From Rev’d Caroline Symcox – 01285 712467 – carolinesymcox@googlemail.com
Readings for Sunday: Acts 17.22-31; 1 Peter 3.13-end; John 14.15-21
To hear Caroline’s sermon click on the arrow below
The following is taken from the Parish Newsletter for Sunday 10th May 2026
Do you know how our Bible readings are chosen every Sunday? Let me explain!
The answer is both simple and complicated, of course. The simple answer is that we get them from a book – our Lectionary – which gives us readings for every day of the week. The complicated answer is that these readings were chosen after a years’ long collaborative process involving representatives from all the major Roman Catholic and Protestant (Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist etc.) denominations. We share our readings with many other Christian churches and across the whole world. It’s a tremendous gift – readings were chosen for the Christian season, for their connections to each other, and also to allow systematic reading through a given book if we prefer that way of reading.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because following this wonderful product of reflection and ecumenical work means that every Sunday we are challenged to think about a part of the Bible, and it may not be a part we want to read! We don’t get to cherry-pick our favourite bits and ignore the rest! We are forced to pay attention to the whole of God’s Word.
Sometimes though, it drops favourites into our laps, and this Sunday for me is one of those. Every one of these readings is a joy to me, because they speak to a subject that is so dear to my heart – the willingness and ability of every Christian to be able to think about and explore their faith. Those words from 1 Peter 3.15 are words I try to live by, and I commend them to you:
“Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”
The whole of our faith is massive. The concepts we think about are huge – the meaning of life, the way we should live, the reality of salvation, the belief in eternal life – and can often feel beyond our reach. The Church itself, and I mean the whole Church of God here, every Christian, every denomination, is ancient and complicated, and there are undoubtedly many parts of it that we don’t know or understand. Being asked to articulate anything about this massive idea of faith might seem utterly impossible. Even full-time, professional theologians would hesitate to think they could know and communicate everything there might be to know or share.
But. But there is a reason we believe. There is a difference that our faith and worship has made in our lives. We, each of us, have some relationship and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to know and understand everything. But being able to put into words the heart of our faith is so important and good – for us, and for the people around us who may want to know more. Take the time to speak it out, just for yourself at first. Think about it. Explore it. And then, next time someone asks, be ready to offer it. Words aren’t everything, but they are a vital start. Let’s work on using our words, this week!
Rev’d Caroline
Updated 10th May 2026