Category: Sermon

In the first of three Holy Week sermons, ‘Costly love – or “I will always love you”‘ – takes a look at Mary as she pours everything out, and a house filled with perfume.

Thelma Schoonmaker reminded us that editing is not about cutting things out randomly. It is about deciding what the audience must see, what they must sit with, and what they are not allowed to escape too quickly. In that sense, I believe that film editing has something very important to tell us about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

May the breath of God find you in every valley where hope has grown thin. When the ground beneath you
feels scattered with dry bones and the silence seems deeper than prayer, may the quiet wind of the Spirit stir the dust of life again.

This reflection on Mothering Sunday explores the complexities of motherhood, with themes of love, loss, and trust. It highlights that genuine care involves letting go and that motherhood transcends biology, fostering community and grace in vulnerability.

We reflect on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, drawing parallels to contemporary conflicts like those involving Iran. We emphasise the importance of understanding shared humanity, honest dialogue, and patience in fostering peace. Ultimately, transformation arises from individuals crossing boundaries and engaging directly.

Lent signifies a journey of faith, calling for trust in God amidst uncertainty. Abram’s obedience and Nicodemus’s quest for understanding highlight the promise of transformation through divine love.

Who gets which verbs? Who acts, who reacts, who speaks, who listens? Which verbs come as a surprise – and which are conspicuously missing?

Imagine for a moment that the Transfiguration had been filmed. Same mountain. Same dazzling moment. Same three stunned disciples shielding their eyes. But now imagine that the footage had been handed to three different film editors – each with their own instincts, priorities and sense of what really matters…

Today is Candlemas. The day when traditionally all the Church’s candles for the year were blessed and at night many would place a lighted candle in their windows at home. At the heart of today’s gospel stand two elderly figures who had learned to wait – Simeon and Anna.

Saul is not confused; he is focused. But that clarity is precisely the problem. Saul sees clearly only within the narrow boundaries of his own conviction. And then, suddenly, light. A light so bright that it blinds him.

Epiphany vision is often formed in waiting. Those who rush too quickly to conclusions rarely see clearly. Those who wait, who remain attentive, are the ones who begin to recognise God’s movement. Waiting sharpens our perception. It trains us to look for light in unlikely places.

At first glance, Matthew’s story of the Magi and Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo seem to belong to very different worlds. One is a sacred text, shaped by prophecy and pilgrimage; the other a children’s story, full of wit, danger, and imagination. Yet both stories invite us to think about power, fear, wisdom and how truth is recognised – or missed.

Perhaps this Christmas the gift that God is revealing to us is not a change of circumstance but a change of perspective, one where we realise that God (Immanuel) is with us

What’s in a name? Names matter. They carry identity, promise, memory, and hope. A name can tell you where someone belongs, who they are, and sometimes even what is expected of them.

In prepping for what comes next, a particular scenario is imagined that can be planned for. A predictable crisis that they can solve with enough supplies. But the real world rarely behaves that neatly…