This book illuminates the human story inside the divine for those exploring the Bible. Uncle Peter’s Story presents the Saint Peter of the Gospels as seen, heard, and recorded in the New Testament particularly by his nephew Saint Mark, who was also an eyewitness in Jesus’ company during his earthly ministry. Saint Peter was a key figure in the human response to Jesus as a person and as the risen Christ. He recognized who Jesus was and proclaimed it at Pentecost when Holy Spirit was poured out on all disciples. Yes, he had failings too, as the story reveals, but he overcame them and learned about the truth he was called to reveal. His story shows the “Peace be with you” given in the upper room by the risen Lord taking root in a new Peter at Pentecost relying solely on Christ. Presented as a commentary mostly as if by Mark, this book aims to be an introduction to those new to reading the Bible, an aide-mémoire to those more established in their Bible reading, and a stimulant to those preaching, teaching, and using Peter’s story as a way into the Gospels or as food for prayer.
Toddy Hoare trained and practised as a sculptor, served as a soldier with the 15/19 King's Royal Hussars, and spent time with the Missions to Seamen in the Europoort, Holland, before ordination and then twenty-five years as a rural parish priest in North Yorkshire (known locally as Herriotshire, since the author lived in the same group of five parishes). He used sculpture to illustrate Scripture and theology. Latterly, on retirement, he reflected on life and where God was to be found with poetry, some based on peace studies in Oxford. He is now back home in North Yorkshire retired from parish life but taking Sunday services to feed the sheep in a wide radius from home due to the lack of parish priests and the Church of England facing in the wrong direction!
Martyn Percy is the dean of Christ Church, Oxford. From 2004-14 he was the Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon. He writes on religion in contemporary culture and modern ecclesiology. He teaches for the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, and tutors in the Social Sciences Division and at the Saïd Business School.
