Sermon - The Symbolism of Advent Sunday

Time Death and Judgement by George Frederick Watts (now hanging in St Giles-in-the-Fields)

A sermon given during Holy Communion following the Baptism of Nicola Pitts on the First Sunday in Advent at St Giles-in-the-Fields on 1st December 2024 based on readings from Romans 13.8-14 and Matthew 21.1-13.

Drawing on the changing symbolism in the art of George Frederick Watts, whose work hangs in St Giles-in-the-Fields to explore the Prayer Book readings for the First Sunday in Advent.

Sermon - Signs of the (Christmas) Times

Fairy and Christmas Ornaments – Christmas Card by Andy Warhol 1953-1955

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 24th December 2023 (The Fourth Sunday in Advent) based on readings from Philippians 4.4-7 and John 1.19-28

Advent Course - Exploring 'Life Together'

Discussion by Milton Avery, 1944 (Mount Holyoake College Art Museum)

Our Advent Course at St Giles-in-the-Fields this year was based on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book ‘Life Together’. We held three sessions in church around our Sunday services and a separate half-day retreat on a Saturday at the Royal Foundation of St Katherine in Limehouse, which was also attended by parishioners from St George’s Bloomsbury. 

We selected ‘Life Together’ as the basis for our study group for a number of reasons. With the restrictions of the Covid pandemic behind us and a growing congregation at St Giles, it felt like a good time to consider what it means to be a Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s book offers practical advice on how to live together as Christians not only in times when we gather for worship but also when life means engaging in the world outside of the church (which for most of us is most of the time!) The book is profound but also short, which we felt made it a manageable study text over a few sessions during the busy season of Advent. 

Rather than explore the book chapter by chapter in sequence, we designed the course around four themes. Apart from the retreat day, we limited each session to a maximum of one hour and offered either a light lunch of soup and bread or tea and cakes depending on the time of day.

A copy of the poster and flier is below, followed by a brief summary of the structure of each session and a synopsis of the discussion that ensued.

Sermon - What did you come here to see?

“Visit Me” – illustration for Christianity Today magazine by Kumé Pather

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 17th December 2023 (The Third Sunday in Advent) based on readings from  1 Corinthians 4.1-5 and Matthew 11.2-10.

Life Alone – A Half Day Retreat at The Royal Foundation of St Katherine

Edward Hopper, Chair Car, 1965

It was a great pleasure to lead a contemplative retreat for members of the parishes of St Giles-in-the-Fields and St George’s Bloomsbury at The Royal Foundation of St Katherine on Saturday 16th December 2023. I provided two addresses based on the text of ‘Life Together’ by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and a short homily during Holy Communion, offering points for reflection during the periods of silence that characterised the day.  

Sermon - Stir-Up Sunday

Nativity in the Rubble, Manger Square, Bethlehem, 2023

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on “Stir Up” Sunday 26th November 2023 (The Twenty Fifth Sunday after Trinity) based on readings from Jeremiah 23.5-8 and John 6.5-14

Sermon - And one will be left

Graveyard under Snow, Caspar David Friedrich, 1826

A sermon for Advent Sunday (Year A) given at the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 1st December 2022  based on the text of Romans 13.11-end and Matthew 24.36-44. This sermon was also given at St George’s Bloomsbury. 

Reflecting on a visit to Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem

A reflection inspired by a recent visit to the Noor Weg Women’s Empowerment Project based at Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, through the lens of the O Antiphons sung in Advent.

Sermon - Joy in the present moment

John the Baptist by William Wolff

A sermon preached at St Stephen Walbrook at the Sung Eucharist on Thursday 16th December 2021 (Advent 3, Year C) based on readings from Philippians 4.4-7 and Luke 3.7-18. A version of this sermon was also preached at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 12th December 2021. A recording of the sermon is available at this link.

Prayers of Intercession - Rejoice in the Lord Always

Nativity,Sawai Chinnawong, 2004

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 16th December 2021 (Year C, Advent 3) based on readings from Philippians 4.4-7 and Luke 3.7-18.

Let us rejoice that God came among us in the person of Christ, rejoice that he is here alongside us each day and rejoice in his promise that he will come again in glory.

Start:Stop - Come, Lord Jesus

Come, Lord Jesus by Salvador Dali, 1964-1967

Hello and welcome to this week’s Start:Stop reflection from St Stephen Walbrook when we stop for a few minutes and start to reflect on a passage from Scripture. Our reading today is the beautiful text from the prologue to the Gospel of John.

Prayers of Intercession - The Waiting Room (Advent Sunday)

The Waiting Room, Norman Rockwell, 1937

Prayers of Intercession adapted from Common Worship:Times and Seasons for the Choral Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 28th November 2021 (Advent Sunday, Year C) based on readings from Jeremiah 33.14-16, 1 Thessalonians 3.9-end and Luke 21.25-36.

Start:Stop - Ode to Joy (and Freedom)

From The Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt, 1902

Hello and welcome to this week’s Start:Stop reflection from St Stephen Walbrook, when we stop for ten minutes and start to reflect on a passage from scripture. You can hear an audio version of this reflection at this link. Today our text is taken from Luke’s Gospel, in which we hear the words Jesus spoke in the synagogue at the start of his ministry. 

Prayers of Intercession - Lead us through the wilderness

 

John the Baptist by Caiphas Nxumalo, 1970

Prayers written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook at 12.45pm on Thursday 10th December 2020 (Year B, Advent 2) based on readings from Isaiah 40.1-11 and Mark 1.1-8

God our Father, we look for the day when your Good News is told by the whole world. Strengthen us, your church; that we might proclaim with one voice your message of salvation. We give thanks for our Bishops, Priests and Deacons and all who point others towards you. Prepare us, with their guidance and through the power of your Spirit, to live each day according to our baptismal promises; emptying our lives so that we might discover the fullness of your love.

Start:Stop-His Fullness

Woodcut by Benjamin Miller, 'John the Baptist in Prison,' 1927

Hello and welcome to this week’s Start:Stop reflection from St Stephen Walbrook, my name is Phillip Dawson. You can listen to an audio recording of this reflection at this link. We begin with a short reading from the first chapter of the Gospel of John.

Daily Devotion - Ode to (Advent) Joy

From 'Ode to Joy' a series of woodcuts by Ernst Barlach, 1927

A Daily Devotion written for St Stephen’s Rochester Row, where I have been on a placement this term.

Prayers of Intercession - Come to us Lord

Anselm Kiefer - nubes pluant, 2016

Prayers written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 3rd December 2020 – the First Week in Advent.

Advent Quiet Hour - Week 3

Annunciation - Fresco by Fra Angelico

The season of Advent has been set aside as a time of preparation for Christmas since at least the last half of the sixth century. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming.” Advent begins the church year, starting four Sundays before Christmas. Advent is a time for self-examination and asking for forgiveness as the church prepares to celebrate the incarnation of God at Christmas. Take time out during your commute to work to spend a few moments in stillness and prayer during our Advent Quiet Hour on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8am-9am. The readings, prayers, poems and practices in this leaflet may be helpful. Please take this sheet away with you.

Advent Quiet Hour - Week 2

St John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci

The season of Advent has been set aside as a time of preparation for Christmas since at least the last half of the sixth century. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming.” Advent begins the church year, starting four Sundays before Christmas. Advent is a time for self-examination and asking for forgiveness as the church prepares to celebrate the incarnation of God at Christmas. Take time out during your commute to work to spend a few moments in stillness and prayer during our Advent Quiet Hour on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8am-9am. The readings, prayers, poems and practices in this leaflet may be helpful. Please take this sheet away with you.

Start-Stop:Ugliness and Judgement

Three Coke Bottles - Andy Warhol, 1962

Good morning and welcome to Start:Stop. Our prayers and reflection will last just under ten minutes and you are welcome to stay and go as your schedule dictates. We begin with a short bible reading, which can be found on page 60 of the New Testament if you would like to follow along as I read aloud;