The Green Chalice by Mark Coleman

It's the same idea whatever words you use ! St Paul in Galatians (5.22-23) tells us that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance . That's what the King James version says eloquently if somewhat mysteriously !. The NRSV, witch is the favoured translation of vicars like me uses these words: By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. I quite like the Message Bible which expands, indeed adlibs: But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commit...

Originally published 2017 Well can you or can't you ? Do you have it in you or don't you ? Well you don't know unless you try do you ? Are you worried that people will laugh at you if you get it wrong ? I came across the group Can't Dance Can this week. They use the space that is St Chad's church hall. I was immediately taken with the idea and the title. You may think you can't dance, but you can ! There are no doubt other applications. What about Can't Sing, Can or Can't Cook, Can ? For a variety of reasons we get it into our heads that something can't be done. We tried it and did not succeed as we thought we might. Someone told us we could not manage it. Or maybe all the reasons not to came from deep within us. If you look at their website you see the smiling faces of those who have discovered the joy of achieving something they never thought they could do. Dancing. There are pictures of older people dancing with umbrellas as well as children a...

The band U2 sing in the song titled Grace Grace, it's the name for a girl It's also a thought that changed the world And when she walks on the street You can hear the strings Grace finds goodness in everything In my first sermon at St Mary's in the Baum, Rochdale last Sunday I preached about Grace. Here's the link if you want to listen to it. And here is a rather nice picture of the Church open for the heritage weekend. People were so welcoming (and grace-full) to visitors.

We have landed in a new community. The Falinge district of Rochdale is very different from West Derby where we used to live. We have moved from bungalow to house, suburban to town centre and urban, private housing. It's a place of much diversity too. Down at the end of the street are some flats managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing . Here's a picture of one block - Glastonbury. Flats are currently available....... Wendy and I attended the launch of Near Neighbours on Monday. It's a Church Urban Fund programme which distributes money to help Churches and other faith groups work across difference to build up neighbourliness. As we look at our new community, indeed our new town, we want to get to know our neighbours.They are near but we don't know many yet. I bumped into a man on the way back from the launch. He said "Please pray for me Vicar" and went on to describe how due to drinking his liver was failing. He certainly had a jaundiced yellowy look...

Seventh Sunday after Trinity Sermon by Revd Mark Coleman, Rector of West Derby, St Mary and St James’ I am full of mixed feelings. We are sad to leave West Derby after nearly 7 years, but excited about beginning a new ministry in Rochdale. We will miss you and Liverpool. But after 13 years working in this area – I was 5 ½ years at St Christopher, Norris Green,   - it’s time to explore new horizons. I thank God for all that we have done together – in worship, welcome of strangers, in service, in Christian fellowship. These last few weeks I have been reflecting on and reliving the many good memories. (I think there is “a do” afterwards so please do stay as there are many thank-yous we would like to make.) People have asked why we are going to Rochdale. It’s place of social and economic need where I hope we can make a positive difference - life expectancy is 7 years lower than here. It’s a place of many faiths, I want to help build good relationships between the faiths....

Building the temple 11  Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12  ‘Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David. 13  I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.’ 1 Kings 6 In the readings set for tonight’s Evensong we have a story of a temple and a story of a prison. The building of a fine temple and the escape from a prison, a dark and unpleasant place. We have two places as far apart as you could imagine. Each man made, each at opposite ends of the scale of desirability. We would like to visit a temple, we do not want to be in a prison. Buildings have been very much part of my ministry here. They continue to be a big matter, perhaps the biggest concern for the PCC. Just a couple of weeks ago lead was stolen off the roof and so much work ...