The song of the saints – reflections for All Saints Day

Let me tell you about a song that began long ago when words like ‘began’ and ‘long ago’ made no sense because time and place had not yet been invented.  But the song was there, wherever there was, and from it and within it, in some mysterious way, our world was brought to birth by the Creator.  And this song, the Spirit’s song, was woven into time and place, to touch the earth-bound with the sound of heaven, and to bring the voice of earth before the throne of God.

After that beginning the song of heaven changed, it grew more sorrowful notes because the people of the earth in each time and place did not always hear the

What I did on my sabbatical

I remember it as a ritual of primary school life, an acknowledgement that the summer break was over and the new term had begun: the writing of a few sentences, and the drawing of a picture, under the wobbly heading, ’what I did on my holidays’.  So here I am writing ‘what I did on my sabbatical’.

Reflections, Sunday 11th August 2019 – Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”.

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“Do not be afraid, little flock”, Jesus said to his listeners, to those who were shaping their lives around his teaching. People, I hope, like us.  Do not be afraid, little flock.  These words, to me, sound tender, loving.  Can you imagine a smile on his face, as he looks fondly at those seated around him?  Can you place yourself amongst them and listen to him?  Do not be afraid, little flock…

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These reflections were offered to the congregation at St Mary’s Hardwick on Sunday 11th August 2019 based on the gospel reading Luke 12:32-34:

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

They are posted here as spoken without further polishing.

Adrian Chatfield on ‘Making good use of the season of Lent’

Adrian Chatfield writes: The development of Lent is something of a mystery, and scholars are divided on its origins. We know, however, what we have now: a 40 day period of fasting, reflection and preparation for the celebration of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. So let’s think of Lent as a series of spiritual exercises which help us to grow as fit, faithful, disciples, grouped around several themes.

How are you observing Lent this year?

Traditionally in the week or so before Lent actually begins Christians confessed their sins and discerned with their confessors what would be fruitful Lenten penances.  We may not want to talk about penance these days; Lenten discipline or Lenten practice might be better phrases.  But whatever we call it, the point of said penance or discipline or practice is not that it makes us more worthy of God’s attention or love but that it makes us more receptive to the Spirit of God, more open to glimpses of God’s glory.  It moves us from being the subject of our own lives, to active receptivity of and mutuality with the light and glory and love of God.  So we do not seek a glory that comes from our own achievements or exertions.  The glory and splendour bestowed on us are wholly gift, the initiative of God.   God is the true subject here.

Ash Wednesday reflections

These reflections were given as a homily at the Ash Wednesday service for the Lordsbridge churches hosted by St Mary’s Hardwick in 2019

What is Ash Wednesday for?  Here are three answers to that question any one of which, or all three, you might like to ponder –

Firstly, on Ash Wednesday we remember that we are mortal, we are not God.  A little later I will mark a cross of ash on some or all of your foreheads with these words: “From dust you come and to dust you will return”.  Doing so acknowledges that, as mortals, we are not the subject, not the author of our lives. There are those who believe that the ultimate human delusion is that we can control our lives and what happens within them.  Some would call this the ultimate deceit of the Evil One: to believe that we are the subject of our relationship with God, and that we grant him a bit of access to our lives now and again.  This denies entirely the truth about God, that God is God of all things.  That is the Creator and Giver of Life.  Whereas we are merely mortal creatures. 

A Way of Life: Holiness (Sunday Reflections, July 2018)

This Sunday as part of our Way of Life series we take the second of the clauses in the baptismal commission:  “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”

There are a number of concepts here to be unpacked – sin, repentance, evil.  And I think  a particular risk for us, because on the whole we like talking about concepts, is that we don’t get to the application. we unpack theoretically, we don’t unpack practically.  So what, practically, does it mean to resist evil, to recognise our sinfulness, to repent and return to the Lord? What does this look like in your life today or this week? What does it look like for us collectively as the community of the followers of Jesus Christ in this place?