Politics in the Pulpit?

Episode 105: with Rev Jacky Embrey for Sunday 26 November

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Chris is chatting to Rev Jacky Embrey. 

Jacky is a newly retired URC minister, just arrived in Kendal from Bolton. She has served the URC as Moderator in Mersey Synod, as a partnership minister in Bolton and Salford, and in Birmingham as Area Minister, and minister in five very different churches.

Jacky will be our host for the next season of Politics in the Pulpit, starting on 9th January. 

 

Chris and Jacky discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 26th November:

Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
Ephesians 1: 15-23
Matthew 25: 31-46
Psalm 95: 1-7 or Psalm 100 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 104: with Rev Simon Ruth de Voil for Sunday 19 November

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Chris is chatting to Rev Simon Ruth de Voil. 

Simon is an ordained interfaith/interspiritual minister, trained to be a sacred presence outside the conventions of traditional religion. As a sacred musician, spiritual mentor and worship leader he incorporates chant, storytelling and mindful practice to create a space for profound connection and sacred witness. Simon provides music for worship, ceremony, and prayer in a wide variety of churches and non-religious spiritual communities.  Simon is also an experienced workshop and retreat leader, drawing on 15 years of study, training, and practice that grew from his time living and working in Iona Abbey. Although influenced by many traditions, Simon's spiritual path and teaching is deeply rooted in Celtic Christianity, the wisdom of the earth, and in the Scottish land where he's spent most of his life. 

Chris and Simon discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 19th November:

Judges 4: 1-7 
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 
Matthew 25: 14-30 
Psalm 123 

 

Some further resources from Simon, following on from this episode: 

The 2 songs Simon sings in the episode:

Deep Peace by Bill Douglas (adapted by Simon) https://simondevoil.com/track/976529/deep-peace

Open my heart by Alexa Sunshine Rose  https://alexasunshinerose.bandcamp.com/track/open-my-heart

Transgender day of remembrance prayers and resources:

• https://enfleshed.com/liturgy-library/
• A simple informal ritual I do with my folks each year is to take one of the names of a trans person who was murdered this year and I write a remembrance card to her and pray for her/them/him and their community for a year.  I invite my parishioners to join me and always one or two do.   This is a beautiful act of solidarity with my community as we remember the names and light candles on the 20th Nov of each year.  
• Heart breaking song to pray with https://youtu.be/ouizOWFxuQI?si=_3mMRZnWGSNMLavg
• Transgender Day of Remembrance scripture suggestion = Acts 8:26-40 which is the story of Philip and the Egyptian Eunuch.
• And example of one of Rev Simon Ruth's TGDR Sunday services https://youtu.be/WggAp3p3vfM?si=0OjUEoCKkeLbBP_W
• Bad ass amazing speech by Dr Lourdes Ashley Hunter  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HnnpRa2Ov8

You can find Simon's website here: www.simondevoil.com and his Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdBWe_jkzH4nqPUY3_pQA8w 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode103: with John Cooper for Sunday 12 November

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Chris is chatting to John Cooper. 

John Cooper is Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He finds joy in enabling people to live out their belief in a world built on peace and justice. He has previously worked for Christian Aid, the Joint Public Issues Team and All We Can. 

 

Chris and John discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 12th November, Remembrance Sunday:

Joshua 24: 1-3a, 14-24 
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 
Matthew 25: 1-13 
Psalm 78: 1-7 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 102: with Rev. David Hardman for Sunday 5 November

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Chris is chatting to Rev. David Hardman. 

David is a British Methodist Minister ordained in 1994, and is currently the Methodist Liaison Officer for Jerusalem. He has served churches and circuits in the city centre, inner-city and suburbs of Manchester and London. He has also worked for Christian Aid as Senior Regional Coordinator in the North West of England and most recently as Methodist Team Leader of the Joint Public Issues Team. Justice and Peace have been at the heart of David’s ministry, he is an accredited mediator with Place for Hope and a committed activist. 

 

Chris and David discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 5th November:

Joshua 3: 7-17 
1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13 
Matthew 23: 1-12 
Psalm 107: 1-7, 33-37 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Epsiode 101: with Rt Revd Sally Foster-Fulton for Sunday 29 October

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit Chris is chatting to Revd Sally Foster-Fulton. 

The Rt Revd Sally Foster-Fulton is Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 2023-2024. Born and raised in South Carolina, she came to Glasgow to study on an exchange scholarship, then held roles as a Hospital Chaplain, Church of Scotland minister and co-Pastor, before taking up the role of Head of Christian Aid Scotland in 2016. 

 

Chris and Sally discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 29th October:

Deuteronomy 34: 1-12 
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8 
Matthew 22: 34-46 
Psalm 90: 1-6, 3-17 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 100: with Caro Penney for Sunday 22 October

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit Chris is chatting to Caro Penney. 

Caro is a member of the Iona Community and of the United Reformed Church. She is currently warden of Iona Abbey - where the resident group live out the Community's commitment to radical hospitality. Previously she’s undertaken other roles within the Iona Community; been a URC minister - mainly in two of Glasgow’s housing schemes - also very community orientated; participated in a church partnership with Cuba and led worship at conferences. 

 

Chris and Caro discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 22nd October:

Exodus 33:12-23 
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 
Matthew 22: 15-22 
Psalm 99 

 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 99: with Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal for Sunday 15 October

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit Chris is chatting to Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal. 

Inderjit is currently working with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland to develop and Promote the Church of Sanctuary movement. He is founder of City of Sanctuary, and a former President of the Methodist Church. Inderjit is married to Kathy, they live in Sheffield.

 

Chris and Inderjit discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 15th October:

Exodus 32: 1-14 

Philippians 4: 1-9 

Matthew 22: 1-14 

Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23  

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 98: with Bishop Rob Wickham for Sunday 8 October

On this week’s episode of Politics in the Pulpit, our new host, Chris, is chatting to Bishop Rob Wickham. 

Raised in Surrey, Bishop Rob Wickham studied geography at Durham University, specialising in urban regeneration. Bishop Rob has also completed an MA in Theology, politics and faith-based organisations, and has written another thesis on the creative use of church buildings.

Before training for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, he witnessed high unemployment while working in a Tyneside council estate in the declining years of the nearby the Swan Hunter Shipyard, where decades earlier his grandfather had worked.

As rector of St John’s, Hackney, in east London, then-Fr Rob oversaw a re-ordering of the 2,000-seater church to allow for greater community use. The church hosted concerts, job fairs, a food bank, a night shelter, debt advice, the local branch of the credit union, and what became the most-used knife bin in London.

In 2012 the Speaker of Hackney Council gave him an award for outstanding community building during and after the London riots the previous year. In the days after the disturbances, he led a peace vigil with other faith leaders, headed a clean-up operation, hosted community meetings in the church and organised a community street party for 400 people, to help restore trust.

In 2015 was made Bishop of Edmonton in north London, becoming the country’s youngest bishop, at 43, and in 2023 he became the CEO of Church Urban Fund. 

 

Chris and Bishop Rob discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 1st October:

Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 

Philippians 3: 4b-14 

Matthew 21: 33-46 

Psalm 19 

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community – find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 97: with Revd Chris Upton for Sunday 1 October

On this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Steve is chatting to Revd Chris Upton.

Chris grew up on a small island in Essex, but has recently been landlocked in Haworth, West Yorkshire where he has been served as a Baptist minister since 2000 and a pastoral supervisor since 2019.  At the start of this year he stood down from the pulpit and took up the role of church funding officer for Christians Against Poverty, and in August he also became the National lead for the Waterways Chaplaincy. In his spare time he runs the local cinema, enjoys cycling and playing cards. 

They discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 1st October:

Exodus 17: 1-17         

Philippians 2: 1-13   

Matthew 21: 23-32       

Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page. 

Episode 96: with Revd Terry Hinks for Sunday 24 September

On this week's episode of Politics in the Pulpit, Steve is chatting to Revd Terry Hinks.

Terry is a United Reformed Church minister serving two churches in High Wycombe and Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. He has a longstanding concern for the environment and care for God’s creation, and is a member of the URC Thames North Synod’s Green Team. He is also the author of a number of books on prayer.

They discuss preaching on the lectionary readings for Sunday 24th September:

Exodus 16: 2-15         

Philippians 1: 21-30   

Matthew 20: 1-16       

Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45

‘Politics in the Pulpit’ is JPIT’s weekly lectionary resource, helping to equip preachers, ministers and worship leaders to unpack justice and peace issues in the pulpit. You can join in the conversation on Twitter/X at @pulpit_politics or using #PoliticsInThePulpit, or on our Facebook community - find the group here or from the Joint Public Issues Team’s Facebook page.