The Transfiguration

Posted on February 14, 2026 by 1urcher

(Matthew 17:1–13, Acts 12:1-2)

As I sit here in this dark and dank place, awaiting the dawn, I would not have had it any other way. He called me by the sea, my brother and I, and Andrew and Simon. We went with him at once leaving our father to continue running the business. I was often asked to go with him, and my John and Simon, sometimes known as Peter. Simon had become a leader and John, well you have read his words, can create wonder on the dowdiest of manuscripts. I was never sure why I went.

When we got to the mountain, he prayed. There was nothing unusual in that he prayed more than any man I had ever met. As he was praying, he changed. We were all familiar with the stories from our scriptures; Moses had to shield his face from the people because he had been with God. Prophets had had visions of angels and of the heavens. But here we were, seeing the man we followed change before our eyes. Yet he did not change, even as we saw Moses and Elijah appear alongside him, for maybe we were granted the privilege of seeing him properly for the first time. It was like a kind of dream, but the truth is this: the heavens lifted the curtains back, and we saw him as he really was. It was as if Jesus and the one like a son of man were identical. No wonder, Peter ran out words, and said shall we build tents for you, Moses and Elijah. I am not sure Simon had ever pitched a tent in his life.

Then everything went a little darker and lighter at the same time. A cloud covered us and out of the cloud came the voice. ‘This is my son. I love him. Listen to him’. There were echoes of the Psalms of course, and yet so much more. That was so Jesus though, utterly faithful to all we knew yet always pushing us to experience more. And then it went, and they went, and the three of us were left alone with our rabbi, our friend and our Lord. Don’t tell anyone what you have seen today, he commanded, not even the others. You will understand all things in time. We did as we were told!

Things began to change after this day. We were heading in one direction from then on, to the holy city. I look back on that day when he changed and yet did not change before us. You cannot put experiences like that into words. But I remember that we went there to pray; and you never know what happens when you pray. I still struggle to pray, and now here I am in Herod’s cell. The dawn is approaching and I will see the face of the man who changed everything once again.

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Romans 8. 18-25 A Story

Posted on February 7, 2026 by 1urcher

Romans will probably be my last letter. I hope to get to Rome, but I probably will not. I feel my age. My body has been through so much, as you know, beatings, stoning, fights, and imprisonment. This is not to mention that I have pushed myself to excess at times. well, I had no choice. I was the least among the apostles and wanted to prove myself worthy of him. My body aches sometimes, perhaps even groans. Creation groans you know, not through tiredness, but our fall became its fall. This does mean it is not beautiful. During my times of incarceration, my old ears listen to the bird song, and my eyes watch different forms of wildlife which bring beauty to even the darkest places. Yet it could be much more.

It longs for the children of God to be seen, as do I. We, Jews, have always known and felt the interconnectivity of the whole universe. Humans are not the centre of everything. Creation groans I have tried to say almost like labour pains. What do I mean? Well, I cannot really say as I cannot imagine the pain. Yet, I want to say the groans of creation are purposeful. There is hope they will end, and at the end there will be something wonderful, a beautiful gift. Even though our suffering seems overwhelming, it is nothing compared what God has promised. We are part of that promise, even I am, the one who is the worst of sinners.


Romans 8:18-25

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Anna’s Story

Posted on January 31, 2026 by 1urcher

It was 60 years since I came here, when my dear Caleb died before his time. many might say that so long in prayer was a not quite I life. i would beg to differ. Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his name. i had learnt to worship God as I live Israel’s song book. I also saw all of life, and danced with joy, if my knees allowed me to, as I took opportunities to pray for people. Of course, I was not a priest, I am only a woman, and an old woman at that. Some people who came to the Temple saw me and we shared together. The younger priests had not yet learnt how to pray. Simeon had and he welcomed me in his own way, weary though he was. He used to say it is written that young men should grow weary and rise on eagles’ wings, but perhaps old men are best just seeing grace on the ground. Sometimes I wondered what it would have been like to have children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren, like my sister, but I would not have lived to see this day.

I worried about Simeon. He was faithful and yet so weary. He had been full of hope at one stage, not just of marriage and family life that never came his way. But recently, his faith seemed to have ebbed slowly away.  He had believed that the Messiah would come. Me? I had learnt simply to live one day at a time. I had missed out you might have said on so much by Caleb’s death, yet, I have learnt to delight in the love and law of God. Praying constantly can give joy and lament, and I have come to delight in the goodness of God. When Simeon sighed and fretted at the machinations of the powerful, I knew simply that God was on the throne.

I had been praying and praising for a good few hours before I went into the Temple. I caught sight of Simeon blessing a baby – and I knew. His whole posture was different. I approached tentatively. At my age, I could do little else, and I hear with my old ears the whispers of Simeon, ‘my eyes have seen your salvation’. My heart warmed and then danced with unmitigating joy. Simeon’s eyes met with mine and together they did a triple somersault.

For a moment to anyone who listen, I became ambassador for the king. The Messiah has arrived I proclaimed to anyone who would listen, adding my prayers and unauthorised blessings for the couple and their child. I skipped around the temple courts, well that is what I thought I was doing, I am sure everyone else saw an old lady doing an incoherent jig. I did not mind, the goodness of God had come. What a day to be alive.

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Simeon’s story

Posted on January 31, 2026 by 1urcher

The dawning light crept through the window, and my old eyes adjusted to the shades. The truth to be told my eyes saw light darker now, and I ached as pulled off the sheet and sat still on my bed. Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the universe

The ancient words tumbled from my lips had sunk deep within my heart, as my face felt the cold water once again, as I washed and prepared to break my fast before going to the Temple, the centre of our world once, more. My eyes were blessed that they could not clearly see the standards of Caesar that had been placed in the holiest places, a reminder that we who were once a people no longer controlled ourselves. The hopes that burned within me were slightly diminished, although I smiled when I remembered a promise made long ago. you will not taste death until you see my Anointed one. As I stumbled out of my quarters, I looked around my room, hardly anything personal, no clutter, memories of laughter with friends long since gone, and I wondered whether that promise was empty or if I simply might fade away.

I wandered into the Temple forecourts, listening to the bleating of the animals. They knew what was coming, without spot or blemish, but their end was the same. People came from all over the world for a variety of reasons. They came to worship, to ask for forgiveness, to be set free, and to mark beginnings and endings. My ancient, well old, hands that now were weathered had blessed so many different things, and I had looked into the eyes of many as theirs had danced with mine as we hoped for a better future. There were a few of us on duty. The other priests had more energy and even with their younger eyes they did not seem to see as clearly as I.

There was nothing about them that drew me to them. Like countless thousands before them they had come to do what the Law required. They had made the journey from Bethlehem, they told me. They made the sacrifice and usually that would be that a smile, maybe an embrace and perfunctory blessing. The father of the baby handed the boy to me. His name was Jesus, a common name, yet also a statement of faith that God would intervene.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God… the words came again, and then I looked at him. I had to adjust my eyes to see really. All babies smile, and make indescribable noises, and usually all parents are so very proud. I would not know that for God had not blessed me with a wife or children. In the half light, I saw and heard. This one, the one I held, one without fault was the one. O Lord, I cried, I can go now in peace. It was not a wish for the end but a gratefulness that God had fulfilled his promise. I began to smile and laugh, and then the sound of bleating came again from a lamb being led to the slaughter, and as I embraced his parents, I was overwhelmed with sorrow as I entered what might be a mother’s pain. I told her, she was so very young, that we should experience pain. She knew.

Then the fingers of a baby wrapped around the index finger of my right hand, and my eyes saw clearly once again.

He had arrived.

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Candlemas Thoughts

Posted on January 31, 2026 by 1urcher

Luc | Luke 2. 33-35

Yr oedd ei dad a’i fam yn rhyfeddu at y pethau oedd yn cael eu dweud amdano. Yna bendithiodd Simeon hwy, a dywedodd wrth Fair ei fam, “Wele, gosodwyd hwn er cwymp a chyfodiad llawer yn Israel, ac i fod yn arwydd a wrthwynebir; a thithau, trywenir dy enaid di gan gleddyf; felly y datguddir meddyliau calonnau lawer.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Sylwebaeth |Commentary

Roedd Mair a Joseff wedi mynd â’u mab cyntaf-anedig i’r Deml. Roedd hyn yn unol â’r gyfraith. Iddewig oedd rhieni Iesu. Tra roedden nhw yn y Deml, roedd Simeon yn gweinidogaethu iddyn nhw ac i Iesu.

Mary and Joseph had taken their first born son to the Temple. This was in keeping with the law. Jesus’ parents were Jewish. Whilst they were in the Temple, Simeon ministered to them and to Jesus.

Mae’n ddigwyddiad bach yn naratif yr efengyl, ond mae mor bwysig. Mae Mair a Joseff yn rhyfeddu at yr hyn sy’n cael ei ddweud am Iesu. Ar yr olwg gyntaf mae hyn yn ymddangos yn rhyfedd. Roedd y ddau wedi cael ymweliadau gan Gabriel yr archangel.

It is a small incident in the gospel narrative, but is so important. Mary and Joseph marvel at what is being said about Jesus. At first glance this seems strange. Both had received visits from Gabriel the archangel.

Simeon yn canu ei gân, sy’n gyfarwydd iawn i ni i gyd.

29 “O Feistr Sofran! Gad i mi, dy was,bellach farw mewn heddwch!

Dyma wnest ti ei addo i mi –

30 dw i wedi gweld yr Achubwr gyda fy llygaid fy hun.

31 Rwyt wedi’i roi i’r bobl i gyd;

32 yn olau er mwyn i genhedloedd eraill allu gweld, ac yn rheswm i bobl Israel dy foli di.”

Simeon sings his song, which is very familiar to us all.

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

Mae gobeithion a breuddwydion Simeon yn cael eu gwireddu trwy weld Iesu.

Simeon’s hopes and dreams are fulfilled by seeing Jesus.

Simeon yn bendithio rhieni Iesu. Tybed a   allai’r eglwys wneud hynny’n well? Pa mor aml ydyn ni’n dathlu llawenydd bod yn rhiant, ac yn sefyll ochr yn ochr â’r rhai sydd mewn anhawster? Yn ei gân ac yn ei eiriau iddynt, mae’n cydnabod y bydd Iesu yn ddadleuol, ac o ganlyniad yn cael ei wrthwynebu gan rai. mae Simeon yn atgoffa Mary y bydd cost i’w mamolaeth (fel pe na bai’n ymwybodol o hynny’n barod)

Simeon blesses the parents of Jesus. I wonder whether the church could do that better? How often do we celebrate the joy of parenthood, and stand alongside those in difficulty? In his song and in his words to them, he acknowledges that Jesus will be controversial, and as a result will be opposed by some. Simeon reminds Mary that there will be a cost to her motherhood (as if she was not aware of that already)

Bydd Iesu cariadus yn dod ar gost i Mair a Joseff. Mae hynny’n rhywbeth y bydd y rhan fwyaf o rieni yn cydymdeimlo ag ef, ond yn fwy na hynny yw’r canlyniad dynol i gariad. Mae cost i ddisgyblion fel ni yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain hefyd. Tybed beth yw hynny i chi?

Loving Jesus will come at a cost for Mary and Joseph. That is something that most parents will empathise with, but more than that is the human consequence for loving. There is a cost for disciples like us in the twenty first century too. I wonder what that is for you?

Mae cost hefyd i Dduw wrth ein caru ni. Un y mae’n dewis ei dalu dro ar ôl tro.

There is also a cost for God in loving us. One that he chooses to bear time and time again.

Diolch i Dduw am Iesu heddiw | Thank God for Jesus this day.

Cwestiynau i’w hystyried | Questions to consider

Ym mha ffordd mae’r eglwys yn dathlu digwyddiadau arwyddocaol ym mywydau pobl heddiw?

In what way does the church celebrate significant events in people’s lives today?

Beth wyt ti’n ei ddysgu am Iesu yn y darn?

What do you learn about Jesus in the passage?

Pa her mae’r darn yn ei gynnig i chi?

What challenge does this passage offer to you?

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The Pirate Vicar

Posted on January 24, 2026 by 1urcher

Why on earth are you a pirate? It is a good question to ask a vicar. I moved to Conwy in February 2025, and a friend of mine from the Fellowship for Parish Evangelism told me of Conwy’s Pirate Festival (https://www.visitconwy.org.uk/whats-on/conwy-pirate-festival-2025-p483091). I went and took a look. I enjoyed it. I even got the chance to fire a musket.

I have become good friends with many of the gang and it was a delight to host a Pirate Carol Service in St Benedict’s Church in December 2025. Readings were from the Pirate Bible and the carols had been rewritten. There were lots of arrgghs and laughter. For more of the pirate bible, see https://piratebible.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopEzLt7LrFHG4RKRX3HLFUy_HCd9UA1ks3DSEfRgNErlkgylLpU

There are rumours of pirates being buried in the churchyard and indeed in the church. Indeed an archbishop of york (a long time ago) is reputed to have been a pirate. For now there are two reasons why I am a pirate vicar. First, the Conwy Pirates raise a lot of money for charity and are deeply committed to each other. Second, there is a pirate code. That is a subject for another blog. At its heart is the phrase: ‘no one stands alone’. That is tru for me when I am with them.

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Conversion of Paul: A story

Posted on January 24, 2026 by 1urcher

I was enveloped by the darkness as I fell to the ground. The light of the one who stood before me penetrated the scales in front of my eyes. Nevertheless, I could hear and recognise the voice who said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I asked who the voice belonged to. But I knew. We had never met but the rich timbrel of his voice matched the love and devotion that I had seen in the lives of his followers and I had made it my life’s mission to extinguish. Almost imperceptibly, I hear my voice saying, ‘who are you, Lord’. I did not need to hear the answer. I knew it was the crucified one from Nazareth. I knew all there was to know about him, and yet here he was before me, clearly human and clearly of God. My whole life crumbling before me.


How could this one who opposed so much of what I cherish be the one? Maybe I had misunderstood what he had said. More of my thought process crumbled away. But he had touched the unclean, spent time with sinners, and laughed, wept and cried with those who would rather party than attend synagogue. With each question my mind raised, it became clearer that I was wrong.
Like the sound of many waters, the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus., who you are persecuting. Go into the city and wait’. I opened my eyes to the darkness, and was led like an infant by those accompanying me. They had seen nothing, but heard the words spoken to me. No one was in doubt that I had seen a vision like the prophets before me. I was taken to the place where I was lodging, the house of a man called Judas.

My companions left me, and I was alone with my thoughts, and wave after wave of guilt. In particular, I could see the face of Stephen, and heard his words once again. Words that had made me angry now made me fall on my knees. He had seen heaven opened and his Jesus standing alongside the glory of God. I had seen it too. I wept at the thought of what I had done, and what I might have done.
I lost track of time as I waited. For three days, like Jonah in the belly of the whale and of course like the Nazarene is a stranger’s tomb, I sat, and sometimes paced in the darkness. Chinks of light from the Scriptures fell into place. How could my mind have been so veiled to the fact that the Messiah must suffer and die?

On the third day, I heard the door open and was aware of the presence of someone else. ‘Brother Saul’, a voice said, ‘the Lord Jesus has sent me’. He placed his hands on my head. I was filled with light, and I could see once more. The reality was I had begun to see three days before. My brother and I went to water and I was baptised in the name of Jesus. I was alive once again.

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I love St Paul

Posted on January 24, 2026 by 1urcher

( a draft sermon for the Conversion of Paul): 25 January 2026

I am a fan of the Apostle Paul – and his writings. They are sometimes provocative, often robust, but always rooted in his pastoral commitment that the church should reflect Jesus Christ.

But often we are uncomfortable with him

He is forensic in pointing things out that should not be

He says things about women – and we are horrified, because we no longer are inclined to investigate what he might have meant in his cultural context.

And yet… his words echo through the centuries. On this feast of Santes Dwynwen, what words could be better that those found in 1 Corinthians 13?

This passage from Acts 9 is about how Saul begins his journey to become Paul.

In the Acts we last met him when he was holding the coats of mob who stoned Stephen to death. He then gained a reputation for being an opponent of the way. Followers of the way was the term used for the earliest Christians. This was not surprising, the Jewish law (in Hebrew) is pronounced Halakhah, which literally means the right path. Christians were therefore initially Jews who followed the way of Jesus. This is why for Paul is sometimes ruthless in his writings about how to behave. Being a follower of Jesus (when he became one) was his everything.

Saul gains permission to go to Damascus to arrest followers of the Way.

It is on his way that everything changes. This is what happens. A light shines.

There is the link back to the OT prophecies that we know well. The light invades Saul’s life and he is thrown to the ground. When that happens changes all.

Why are you persecuting me, or more literally: why are you hurting me?

Saul’s theology was good enough to know that the voice he heard was that of the Lord. He did not yet know who that Lord was.

I am Jesus comes to the reply.

Saul is left vulnerable and alone, led blinded into the city awaiting what would happen next.

The strong man who dominated people is now dependent. For Paul and for us being dependent on Jesus is a hallmark of our faith

Saul is taken to wait. His process of change has begun. Saul needed someone else, a hero called Annanias. Annanias is only mentioned in the accounts of Saul’s conversion. God gave him a vision. He faced a choice. He knew who Saul was. Saul, for Annanias, was a clear and present danger to the church. This courageous disciple was honest with God. How often are we honest with God? Dare we be so? Nevertheless, Annanias chooses to follow God’s path and go.

Touch is important, isn’t it? Jesus touched people that the Pharisees said he should not. Annanias here touches Saul physically, and with the words, ‘Brother Saul’, welcoming him into the family of the way. Annanias is clear it is Jesus. The one who Saul had hurt, and yet the one who had called him that had sent him. After Saul is baptised, Annanias disappears.

In a passage about Saul’s calling, we have this section with Annanias. He listens to God, follows the way of God, and remarkably for a moment in time holds someone else’s calling in his hands. He was told that Saul would carry the message to peoples across the world.

As a church we are called, and as a called people celebrate the calling of others.

I wonder whether you have ever reflected on God’s calling. We sometimes call it vocation. Vocation has its roots in the Latin word for voice. We restrict vocation these days to ministry within the church. Not so long ago, medical professionals and teachers were said to have a vocation. All of us are called by God not just those with dog collars or robes.

God calls us first to be part of his family; hence the importance of ‘Brother Saul’.

Second, Our response to the call of God is in baptism: a public declaration of our faith and an acknowledgement that we are people who belong to him.

Third, we follow the Jesus way by learning and doing

Sometimes that way involves being on a journey we do not want to go on. (maybe the story of Roz’s stole)

As importantly, fourth our vocation involves others. We cannot usually be a Christian alone. Saul needed Annanias. Saul’s journey to become Paul started in prayer. It did not start in his prayers necessarily, but in those of Stephen who asked that God not to remember the sins of those taking his life. Saul would have heard those words, and Stephen’s prayer would have been heard… and lit a fuse that would detonate on the Damascus road.

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Jonah

Posted on January 17, 2026 by 1urcher

There are two reasons why I chose to dive with Jonah when kindly offered the opportunity to speak in one of these sessions. The first is that many moons ago, I had to learn and memorise the story in Hebrew.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The second reason is that I find the story makes me smile.

Let me tell the tale of Jonah and the whale way down deep in the middle of the ocean.

It does not make me smile that Jonah is swallowed by a whale. I am aware that scholars debate this question, but for me in terms of understanding the story it is not relevant. You are welcome to question me about that later.

It makes me smile not because Jonah wants to run away from God, although there are times when I have sympathy with that…. Rather it makes me smile because Jonah struggles with what God is like. One of my heroes is J B Philipps, who translated the NT into modern English. He had an expression, ‘your God is too small’. Jonah on the other hand saw that God was too big and was uncomfortable in the presence of the divine. So he runs…. Gets a one way ticket to Joppa, but unfortunately does not get there, instead he ends up in Ninevah…

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Christmas Letter 2025

Posted on December 29, 2025 by 1urcher

Several years ago, I was challenged to do a Christmas letter that was real unlike ones where everyone has been blessed from beginning to end, and each member of the family has won a nobel peace prize.

2025 has not been easy. I left the land flowing with milk and honey but found a place of welcome.

I have worked hard to keep friendships, which sometimes as a priest I have neglected to do.

I have made some good decisions and poor ones. I have watched my boy blossom.

I have not laughed enough.

I have sometimes let people down.

I have become a pirate – and thank the Lord for that.

I am sometimes frustrated, annoyed, angry and reckless…. Yes me….. and of course,…. I am as mad as a hatter sometimes. But I am alive… and that is a positive.

Hope Christmas continues to be good for you, and the God I believe in blesses you….and I will allow him to bless me too.

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