Prayers of Intercession - The Greatest Commandment

The Hospitality of Abraham by Andrei Rublev

Prayers of Intercession written for the Choral Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 28th October 2020 (Year A Last after Trinity, Proper 25) based on the Gospel reading Matthew 22.34-end

Let us pray that our love of God and his love for us may be shown in all we say, all we do and all we are. 

Start:Stop - Paul the Persuader

We are all one in Jesus Christ by Soichi Watanabe, 2009

Hello, my name is Phillip Dawson, welcome to this week’s Start:Stop reflection from St Stephen Walbrook, in which we stop for ten minutes to reflect on a passage from scripture. You can hear an audio recording of this reflection at this link.

Whether it’s the issue of Brexit or Free School Meals, our news bulletins are never short of personalities attempting to practice the art of persuasion. At times it can feel as though we are inundated with requests to sign online petitions aiming to precipitate yet another policy u-turn. Perhaps we have put pen to paper, writing to our MP or others in authority, encouraging them to change their position on an issue of concern to us.

Paul’s letter to Philemon might be seen as the epitome of persuasive Christian letter-writing and, I think, has much to teach us in this regard;

BOOK REVIEW : Meeting God in Mark by Rowan Williams

A short and rich guide to a short and rich gospel! Rowan Williams explains that the purpose of this book is to “offer suggestions for a slow reading of what notoriously feels like a rushed and packed text" and we used it accordingly, over a six week study group at St Stephen Walbrook this autumn. For those looking for a more formal structure and reading guide, the appendix contains questions for group discussion around the themes covered in each chapter and a weekly reading guide, followed by a short reflection.

Prayers of Intercession - Give to God the things that are God's

The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1989, by The Rev Dr P. Solomon Raj 

Prayers of intercession written for the Choral Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 22nd October 2020 celebrating the Feast of St Luke. The text is inspired by the gospel reading from Luke 20.20-26 and ‘Thy Word’ a song by Amy Grant, which was sung by our Choral Scholars today.

Jesus said “give to God the things that are God’s.” So let us, his image-bearers offer ourselves in prayer to Almighty God, who is giver of all things.

Start:Stop - Lessons from Lockdown

Rythme, Joie de vivre, Robert Delaunay, 1930

Hello and welcome to our Start:Stop reflection, my name is Phillip Dawson. You can find an audio version of this reflection here.

At Morning Prayer this week our New Testament readings are taken from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The letter was written whilst Paul was being held for an extended period under house arrest in either Ephesus or Rome. But despite his personal circumstances there are no grumbles here, only gratitude - every section of the letter is overflowing with joy. Paul explains how the restrictions of life under lockdown seem to be opportunities, not obstacles - even the “fake news” some are spreading about the gospel doesn’t seem to get him down;

Morning Prayer - God of love, mighty river

The Malestrom. Bodo. David Hockney, 2002

“Let the rivers clap their hands and let the hills ring out together before the Lord”
(Psalm 98, verse 8)

Inspired by this verse from one of the Psalms appointed for the morning of October 19th 2020, I thought I would lead our online service of Morning Prayer from beside the River Thames, which is a short walk from our flat. These prayers are inspired by and adapted from prayers written by Chandran Devanesan and St Gertrude the Great. 

The response to : God of love, mighty river is : flow over us, within us and through us.

Prayers of Intercession - Christ has no hands now but yours

Study of the Hands of an Apostle, Albrecht Dürer 1508

Prayers written for the Business Harvest Festival at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 15th October 2020 which is also the Feast of St Teresa of Avila. The prayers are based on a famous prayer by St Teresa ‘Christ has body but yours’, as well as the readings for the service; Deuteronomy 8.7-18 and Luke 12.16-30. 

Christ on the Mount of Olives - Beethoven's only oratorio

Christ on the Mount of Olives by Giovanni

In this, his 250th Anniversary year, please listen to Beethoven’s only oratorio – Christ on the Mount of Olives. Criticised by some for emphasizing Jesus’s humanity, for others it is precisely the vivid portrayal of Christ’s agony in the garden that connects the listener to the divine.

Prayers of Intercession - Trinity 17

James B Janknegt – The Wicked Tenants (2018)

Prayers of intercession written for the Choral Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 8th October 2020 Trinity 17/Proper 22 – Year A, based on the Epistle (Philippians 3.4b-14) and the Gospel reading Matthew 21.33-end.

Let us pray to the Lord, who has made us his own.

Start:Stop - Keep Awake

Apocalyptic City, Ludwig Meidner, 1913

Hello and welcome to this week’s Start:Stop reflection, my name is Phillip Dawson. An audio version of this reflection can be found here.

Chapter Thirteen of Mark’s Gospel contains the longest speech on a single topic in the whole of the text. In what some call the “Markan Apocalypse,” Jesus offers a glimpse of what’s in store for his followers in the future. In the tradition of ancient apocalyptic writing, the passage ‘elasticates’ time – giving descriptions of persecution and suffering that may well have been already happening to the Christian communities to whom Mark is likely to have been writing – as well as seeming to predict events in the more distant future. But the timeline snaps back - ending firmly in the present, as Jesus explains that not even he knows when these things will come to pass – so we must all “keep awake”; the last words he speaks before his passion and death.

Sung Compline

It was a great privilege to lead Compline today for the online community of St Augustine's College of Theology. I tried to sing the office today. A recording of the service is at the link below and a copy of the chants can be downloaded at this link.  

Prayers of Intercession - Trinity 16

Ethiopian Icon

Prayers of intercession for the Trinity 16/Proper 21 – Year A, based on the Epistle (Philippians 2.1-13) the Gospel reading Matthew 21.23-32.

Let us pray to God, who is the source of all things.