Sermon-The Most Reluctant Convert

C.S.Lewis on the cover of Time Magazine, 8th September 1947

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 15th December 2024 (the Third Sunday in Advent, Year C). Based on readings from Philippians 4.4-7 and Luke 3.7-18.

Thought for the Day - I will give you rest

Georges Rouault - Christ Carrying his Cross

A Thought for the Day given during a service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 11th December 2024 based on readings from Isaiah 40.25-end and Matthew 11.28-end.

Chaplaincy Reflection - LSHTM Carol Service 2024

It was a great pleasure to speak at this year’s LSHTM Carol Service – on the “Big Steps” in the new Pumphandle Social Space. Over 150 attended. Thank you to my colleague and co-Chaplain Fr David Peebles for introducing the service, the University of London Chamber Choir for the fantastic music, to Ian Carter and the Student Support Services Team for providing the refreshments and to Godfrey from the Catering Team for serving them. During the service I gave the short reflection below:

Thought for the Day - God Feeds Us, God Frees Us, God Saves Us

Lambert Lombard - The Miracle of Loaves and Fishes

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion at St Giles-in-the-Fields at 1pm on Wednesday 4th December 2024 based on readings from Isaiah 25.6-10a and Matthew 15.29-37.

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 - All will be thrown down

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 17th November 2024 (Second before Advent) based on the text of Mark 13.1-8.

Sermon - Looking Love in the Face

Ernest Edward Spears, Frank Wotton Eastlake & Richard Henry Vaughan Thompson

A sermon given during services on Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2024 at St Giles-in-the-Fields based on the text of John 15.9-17 and the stories of some of the men listed on the WW1 memorial at the back of the church. The photographs of Ernest Spears, Frank Eastlake and Richard Thompson were printed in the pew sheet.

Thought for the Day - Why are you here?

Farewell by August Macke, 1914

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 6th November 2024 based on the text of Luke 11.42-46 and the words of Archbishop William Temple who is remembered by The Church of England on this day.

Sermon-Forgiveness

The Prodigal Son in Modern Life, James Jacques Joseph Tissot, 1882

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 27th October 2024, The Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity, drawing on the text of Matthew 18.21-35 (The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant).

The bitterness and malice that inhabit the absence of forgiveness are a source of perpetual torment to so many. The testimony of those who have forgiven others of the most heinous crimes shows that the world can be so different when we forgive. May we have the grace to accept and the courage to share the forgiveness we have received. To help to bind together this broken world with God’s love.

Sermon-That is The Question

Henry Moore - Three Seated Figures - 1975

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 20th October September 2024 (Year B, Proper 24) based on readings from Isaiah 53.4-end, Hebrews 5.1-10 and Mark 10.35-45 (the request of James and John).

Jesus knew that one of the most effective ways that power and authority can be intentionally transferred – and withheld – is by asking questions. Do we know what we are asking?

Thought for the Day - Regenerating 'The Waste Land'

If Not, Not by Ronald Brooks Kitaj 1975-6

A Thought for the Day given at a lunchtime service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 16th October 2024 based on the texts of Galatians 5.18-end and Luke 11.42-46 and inspired by the text of T.S.Eliot's 'The Waste Land' which was published on this day in 1922.