Sermon-Like a flourishing tree

The Large Plane Trees (Road Menders at Saint-Rémy), Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 16th February 2025, The Third Sunday before Lent (Proper 3, Year C) based on texts from Jeremiah 17.5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15.12-20, Luke 6.17-26

Sermon-Why oh why oh why?

The Problem we all live with – Norman Rockwell, 1964

A sermon given at a service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 12th January 2025 – the First Sunday after the Epiphany based on readings from Romans 12.1-5 and Luke 2.41-52 and the Collect appointed for the day.

Sermon-The Way to the heart is through the stomach?

Anxiety by Edvard Munch, 1894

A sermon given at the Harvest Festival at St Barnabas Pimlico on Sunday 29th September 2024 and at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 6th October 2024 based on readings from 1 Timothy 6.6-10 and Matthew 6.25-33. At St Giles-in-the-Fields the sermon was preached following the baptism of James Roberts and took place in the week leading up to World Mental Health Day. 

This Harvest Festival Day the scriptures are packed with food for thought about how each of us might best grow by nurturing our "felt sense" - engaging both our rational brains and our 'gut' feelings....

Thought for the Day - The Economics of Possibility

Still Life with Zimmerlinde, Lucian Freud, 1950

A “Thought for the Day” given at Mattins at St Giles-in-the-Fields at 1pm on Wednesday 24th January 2024 based on the text of Mark 4.1-20 

Sermon - Easter Sunday : Eyes which see life anew

The False Mirror by René Magritte, 1929

It was a great privilege to be invited to preach for the Pascal Triduum at St George’s Bloomsbury in April 2023. The first time I have preached at all three services and the first time I have spoken in front of so many people at once. I drew on my experience visiting the Holy Land last year and based each sermon loosely around part of a prayer attributed to St Teresa of Avila ‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours’ and the theme of connection, disconnection and reconnection. On Thursday the focus was ‘Feet which walk to do good’ and connections to the embodied love of Jesus through the symbolic washing of feet and the sharing of the Last Supper. On Friday the focus was ‘Hands which bless the world’ and our disconnection from the embodied love of Jesus when he died on the cross. On Sunday the focus was ‘Eyes which see life anew’ and our re-connection to the love of Jesus through Mary Magdalene’s vision in the garden at dawn. The sermon on Sunday drew each reflection together to encourage us to choose to live life as pilgrims – not tourists. To embody the love of God we have now received through the Spirit of the risen Christ.

A sermon given at the Choral Eucharist on Easter Sunday, April 9th 2023 at St George’s Bloomsbury. A version of this sermon was also given at the Easter Vigil at St Stephen Walbrook on Saturday April 8th 2023 (Year A) based on John 20.1-18. A recording of this sermon and the gospel reading (and the fantastic Nessun Dorma style acclamation that preceded it!) can be watched below:

Prayers of Intercession - Repent and Grow

The Fig Tree, Paul Klee, 1929

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 24th March 2022 (Year C, Lent 3) based on words from Luke 13.1-9.

Almighty God,
may the congregations of the church grow in your image.
Nurture in us a life that is truly faithful through the food of the sacrament, the nourishment of prayer and the richness of the scriptures.
We ask for your blessing upon our Bishop, Sarah, our Archdeacons Luke and Adam, our Area Dean Katherine and all the clergy and people of the Square Mile. 
We pray especially for all struggling with their faith.
May we encourage each other, working to bear the fruits of your love in your service. 
Give us the strength to repent; turning away from the shadow of sin and towards the light of Christ. 

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.