Tag Archives: Peterborough Parish Church

Elephant Toothpaste: Catalysts of the Kingdom

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Ian Black

After the online Patronal Eucharist last month, when we gave you the sight if not the smell of incense, we looked at the thurible – the incense burner. It has got very clogged with soot and tar residue, so we … Continue reading →

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20:20 Vision – seeing the pandemic

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Ian Black

  Just on the eve of lockdown my optician sent me a reminder that it was time for my eyes to be tested again. I was rather pleased at first because I’d noticed that reading was becoming a bit tricky. … Continue reading →

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Looking for the people who inspire

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Ian Black

Last weekend there was a big rally and protest in the city centre here for ‘Black Lives Matter‘. This followed the brutal murder of George Floyd by a police officer in America, sparking an international movement of protest at racism … Continue reading →

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Prayer for a city centre church – Patronal Festival Sermon

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Ian Black

Over the past few years I have written a number of prayers for various special occasions and moments when something specific has been needed – moments of celebration, moments of public grief, anniversaries and to accompany events or reflect significant … Continue reading →

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Faith through the eyes of a poet

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Ian Black

On Thursday I went to the first performance in England of what was called a ‘fantasia’ by Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, who can clearly add playwright to his incredible list of talents. ‘Shakeshafte’ is a play imagining … Continue reading →

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The negligent manager and primacy of justice

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Ian Black

One of the privileges of being vicar of the city centre church and parish is that it brings me into fairly regular contact with our civic leaders and politicians. The tie-in with the cathedral strengthens that and brings a number … Continue reading →

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The love above all others

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Ian Black

Every now and then the gospels portray Jesus in a way that startles. We are so used to public figures guarding their words that we could wish they spoke a bit more frankly at times. Every nuance of what they … Continue reading →

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Olympic spiritual ideals: Aiming higher to be stronger in spirit and faster to bless

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Ian Black

Every four years our attention is drawn to a much wider selection of sport than we usually see. That is one of the reasons I like the Olympic games and the 31st Olympiad started on Friday in Rio de Janeiro … Continue reading →

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Pokémon Go: searching, meeting, finding

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Ian Black

Last weekend a new craze burst into our lives. If a couple of weeks ago anyone had said that I would have been sitting in a meeting this week discussing a strategy to respond to Pokémon Go with two education … Continue reading →

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Life lived in the light of faith

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Ian Black

There are times when our readings make me aware that we have come a very long way since they were written; that we live in different times. The first reading (2 Samuel 11:26-12:15) talks of events nearly 3,000 years ago. … Continue reading →

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