horwood, at the time the people were filled with fear but promised to listen to Moses. The rules/commandments were written in order to foster a context of unity and mutual commitment, for the enrichment of their society and the strengthening of their community.

Psalm 19 uses beautifully evocative words to describe the ways of the Lord in very positive terms (vv.7-9) – perfect, sure, right, clear, pure, true, righteous. The effects of the Lord’s ways upon the faithful who honour them are described in equally glowing terms – reviving, joyful, enduring, enlightening. Whilst the feelings engendered by the Lord’s ways and commandments (v.10) are described in such gorgeously sumptuous terms that they might have tripped off the tongue of GB Bake Off’s new judge, Nigella Lawson. The psalm encourages honourable behaviour (vv.11-13) and concludes with words oft spoken by (if not baked into the heart of) every preacher who has ever tried to honour God through constructing and leading an act of congregational worship (v.14), as if baking a cake worthy of the great Paul Hollywood himself.

The link between Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21.33-45) and Celebrity Traitors is probably obvious. Jesus is still in the Temple and on a story-telling roll. The targets behind the meaning of his latest story are once again the celebrity leaders of the people of Israel – the chief priests and the Pharisees. However, as Jesus' followers would later realise, like the work of many great artists and musicians, this story would only achieve its full worth after Jesus' death. In the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, a small number of competitors will have to use all their acting skill to convince others that they are just like the rest of them – the faithful – when in fact they will be lying through their teeth to cover the tracks of the murderous deeds that they will get up to. Jesus is laying it on thick with those who would later be regarded as the celebrity traitors of his day. These are the law-builders who rejected the one who would become the cornerstone of our faith today. 

Rules, laws and commandments exist for the benefit of all. So, too, does following God’s ways and living a worshipful life that honours God, with Christ Jesus our Lord at the centre to benefit us and those around us.

Questions for discussion

• Reflect upon situations where you have had to act as judge, to uphold rules which made life very uncomfortable for others. How did this make you feel?
• How do you think you would feel if you were in the shoes of the chief priests and the Pharisees, and the parable of the wicked tenants was aimed directly at you?
• If you were a celebrity traitor, which of the ten commandments would you find most difficult to lie about and why?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership, who will now struggle to find a spare evening in the week which doesn’t involve dancing, baking or traitors.

Week beginning Sunday 27 September 2026 Proper 21 Year A

Moses the advocate

There is suffering all around us. What will we do? (Exodus 17:1-7)

Context

• Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to the UN this week.
• The Republic of Ireland men's football team is deciding whether to go ahead with a match against Israel in the coming weeks.

Reflection & ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Many of us hate to ask for help. It’s much easier to be the one that others come to and ask for support but Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not had that luxury. Attacked by a larger, wealthier nation, Mr Zelenskyy has had no choice but to go to nations around the world to advocate for his nation. He has asked for financial support, for military support and for larger nations to apply pressure to Russia to end the conflict.

Occasionally this has led to awkward and embarrassing encounters, such as with President Trump last year, but Zelenskyy knows that his people will suffer unless he continues to press others to help them. He could seek refuge elsewhere but has chosen to stay and continue pushing for the freedom of his countryfolk.

In our bible reading, Moses is the one in the middle. He hears the complaints of his people and the easiest thing would be for him to walk away from them but, instead, he takes their problems to the one he knows can provide. Moses has no power but understands that water - and therefore life - comes from the hand of God and so he prays and advocates on behalf of his people.

When we hear people complain, do we walk away? Do we sympathise with their problems and wish them well? Or do we point them to the one who can meet all of our needs - either directly or by praying on their behalf. Life comes from God alone, but he invites us to call on him for those around us.

The conflict in Gaza has raised all sorts of questions for nations & religious groups. In the news this week, we saw musicians and footballers working out the role they should play or not in highlighting the tragedy playing out in the Holy Land.

The question today is not whether their politics are right, but how individuals use the public platform that they have to raise awareness of a particular issue. Should sport and politics be kept separate? Can they be kept separate? When we hear a group of people in pain and despair, what is God asking us to do? Moses spoke up on behalf of the Israelites. Who is God asking us to speak up on behalf of in the coming weeks?

Questions for discussion

• Have you ever been asked by someone to speak up on their behalf?
• When has someone else spoken up for you?
• What does prayer look like when we pray for people whose suffering we don’t share?
• What are the practical things we can do to make a difference for others who are having a hard time?

Steve Taylor shares the job of joint vicar of St Paul’s CofE Church, Harrow with his wife, Ali. They share their home with their youngest child, two cats, three chickens and a rabbit.

Week beginning Sunday 20 September 2026 Proper 20 Year A

Complaining!

God hears us, God is with us.

Context

When will the VAR debate ever end?  With a heavy inevitability, and as autumn starts to erode our summer holiday memories, the football league gets into full swing along with a raging debate about Video Assistant Referees.

Last week’s match between the two Manchester teams ignited the debate again following a controversial decision to award a Manchester City goal via VAR initially ruled out by the officials on the pitch. This one was particularly interesting in that after the game, won by City due to that goal, the VAR officials themselves admitted that they had probably made the wrong decision as they failed to take into consideration other players who may have transgressed the rules leading up to the goal.

It’s all fiendishly complicated and everyone has an opinion - just have a listen to the second half of Nicky Campbell’s phone-in show for a flavour of the reaction, passion and opinions of the Great British public! It’s a technology debate that triggers the nation!

But the fact is that we now live in a world of enormous and complex technology debates: Is AI going to kill us all? What about the rapid development of sinister weaponry thanks to wars raging around the world. Can we develop technology quickly enough to deal with the climate collapse? Many of us might feel lost when we look at the big picture here. It’s hard to understand what’s happening and we can feel very disempowered in the face of technological advances that seem out of control or the reluctance of governments and corporations to tackle world problems that are impacting all of us. So perhaps, in the face of this, quibbling, moaning or complaining about VAR decisions is a low-level tech debate that we can all engage in.

And there’s a strange parallel to the story of the Israelites in the desert with Moses. Their world was equally frightening. They were worried about the big picture. Were they all going to die in the desert? Who was in control? Why did they leave Egypt in the first place – what was the plan? Perhaps for them the world felt out of control, perhaps they felt disempowered, and so they take to collectively quibbling, moaning and complaining about an issue they can all engage with - food. Perhaps if they had had the chance to call Nicky Campbell on this one you would have heard their reactions, passion, and opinions on a debate that was triggering all of them.

For the Israelites, God heard their complaints and stepped in with a solution. He provided for their immediate needs whilst they worked their way through the complexities of their world. He was with them even though they were to be in that desert for years to come.

Now I don’t think we will have a heavenly solution to the VAR debate. But God does hear our cries and our complaints. He knows what impacts us and is with us through it all – the small and immediate to the huge and global.

Like the Israelites we don’t know what’s going to happen next, or how long we will be in ‘the desert’, but we do know God is in it all with us, big and small.

Prayer idea

Use a football to pray for things that are important to you. Either:

Throw the football around the church. When people catch it pause and pray together for that person.

Or:

Take a football and write different prayer points into each panel with a marker pen. Stand in a circle and throw the ball across it. When someone catches the ball they should read out one of the prayer points. The group will then pause to pray. Repeat until all the prayer points have been covered.

Fiona is a freelance leadership consultant and mediator.

Week beginning Sunday 13 September 2026 Proper 19 Year A

Let them all go?

Exodus 14.19-31 and Matthew 18.21-35 seem in conflict on the subject of forgiveness.

Context

• Following the major disruption caused by masked ‘stop-the-boats’ protesters at the Port of Dover last weekend, the start of this week saw anti-migrant protestors blocking roads, after requests to land 120 migrants picked up on RNLI boats in Portsmouth were denied. 
• Things seemed to turn nasty after climate protestors infiltrated the Reform UK conference. One woman was firmly removed from proceedings during a speech by Nigel Farage.
• Greenbelt festival 2026 happened on the bank holiday weekend under the banner of ‘Let it all go’. Greenbelt is a festival which has always prided itself on being somewhere you can expect a warm welcome – regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality, disability or background.

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

It disturbs me how much unforgiveness we witness in the world today!

This week's Old Testament passage (Exodus 14:19-31) is a celebration of the freedom achieved by God leading Moses’ Israelite people out from the slavery of oppression. Yay! It’s a mighty miraculous witness of God’s power! Make no mistake, this was great news… for some. But, it was at the expense of wiping out a huge army of Egyptian soldiers, chariot drivers and horses. This part does not sit well with me. I know that the Egyptians were awful to the Israelites, and I know that they were given 10 chances (plagues) in order to reconsider and change their ways, but I struggle to celebrate one people's freedom and not mourn the loss of another. It is a story that has been repeated throughout history to justify the victory of one people over another – God is believed to go with one side, but not the other. When the power of God is celebrated in this way and an act of mass destruction is justified, I’m sure I can’t be alone in having a moral dilemma.

When Peter asked Jesus that awkward question about how many times he should forgive a brother or sister (Matthew 18:21-35), Peter suggests 7 chances of forgiveness. Depending on which translation you read, Jesus suggests you could forgive 77 times, or 70x7, the implication being that your capacity for forgiveness should be limitless. Jesus backs up his response by telling a story about a wildly disproportionate act of forgiveness, or the lack of it. However, even Jesus concludes the parable with a warning of what God will do to those who ultimately fail to take the path of forgiveness.

Paul (Romans 14:1-12) in his letter to the church in Rome firmly supports and justifies by the law Jesus' approach to forgiveness. Paul urges that it is not up to us to judge or despise our brothers and sisters – judgment is in God’s hands. I suppose in some ways this does bring us back to the fate of the Egyptian army?

In the sad face of recent intolerant protests, I’d want to go in a different direction and remember the warm feeling I experienced at this year’s Greenbelt Festival. Amidst the more gentle protests about the state of our intolerant and unforgiving world at the present time – from Jordan Stephens' (Rizzle Kicks) thoughtful reflections on the negative effects of the manosphere and hyper-masculinity; to four visiting artists of faith from the USA (Speech from Arrested Development, Crys Matthews, Flamy Grant and Lee Bains) sharing their thoughts on what it's like trying to live a creative, generous life in Trump’s (Christian Nationalist) America; to a panel discussion about how we engage with and talk about Christian Nationalism in the UK from a multi-faith perspective – I experienced a particular moment of enlightenment. Finding myself standing right at the front of the main stage arena, I felt the pure joy of tolerance and acceptance exuding from the very pores of the festival. Listening to a style of music that was far from my usual playlist repertoire, I stood in awe of the enthusiasm and integrity of a group of trans beatbox artists. Here, this wonderfully diverse group of people had found acceptance in the arms of an audience gathered together in God’s name! I thought to myself: why can’t the Church be more like this? Why can’t the world? If people aren’t hurting others with their chosen path through life, why can’t people just be free to be who they feel led to be without being protested at or hounded by the narrow-minded and the ignorant?

I think I found hope because I witnessed forgiveness and tolerance in the world today. I’m sure Jesus' answer to Peter’s question still stands as much today as it did then. We will always mourn those who are lost to the seas of hatred, but God has given all people the ability to forgive our brother or sister from our heart. Let it all go! 

Questions for discussion

• Have you had moments or periods within your life when you have found that you have not been able to be or express who you truly are? How did those times make you feel? Did you find it within you to forgive those who silenced or oppressed you?
• In what ways have you experienced hurtful intolerance win your church or community?
• Can you encourage people to share positive experiences of times they have been able to express their faith in ways that are fearless, flamboyant and full of heart?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership. He has been camping at Greenbelt Festival since his late teens (which was quite a long time ago!).

Week beginning Sunday 6 September 2026 Proper 18 Year A

Freedom or precise rules?

For freedom Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1) but freedom from what?

Context

World-wide the news is dominated by renewed conflict between the USA and Iran and the floods in Nepal. Domestically we have the first appearances in Parliament of our new Prime Minister.

Although the British weather has now reverted to type, none of us can ignore the successive heatwaves over the summer or the temperature records which have been broken. No one weather event should be invoked to argue that climate change is happening or that it is caused by human activity; but much of what we are now witnessing matches the predictions which were being made 30 years ago (as I became Head of Environment at the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food).

At the Greenbelt Festival last Sunday I watched the National Emergency Briefing film. It is presented by Chris Packham and I strongly recommend that you find a screening in your local area and go and watch it. It is full of facts around climate change from military and health experts as well as those with more obvious expertise. Given my background some of the facts were familiar to me but others were not.

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

The Exodus story is about how the children of Israel escaped from slavery in Egypt. What are the things which enslave us? Collectively are we in slavery to fossil fuels? What instructions might God now be giving us in our responsibility to care for creation? In what for many is now the Season of Creation, are these issues foremost in our minds? More controversially, are we (in the West at least) enslaved by an economic system which privileges freedom of choice above all else?

Freedom is widely thought to be an important value and objective. But as a concept freedom is more controversial than one might expect. Elon Musk has criticised what he claims is a lack of free speech in the UK but he seems not to have noticed that the USA where he now lives is 64th in the World Press Freedom Index, well below the UK in 18th place.

The gospel is supposed to set us free (Galatians 5:1). But many people around the world live in societies where it is difficult, even illegal, to express some thoughts. Is freedom always and everywhere the most desirable thing? And what is the most important freedom - freedom from hunger, for example, or freedom from slavery, or freedom of thought and speech, or freedom of religion? The Universal Declaration on Human Rights is a useful starting point for thinking about such issues.

The instructions in the Exodus and Matthew passages are remarkably precise. In the case of the Exodus passage we seem to be reading something like a liturgical text, especially as it ends with instructions about an annual festival of remembrance. Some commentators see Jesus’ detailed instructions in the Matthew passage as reflecting issues in the churches for which the author is writing. If the passage is based on specific teaching from Jesus, I find that intriguing, given that so much of Jesus’ teaching is more enigmatic. The story we call the Good Samaritan - and many of the other stories (parables) he told  - are designed to make us think rather than offering precise answers like those in this gospel passage. Why might that be? And are precise rules compatible with freedom of thought and action?

Questions for discussion

• Which of the freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights do you most value? And which (if any) would you be content to discard?
• In what circumstances do we need precise rules and when is more general guidance (like ‘love your neighbour’ or ‘feed the hungry’) more helpful?
• What are the things which enslave us and from which we need to be liberated? As individuals, perhaps social media? As a society, perhaps fossil fuels?

Dudley Coates is a local preacher in the Salisbury Methodist Circuit and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference.

Week beginning Sunday 30 August 2026 Proper 16 Year A

Trust that God will make things happen

God is calling us all to new things - and it is by his strength and power that we can do them. (Exodus 3:1-15)

Context

• Schools are gearing up to return this week, with a focus on the associated costs to parents
• Tributes have been plentiful following the death of Dolly Parton this week.
• Meta has agreed to pay $17billion after losing a court case asserting that its platforms knowingly caused harm to young people.

Reflection & ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

What will it cost? There are some situations where we are able to stop and assess what we will have to pay for something: choosing a restaurant to eat in, shopping for clothes etc. Other costs just hit us - school uniforms being one of those impossible-to-avoid budget lines for parents. Often, money is something that stops us in our tracks when contemplating a new career path or idea. This might be because we don’t have the money to start something new or because we are tied by the need to continue earning our current income. There can be other brakes to our doing something new: a fear of making mistakes, anxiety that it won’t work out and we will be hurt or look foolish.

Moses has left his princely life behind in Egypt and settled into herding sheep for his father-in-law. He isn’t looking for anything new - and can think of good reasons why God should choose someone else. However, God is clear that the key information is in God’s own nature and power - not Moses’ anxiety or lack of ability. Moses is told to stop looking at himself and to instead focus on the burning bush - on God the great I AM. It is by God’s power and God’s strength that the Israelites will be set free.

So for us, do we have a sense of what God is calling us into this coming academic year? Are we focussed on the potential cost and the difficulties ahead of us or are we looking for God and trusting that He will make things happen?

Moses’ concerns came from himself, but Dolly Parton’s life shows us someone succeeding hugely despite doubts and concerns being thrown at them continually from other people. Parton was continually derided, mocked and belittled but had confidence in her own God-given ability. She succeeded to the point where she could wear the criticisms of others almost as a badge of pride and her foundation donated over $12 million to charity before she died this week.

Questions for discussion

• What new things might you be looking at taking up this autumn?
• What reasons do we have for saying no to new things?
• How have you experienced God asking you to do something different?
• What helps you to focus on God ahead of your current situation and difficulties?

Steve Taylor shares the job of joint vicar of St Paul’s CofE Church, Harrow with his wife, Ali. They share their home with their youngest child, two cats, three chickens, and a rabbit. 

Week beginning Sunday 23 August 2026 Proper 15 Year A

Empowered

Who do you say I am? (Matthew 16:15)

Context

This week President Trump posted some AI-generated videos and pictures of himself with George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers and the first President of the United States of America. In one video we saw President Trump walking around showing an impressed George Washington a mock-up of his proposed White House Ballroom. In reality, President Trump is having trouble with Congress over his proposed ballroom and also a proposed triumphal arch in Washington DC.

In other pictures, President Trump shows himself writing with a quill, like Washington, and riding a horse alongside him. The inference is clear: President Trump suggests that he is as great as one of the Founding Fathers, whose power should not be challenged by Congress. And he floats the contentious idea that he should continue for a further term in 2028.

Reflection

In today’s Gospel reading we hear Jesus ask what the popular expectation is around the ‘Son of Man’. The talk is of the return of powerful figures: John the Baptist, and prophets like Elijah. The hope on the street is for a strong Messiah coming back to save the people from Roman oppression. But when Jesus asks Simon Peter, Peter sees that Messiahship is a divine, not earthly, mission. Because of Peter’s insight into Jesus’ true nature and purpose, he is entrusted with the spiritual task of establishing the truth about Jesus on earth. It is a very different scenario from President Trump’s AI aggrandisement. Jesus asks his disciples NOT to proclaim his Messiahship. He turns away from the pull of popular desires around earthly kingship and power and seeks only the path God the Father has laid before him.

Ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Life can be complicated and frustrating, and it’s tempting to try and set out one’s credentials to pull rank, silence naysayers, and get one’s own way. But that way lies unhealthy patterns of behaviour: abuse of power; self-aggrandisement and pompery; believing stubbornly that others are simply wrong, and refusing to listen. How then, do we hold on to humility and listening to others, and hold on to God in prayer? Jesus didn’t force his power and authority on the disciples; they only had to look into their hearts to see and acknowledge that he was, and is, Lord. And by that understanding, they themselves were empowered, not as warriors and winners, but as bearers of Jesus’s light and truth.

Questions for discussion

• How do you think people in positions of power can hold on to humility?
• Why do you think Jesus told the disciples NOT to go around announcing that he was the Messiah?
• How do you think Peter reacted to Jesus empowering him and trusting him with being the bedrock of the faith after Jesus’ death?

Dr Anne Richards is part of the National Public Policy Team at the Church of England, focusing on modern society, popular culture, contemporary spirituality and apologetics (see Deeper into God and Spiritual Journeys).

Week beginning Sunday 16 August 2026 Proper 15 Year A

Forgiveness and contrition

The complex story of Joseph and his brothers raises important questions about the key place of forgiveness. 

Context 

• In some ways Genesis 44 and 45 read like a court scene, with Joseph as judge and his brothers as defendants. One of the major debates over the summer in the UK has been about the early release of prisoners. Within this debate there has been renewed discussion about sentencing guidelines and, in particular, what part remorse or contrition should play in determining the form or length of a sentence. According to at least one firm of solicitors in the UK: ‘In matters being investigated by the police or before the criminal courts it is sometimes the case that a simple act of contrition, genuinely felt and communicated, can alter a case outcome significantly’.
• Forgiveness is something intensely deep and personal. A theme that needs handling with great care not least by those leading worship or preaching. The stories of those who have been through the most extreme trauma and somehow found the grace to forgive are both deeply moving and very challenging - they certainly put the petty grievances we can easily cling onto in a very unfavourable light. One such story is that of Immaculée Ilibagiza who survived the Rwandan genocide only to find that her entire family had been brutally murdered, with the exception of one brother who was studying abroad. She also found that nearly one million of her extended family, friends, neighbours and fellow Rwandans had been massacred. Her book Left to Tell and her website tell of how, after the genocide, Immaculée came face-to-face with the man who killed her mother and one of her brothers. After enduring months of physical, mental and spiritual suffering, Immaculée was still able to offer the unthinkable, telling the man, "I forgive you."
• The context of this week’s Old Testament reading is one of famine due to crop failure. Not so long ago if we heard those words on the news we would have probably associated them with countries and continents beyond Europe. Not so now. With a fifth heat wave this week and fields the colours of deserts, crop failure is now a significant issue in the UK and, whilst famine may be some way off, there is certainly much talk of food shortages. 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Forgiveness is at the heart of the story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers. This is an important theme to explore – it is at the very heart of our faith, symbolised by the cross and heard in the most gracious words in human history ‘Father forgive them’ (Luke 23:34). There are at least three ways in which you could explore this theme from the Genesis text set for this week:

1. By exploring the place of contrition or remorse. At first reading there may be a sense in which Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers was contingent upon them expressing contrition or remorse. But then we have Joseph’s amazing words in Genesis 45:5: ‘And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you’. These words are echoed in the equally remarkable Genesis 50:20: ‘Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today’. So, you may wish to explore the relationship between our contrition and God’s providence and forgiveness.
2. In many Christian traditions we pray the Lord’s Prayer every week. At the heart of the prayer we pray ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’. Easy to say but not always so easy to do - especially so within the context of family or Church where sadly grievances can often last a long time. What do the stories of Joseph and/or Immaculée Ilibagiza (see above) say to us in this context about the need for, the possibility of, and the transforming power of forgiveness?
3. Often when we think about the need for forgiveness we think about it all in an inter-personal way, mindful of how we have sinned against God or other people. But with wild fires raging, bodies of water drying up and crops failing, do we need to give more attention to how we have sinned against the rest of the created order and sincerely seek forgiveness for that? And not just seek forgiveness but demonstrate our contrition and remorse by changing our selfish attitudes and behaviours that have contributed to the devastating effects of climate change.

Questions for discussion

• What are the relationships between God’s forgiveness and our contrition and forgiveness of others?
• Is our forgiveness of others contingent on their contrition?
• How should our understanding of forgiveness and contrition affect the public debates about the sentencing of those convicted of crimes?
• In what sort of relationships or contexts do we find it most difficult to forgive? Why might that be so?
• In the light of the climate crisis do we need a broader perspective about what we need forgiveness for?

Andrew Roberts is a husband, father, Methodist Minister and the author of Holy Habits. He enjoys watching football and cricket and once appeared on national TV dressed as a giant sunflower (BBC Get Your Own Back).

Week beginning Sunday 9 August 2026 Proper 14 Year A

Holding onto a hero

Heroes like Joseph can give us hope in our darkest times (Genesis 37:1-4,12-28).

Context

• “And there’s more.” This was the catch phrase of comedy legend Jimmy Cricket who died this week. As a contemporary of the likes of Paul Daniels, Frank Carson and Cannon and Ball from the 1980’s comedy circuit, Jimmy had a distinctly gentle style of clean comedy. From his attempt at a formal but clown-like dress code – a battered old black hat, paired with black bow-tie and tails, with trousers cut too short and wellington boots labelled L (left) and R (right), on the wrong feet – to his kind simpleton character, I remember admiring him fondly as a child. My parents even met him on one occasion and said how genuinely lovely he was. What is not so well known about him was his strong Catholic Christian faith, which must have influenced his unique style of clean, inoffensive comedy. He was even given the honour of a papal knighthood by Pope Francis in 2015. Following his death he received many tributes, including from fellow Christian comedians Tim Vine and Milton Jones. Jimmy’s humble comedy character seems to have been much like he was in real life, according to friends and family. He was full of childlike joy, even through his brief illness, right until the end. They said of this comedy hero: “He believed that death is not the end and was looking forward to eternity, so really… And there's more.”
• ‘Brand New Day’ is the latest Spider-Man movie, which broke box office records upon its release last weekend. This latest release form the Marvel Universe picks up the story of Peter Parker (AKA Spider-Man) in a world that doesn’t remember who he is. He has to watch his old life as an outsider, as his friends move on without him. But this time the friendly neighbourhood super hero has to grow up to face many new challenges and transformations in his life, whilst he continues to battle villainous crime.

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

Joseph’s story sees his popularity range from hero (in the eyes of his father, Jacob) to zero (in the eyes of most of his brothers). As a child Joseph was one of my favourite heroes, as I saw him through the colourful images in my Lion Children’s Bible and Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s technicolored musical, which I’ve seen performed more times than I can remember. As a child my aunty made me my own amazing technicolour coat out of an old deck-chair seat and I would act out the story, singing along to the record of the original London cast soundtrack in our living room – me as Joseph and my dad as Pharaoh. I’ve even been in stage versions of the story twice in my lifetime too. Heroes and their stories are important to us as children, but their influence can have a lasting impact that stays with us as we mature and grow.

Spider-Man has always been one of the most popular comic book super heroes, since his inception in the 1960s. There’s a lot for young people to relate to in the working-class kid from Queens, New York. He’s ordinary. Well, at least until he is bitten by a radio-active spider, giving him extraordinary sensory and physical abilities. He didn’t seek greatness. Nevertheless greatness was thrust upon him. And as his Uncle Ben reminded him at the start of his super hero career: “With great power comes great responsibility." 

The RCL reading for Proper 14 Year A misses out the verses (Genesis 37:5-11) that tell of Joseph’s early use of his super power – his ability to foretell the future through his dreams. However, the effects are felt by the brothers in the second part of this week’s passage (Genesis 37:12-28). Already grinding their teeth at the very thought of their daddy’s-boy seventeen-year-old kid-brother, his dream-telling pushes them over the edge, leading them to literally push him over the edge and into a pit. Rather than kill him (thanks to their eldest brother, Reuben) they almost follow the model of a stereotypical movie villain, letting fate decide by tying their victim to a train track or strapping them to rocket, finally settling on the deep dark pit option.

In his most recent movie, ‘Brand New Day’, Spider-Man’s character has definitely matured. After being sold into slavery, Joseph has time away from those he knows in order to contemplate his future. We see his character mature as his story skips to chapter 39, time passes and he learns to use his God-given power more responsibly for the benefit of himself and, in time, his people. It is sometimes easy to forget that Joseph’s story takes place over many years and that his rise from zero to hero takes a long time, a lot of waiting and hard work. Holding on to hope, he rises from the darkness of slavery and, despite setbacks along the way, he is eventually given great responsibility. Holding on to hope he is eventually restored to a new position in a more mature relationship with his family. His abridged story is also told in Psalm 105:1-6,16-22.

Heroes, or people who are legends in their own lifetime, can give us hope that there is always more to life. As Jesus tried to show Peter and disciples (Matthew 14:22-33), faith in God leads to hope for more in this life and into eternity. As Jimmy would have said: “And there’s (always) more.”

Questions for discussion

• Who are the heroes or legends whose stories have influenced our lives? What was their impact on our lives?
• Jimmy Cricket was a comedian whose humble and gentle character brought joy to the lives of many. Who might we say are the quiet legends in our own lives, people who have had a kind, cleansing influence upon our souls?
• Joseph’s story has many dark turns and pitfalls (literally). Can we reflect on the darker moments of our own lives and identify where we were holding on to hope and see where God used those times to restore us to the light?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership, but secretly wants to be a superhero with a technicolour cape when he grows up.

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

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Week beginning Sunday 2 August 2026 Proper 13 Year A

Limping but surviving

Jacob’s encounter with God brings brokenness but also a new beginning (Genesis 32:30).

Context

In the nightmare of wildfires in France and Spain, can we receive the message from the darkness that is requiring us to change?

Sometimes we wrestle with challenges that come from events that are totally beyond our control and remind us of the limits of our own power. Fighting the wildfires in France has been termed a ‘David and Goliath struggle’.

Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey has reignited interest in Homer’s epic poem about the trials and testing faced by Odysseus on his journey home. 

Reflection and ideas for a sermon, talk or conversation

“Tell me about a complicated man.” No, not the story of Jacob, but the opening of Emily Watson’s translation of the story of Odysseus. Christopher Nolan’s film ‘The Odyssey’ is breaking box office records in the cinema right now and sales of translations of Homer’s epic poem have risen by around 70%. For all the criticism from Classicists and purists regarding emotional depth, the Homeric values, the place of women and the quality of the language, there is something that is still compelling about the flawed hero’s journey, the hardships he endures along the way, and the self knowledge and suffering that the journey necessitates. Stephen Fry has argued that Odysseus in all his complexity, is a relatable hero for our times. And let’s not forget Penelope’s journey towards resilience and wisdom as she navigates through the challenges of her ten year wait for Odysseus to return.

The wounded hero is an archetype in literature and mythology, revealing lessons about the cost of gaining wisdom, about vulnerability that can lead to new strength and about the need to remain grounded, knowing the limits of our own power. Jacob wrestles in the dark with a shadow and is left with a wound. Having spent his life using trickery and deceit and often running away, his dislocated hip means that he can no longer run. After his encounter with God in the dark, he limps into the dawn of a new day, wounded but at the beginning of a new journey into reconciliation. His trauma is not erased but becomes a source of self knowledge that enables the new chapter of his story to unfold. He is given a new name, Israel, meaning ‘one who struggles with God’ and this new name represents his transformation and his new understanding of God.

Sometimes life brings us up short. We find ourselves facing hardships, trauma, fear or pain that seems to overwhelm us and for which we do not have the resources. Such times bring us face to face with ourselves and our own inadequacy and our need for God. It seems that such pain will limit our ability to be useful in serving God and others. And yet…the bible is full of stories that happen on the other side of failure. Stories where an encounter with God in the midst of the pain leaves us, yes, limping, but also facing into a new day with hope.

Like Jacob, when we stop running, we are all at some point going to face God in the darkness. Indeed some Christian traditions talk about the ‘dark night of the soul’ that nevertheless can lead to a new beginning or deeper knowledge of self and of our calling.

The poet Mary Oliver writes:

Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.

(The Uses of Sorrow from Thirst Beacon Press 2007)

Sometimes integrating painful experiences is big work and it takes time, other people who can accompany us because they have been there before us (wise guides or Spiritual Companions) and patient work with God who is the ultimate restorer of hope, the God whom we find in bread that is broken to make us whole.

Questions for discussion

• Do we put our leaders on a pedestal in ways that are not helpful for them or for ourselves?
• Limping but surviving: how do all of us in ministry or leadership find ways to help others to grow through testing times and to find the face of God in the dark?
• How can we process and integrate our wounds as we go forward so that we can find God’s grace through them?
• What kind of role models do we need to inspire us in our Christian journey and to accompany us as we wrestle with God in life’s darkness?

Diane Craven is a freelance education and spirituality consultant and is currently based in the Diocese of York.

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

In touch is also available via facebook and Instagram.

Roots publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines. FIND OUT MORE.