The First Sunday after Christmas - Prayers of Intercession

Family Group, Henry Moore (1949)

These prayers of intercession were written for St George's Bloomsbury on Sunday 29th December 2019 and are based on the readings for the day: Isaiah 63.7-9z, Psalm 148, Hebrews 2.10-end and Matthew 2.13-end and incorporated text from the sermon by Bishop Michael Marshall. 

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;

The History of St Stephen Walbrook - Brandenburg Christmas Concert

St Stephen Walbrook looking east (taken during the construction of the new Bloomberg HQ)

I was asked to give a brief talk about the history of St Stephen Walbrook after the interval at the Brandenburg Christmas Concert on Saturday 7th December 2019. I kept (more or less!) to this script. 

Advent Quiet Hour - Week 1

Light of the World, William Holman Hunt

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:Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus

Hilma af Flint - Paintings for the Temple - Group X, No 3, Altarpiece - 1915

Good morning and welcome to Start:Stop. Our reading today is the beautiful text from the prologue to the Gospel of John.

Reflections on Leadership - Herbert von Karajan

Herbert von Karajan

I was asked to prepare a five minute presentation on one of the Criteria for Selection for Ordained Ministry in the Church of England and then chair a discussion about the presentation afterwards. This is my final script. 

Start-Stop:The Servant Leadership of Hilda of Whitby

The Washing of Feet - Sieger Koder

Good morning and welcome to Start Stop. Our reflection and prayers will last around ten minutes and you are welcome to come and go as your schedule dictates. 

BOOK REVIEW - The Childhood of Jesus by J.M.Coetzee

This mysterious novel follows the story of a young boy of unknown parentage given the name David by the officers of a state-run reception centre in an unnamed but Spanish speaking country. We first meet David when he arrives on a boat accompanied by a man given the name Simon, who seems to feel a connection with the boy and takes it upon himself to act as his guardian and begin the search for his mother, who is apparently already living there.

Start-Stop:Faith and Politics

Worship - From the Beatitudes of Love by Stanley Spencer

Start:Stop at St Stephen Walbrook allows busy commuters to start their day by stopping to reflect for ten minutes. Prayers and reflections start every quarter of an hour from 7.45am until 9.00am each Tuesday morning. This is my reflection from Tuesday 5th November 2019.