It is safe to say I think that the Staff and congregation of St Paul's Cathedral have been on something of a learning curve these past few weeks.

One of the favourite images of the press and TV coverage has been the large signs held up by the Occupy protesters asking “What would Jesus do?”

A few years ago I asked a group of youth leaders, right on young Christian souls, what do you do if you come across a part of the bible you don't believe in or you can't accept?

I got two answers straight back at the same time. One said I change my mind and believe what it says in the bible. The other said “I've got some tipex somewhere.”

I was a strange child in many ways. The way I'm interested in today was my habit of collecting stones. Not just any stones – though I'm told I did used to eat gravel as a toddler – I always had a discerning palate. But crystals, rock formations. Specimens. I would save my pocket money all year round and then, once a year, just after my birthday, take a trip to a big hotel in Harrogate where the annual gem and mineral fair was held. Sometimes I would have up to £300 to spend on stones. I was like a kid in a sweet shop – if you like your sweet that you like is rock.

So in 54/53 hours I will be flying off to New York. Not that I'm counting or anything.

And of course I'm excited about that. Its the Big Apple, the Big Country.

Its all bigger over there, I'm led believe. Its all better, its all shinier. And I shall see in a few days whether that is true. I fully expect that this time next week I shall be sat in front of the biggest Big Mac I've ever seen, with a bucket full of Coke and a box of fries the size of my head. I expect to come back supersized. Because of course if there’s one thing that America teaches us, it is that bigger is better, and biggest is best.

Sermon Preached at St Margaret’s Church, Wrexham 17th July,2011 by Mr Brian Reader

Isaiah 44:6-8; Rom 8:12-25; Ps 86 11-18; Matt 13:24-30, 37-43

Good morning to you all and I hope that I will see many of you again at 11 o’clock at St Mark’s, although I have yet to see how we will all fit into that church.Many years ago, when my son was at university, he and his mother, when the world seemed to throw them a bad hand, would use the expletive ‘TANJ’, yes you did hear right, TANJ T-A-N-J. which stood for ‘There ain’t no justice’

A guide to the Parable of the Sower in 4 bad farmer jokes.

I grew up in a typical Welsh village, far more sheep than people, so I should know something about sheep farming.

The story of Noah and his ark is probably one of the best know bible stories – best know but probably the least thought through. But it is an iconic story. Its a primary school RE and Sunday school favourite –

There are many ways of telling Easter stories.

A man was blissfully driving along the highway, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place. Candy, too.

Judas – name is synonymous with betrayal

Gospels pour fire and brimstone on him. Imagining for him gory deaths.

For John he is the one destined from the beginning to be lost from the sheep fold.

In his monthly letter to the clergy, Bishop Gregory says this:

A few years ago, it was hard to find the right card to buy my mother at this time of year. Virtually all the cards would say “Happy Mother’s Day”, and I was looking for a card which said: “Happy Mothering Sunday”. This is the finicky sort of chap who is your bishop! I am glad to say that the crisis has passed, and nowadays there seem to be a large selection of “Mothering Sunday” cards as well as “Mother’s Day” cards.

Far away in the tropical waters of the Caribbean, two prawns were swimming around in the sea - one called Justin and the other called Christian.

The prawns were constantly being harassed and threatened by sharks that patrolled the area.

Dinner for Schmucks – its a recent film starring Steve Carell and Paul Rudd – a remake of a 1956 original.

In the film, a group of aggressively successful business men have a hobby. They collect losers. They hold formal dinners to which they invite the strangest, most outlandish people they can find. They tell them that they are having a meal of champions, but secretly they are laughing at their unsuspecting guests and their unusual talents, gifts and hobbies and they compete to see who can find the most freaky guest. This is the Dinner for Schmucks.

There is a common motif in film and TV drama, both serious and comic. The baddy, the super-villain, the aliens or the serial killer has to be lured out – a trap has to be set. As the cunning plan forms, our heroes piece together the scenario until one poor souls points out – someone is going to have be the bait. Usually at this point everyone else is looking at them and saying Yes we were wondering how long it would be before you figured that out, its you by the way in case you hadn't guessed.

Discovering your identity in Christ.

Who am I?

No seriously, this isn't a rhetorical question – its like the old joke about the Archbishop going round the nursing home and asking one of the residents do you know who I am and she replies, sorry love I don't know, but if you have a word with matron I'm sure she'll be able to tell you.

Can you tell me who I am?

From the book of Ephesians:  “God has blessed us from the riches of his grace which he has lavished on us in Christ Jesus” or  “to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in Christ Jesus” or “that God might show us the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness” or “I have been sent to preach to you the immeasurable riches of his grace in Christ Jesus” or “God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us.”  If we add up all of these Bible verses from Ephesians into one sentence, the sentence may read:  “God has blessed us with the immeasurable riches of his grace which he freely lavished upon us in Christ Jesus.”

What do you think of when you hear the word lavish. I've been doing the rounds of Christmases – a bit like the vicar of dibley – My parents, Lauras, friends for Christmas and new year and have seen some spreads that count perhaps as lavish – enough for me never to want to see another sprout again anyway, but I can't help thinking that Paul has more than that in mind.

In many action movies there is a classic scene that is so often repeated that it has become probably a cinematic cliché.  Normally, somewhere towards the end of the movie, the good guys finally catch up with the bad guys.  The bad guys are, of course, holed-up is a large rusty abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town.  They are either working out the final details of their diabolical plan or they are deciding what to do with the captives that they have taken--but no longer need, or sometimes they are doing both simultaneously.  But even as they scheme away, they are unaware that currently the good guys have made their appearance just outside.