Thought for the Day - The image of freedom

“The Statue of Liberty Illuminating the World", Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, 1875. The Met, New York 

Thought for the day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 3rd July 2024, based on the text of Amos 5.14-15, 21-24 & Matthew 8.28–end. You can listen to an audio recording of this reflection at this link.

Thought for the Day - Being Fruity

Mr Apple, Norman Rockwell, 1970

Thought for the day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 26th June 2024, based on the text of Matthew 7.15-20

Reflection - Letting go of our desire to hold on

The Artists Hand V, Henry Moore, 1979 - Tate/Henry Moore Foundation

A reflection for the Church of England's National Online Service on Sunday 9th June 2024 - the Second Sunday after Trinity, recorded at St Giles in the Fields, based on the text of Mark 3.20-end

Stand Up and Be Counted

Voting Line, Charly Palmer, 2000

My introduction to the June 2024 edition of The Pelican, the Parish e-Magazine of St Giles-in-the-Fields:

As I write, family and friends in South Africa have been standing in line for over three hours to cast their vote. They are not alone. This month, votes cast by 20% of the world’s population will be counted. The result of India’s three-month long general election will be revealed. The population of Mexico goes to the polls in an historic election widely expected to return the country’s first female President; and voters in the European Union will elect a new parliament.  

Sermon - Blackbirds, Pigeons, Doves & our Wings of Faith

Charles McGhee - One of the St Giles' Blackbirds (1824. Painting by John Dempsey. National Portrait Gallery)

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 12th May 2024 based on the text of 1 Peter 4.7-11 and John 15.26-16.4. You can listen to an audio recording of this sermon at this link.

Sermon - Wings of Faith

Gin Lane 2016 by Thomas Moore

A sermon given during Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 5th May 2024 based on the text of Song of Solomon 4.16-5.2 and Revelation 3.14-end.

Sermon - Grace is not faceless

My Family, by Fateme Hossini, Afghanistan, 2019

A sermon given during Choral Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 5th May 2024 (Rogation Sunday, BCP) based on the text of James 1.22-end and John 16.23-end. You can listen to an audio recording of this text at this link.

Sermon - Sing that Bittersweet Symphony

Marian Anderson by William H. Johnston, 1945 (Smithsonian Museum)

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 21st April 2024 (The Third Sunday after Easter) based on the text of 1 Peter 2.11-17 and John 16.16-22. You can listen to an audio recording of this sermon at this link.

Sermon - Eclipse our doubt. Embrace the awe.

Howard Russell Butler, Solar Eclipse, 1918

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 14th May 2024 – The Third Sunday of Easter (Year B) based on the text of Psalm 4, Acts 3.12-19 and Luke 24.36b-48

Sermon at St Paul's Cathedral - Passion Sunday

A sermon given during Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 17th March 2024, ‘Passion Sunday’ - Lent 5 (Year B) based on the text of Romans 5.12-end

Reflection for the National CofE Online Service - Passion Sunday

Patrick Hayman, Christ Carrying the Cross

It was a great pleasure to introduce the Church of England’s National Online Service on Sunday 17th March 2024 – ‘Passion Sunday’ – Lent 5 (Year B). My homily, based on the text of John 12.20-33 is below. You can watch a recording of the service at this link.