"Oh No It Isn't!" - "Oh Yes It Is!"

This sermon, being delivered in “panto” season is interactive.

Alan:`I say “Dare” you say “share”

Alan:` Dare

All: Share

Alan:` Dare

All: Share

[Alan passes the mike around various people who each speak as if sharing their faith in a natural way with a friend]

Simon Harris “What did I do over the weekend? Well on Saturday I played Rugby with a few friends, then on Sunday I went to church, like I usually do. What did you do over the weekend?”

David Edgehill: “When I was younger I made a real mess of things in my life. This may sound odd, but I found coming to know God helped me find forgiveness and make a fresh start in life that I have never regretted”

Paul Gordon: “Thanks so much for coming to our quiz night in November. Have you thought of coming one Sunday morning to church, because I think you might be surprised that you would actually really enjoy it”

Naomi Ventour: “When my kids were born I hadn’t really been to church before but I decided to have them Christened and I found it a really special thing. Have you thought about getting your baby Christened?”

Maragret Cobley: “I’m so sorry to hear about your uncle’s death. If there’s a Sunday you could come to church, I could get him mentioned in the prayers if that would help?”

Mimi Musa: “Oh I am so sorry to hear that about what your boss did to you. Do you mind if I say a prayer for you?” ?”

Anna Dyas: “I’ve got a few friends I met at church coming over for supper next Thursday. Would you like to come too, because I think you would really get on with them?”

Alan:`I say “Dare” you say “share”

Alan:` Dare

All: Share

Alan:` Dare

All: Share

[The Vicar, Fr Mund, walks out into the congregation with a big bible in his hand and starts “reading”]

Fr Mund: As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “ "Come and make more money selling iPads than you could ever make selling fish” 20Immediately they left their nets and sold ipads

[pointing to it and looking up]That’s what the bible says!

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh yes it does

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh yes it does

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh maybe you’re right. Perhaps what it says is….

Alan Excuse me

FrMund What?

Alan What about what about what that former Archbishop William Temple said about how “the church is the only society that exists for the benefit of it’s non members”. Or that head of the World Council of Churches who said “The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning”.

FrMund That’s very interesting - but I am talking about what the bible says –

[begins “reading”]

“As he walked by the sea of Gallilee he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the Sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. And immediately they left their nets and said “But Jesus, that’s your job. You’re the Rabbi - we will just sit here and watch.”

[pointing to it and looking up] That’s what the bible says!

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh yes it does

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh yes it does

All Oh no it doesn’t!

FrMund Oh maybe you’re right. Perhaps what it says is….

Alan Excuse me

FrMund What?

Alan What about what St John Capistano says that Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness. And St John Chrysostom and he says “I cannot believe in the salvation of anyone who doesn’t long for the salvation of his neighbour”

FrMund Yes yes yes - but can we get back to what the bible says –

[begins “reading”]

“As he walked by the sea of Gallilee he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the Sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. And immediately they began to google training courses and over the fifteen years they spent as much time as possible going on Lent Courses and Diocesan training courses and lots of other courses, because there’s no point trying to tell people about your faith if you haven’t been properly trained.

[pointing to it and looking up] That’s what the bible says!

All Oh no it doesn’t!