Prayer - Lord, bless this summertime

Man in a hammock,  Albert Gleizes 1913

A prayer written for Morning Prayer at St Stephen Walbrook on Wednesday 27th July 2022.

Lord, bless this summer time.
May we encounter you in the light of the morning and the lengthening of days; 
in the warmth of the sun on every grain of sand;
in the shapes of the clouds blowing across the sky;  
in the sumptuousness of the simplest picnic; the beauty of a blade of grass;
in the droplets of water on a cool drink in a glass. 
in the fellowship of a band performing in the round;
in the heat of the journey and the joy of the touch down.

Lord,
Lighten our lives. 
Warm our hearts.
Move us by your Spirit.
Feed our senses.
Refresh and renew us.
Gather us together.
Draw us to you. 
Lord, bless this summertime.

Amen. 

Sermon - The Persistent Neighbours of Present Day Palestine

Sermon preached at the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 24th July 2022 (Year C, 6th after Trinity, Proper 12) based on the words of Luke 11.1-13. A recording of the sermon can be seen at this link.

Prayers of Intercession - Living the Lord's Prayer

Jacob Lawrence, Prayer (1947) - Whitney Museum of American Art

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 24th July 2022 and St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 28th July 2022 (Year C, 6th after Trinity, Proper 12) based on the words of Luke 11.1-13. 

Prayers of Intercession - Choosing the Better Part

At the home of Mary and Martha, Iain Campbell

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 21st July 2022 (Year C, 5th after Trinity, Proper 11) based on the words of Luke 10.38-end. 

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.

Prayers of Intercession - Send us, Lord

Study for Changing West (America Today murals), Thomas Hart Benton, 1930

Prayers of Intercession written for the Choral Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 3rd July 2022 (Third Sunday after Trinity, Year C) based on the reading from Luke 10.1-11, 16-20.

Sermon - The labourers are few - but the harvest is plentiful!

Harvest Threshing, Albert Gleizes, 1912

A sermon preached during the Choral Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 3rd July 2022 (Third Sunday after Trinity, Year C) based on the reading from Luke 10.1-11, 16-20.

Prayers of Intercession - Fruit of the Spirit

Pomegranates, Gustave Courbet, 1871

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 30th June 2022 (Year C, Second Sunday after Trinity) based on the text of Galatians 5.1,13-25

Choral Classics - Farewell

Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1970 (his final work)

It was a great pleasure to introduce Choral Classics at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 23rd June 2022. My script is below. You can watch the recording below (the video will not appear in ‘mobile view’ – please click “view web version” at the bottom of the home page if reading on a tablet or phone) or watch on YouTube at this link. 

Sermon - Safety in numbers?

Christ and the Demoniac, Edward Knippers, 2004

A sermon preached during the Choral Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 23rd June 2022 (First after Trinity, Year C) based on readings from Luke 8.26-39 and Galatians 3.23-end.

Prayers of Intercession - Unity in the Spirit

Prayers of Intercession written for a special Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 9th July attended by members of the City Deanery and celebrated by the Bishop of London, marking the Feast of Pentecost.