Author: Steve

This recording also includes the Gospel

We have added a new page to the website which you can see on the menu at the top of the screen. The Diocese. As a start, you can read the Report to the Archdeaconry Synod 2025. But we will add more from the diocese soon.

OPEN HOUSE CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS AT CHAPLAIN’S FLAT:
SATURDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2-6 PM

Many people came, some for only for a few minutes.

Address:
Calle Montevideo 2, atico N
Las Palmas

We are so pleased to know you and you are a great Blessing to us

Love from us both Hanna and David

The recording starts with the reading from the Gospel

The audio starts with the Gospel reading: St Matthew Ch 3 vv 1-12

This includes the reading of the Gospel.

I recorded David’s sermon using Voice Recorder in my phone, but the quality is rather unnatural. Apologies for that. I used a small bluetooth microphone attached to the lectern, and that worked well! Next week, I will use the video recorder for a more natural sound. (Ed.)

This is an imperfect transcript of David’s sermon, written by Steve – authorised by David.

David started…….

There are three messages from our readings today.

Stand up, Stand firm
Shine out
Serve with love and kindness.

Stand up, stand firm! In Luke’s gospel, we read about the predicted destruction of the Temple, the pride of the disciple’s religion, “…not one stone will be left upon another”. Everyone was horrified.
But Jesus said: By your endurance you will survive, gain your soul.

Stand up, stand firm.

David spoke of a woman who had a porcelain cup. She loved it. Sadly she died and the cup was broken into 3 pieces. But her husband, who was a craftsman, glued it back together with gold. So the cracks shone brighter than before. The cup wasn’t ruined, it was redeemed. Through its suffering, it had become more beautiful.

Standing up doesn’t mean not breaking. It means love can fill the cracks.

We may have had a difficult week. But stand up, stand firm. Maybe your faith trembles.

Stand up, stand firm.

Shine out.

David spoke about a lighthouse keeper (admittedly an unlikely story!) A storm broke all the windows of the lighthouse during the night, but he put his last single candle behind a window. The next day, the captain of a boat came to thank him. It saved his ship from being wrecked. A little light can save a life. Be a prescence.

Shine out. Glow, be pleasant. Stand firm.

Paul wrote in the epistle, “Don’t be idle. Live as love’s hands in the world”.

A volunteer was serving soup to homeless people but she was exhausted. And she must have appeared exhausted because one of the men who she was serving offered to take her place. “We all take turns in being strong”. Sharing kindness, sharing love.

Your world may tremble, for whatever reason. But Jesus says, “Love still shines, love still stands. Love still serves”.

Share and serve in love, day by by day. When the world shakes, when your world shakes, stand firm. Love will take you through whatever happens.

Amen