Sermon-The Art of Why?

Job: A Masque for Dancing - Original Production at The Cambridge Theatre, July 1931 (V&A Collection)

A sermon given during Choral Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 28th July 2024 based on the text of Job 19.1-17. A canter through the artistic masterpieces inspired by the Book of Job - one of which was premiered in this parish.

Sermon-Seeing the real Unjust Steward

 

Brian Bilston, Refugees, 2016

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 28th July 2024, The Ninth Sunday after Trinity based on the text of Luke 16:1–9

Using Brian Bilston’s “Reverse Poem” refugees as a way of re-reading the parable of the Unjust Steward.

Prayers of Intercession - Calm amidst Chaos

Small Chaos, Nengi Omuku, 2020 

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Mary le Bow on Thursday 25th July 2022 ((Year B, Trinity 8, Proper 11) based on the text of Mark 6.30-34, 53-end.

Thought for the Day-The Parable of the Sower

Green Ears of Wheat, Vincent van Gogh, 1888

A Thought for the Day given at the lunchtime service of Holy Communion at 11am on Wednesday 24th July 2024 at St Giles-in-the-Fields based on the text of Matthew 13.1-9

Thought for the Day-Woe to Unrepentant Cities

Somerset Place, Bath, John Piper, 1942 (Tate Britain)

A Thought for the Day given at the lunchtime Eucharist at St Olave Hart Street in the insurance district of the City of London on Tuesday 16th July 2024 based on the text of Matthew 11.20-24 (‘Woe to Unrepentant Cities’)

Sermon-Believing in the miracle of multiplication

'150 People', Los Carpinteros, Art Basel 2012

A sermon given during Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 14th July 2024 based on the text of Romans 6.19-23 and Mark 8.1-9.

A Grace for the Installation Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers

Pennies from Heaven, George Pemba, 1986

A grace written for the Installation Dinner of the Guild of Investment Managers on Tuesday 9th July 2024. The dinner took place a week after the General Election in Ironmongers’ Hall, close to the site of John Wesley’s conversion experience in Aldersgate Street when his heart was ‘strangely warmed’.

In Ironmongers’ Hall, 

we gather to install 

   a Master, Wardens and their Court.

To steward this growing Guild 

as you continue to build 

   the City that we ought.  

May we value this time to share

   in such delightful fare.

And as we sit and eat, 

chewing over our new political elite, 

spare a thought for all who serve. 

Let us not regret 

   the sight of stripped assiettes;

a compliment well deserved.

Lord, may all those who invest 

   be well and truly blessed.

Hearts warmed as we digest 

all we are about to receive. 

Amen 

Image : Pennies from Heaven, George Pemba 

Sermon-"Sexit"?

Handprints, Andy Warhol, 1982

A homily given at Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Sunday 7th July 2024 based on the text of Romans 14.1-17.

Sermon-The image we all carry

The Son of a Migrant from Syria, Banksy, 2015

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 7th July 2024 and St Mary Le Bow on Thursday 11th July 2024, the Sixth Sunday after Trinity (Proper 9) based on the text of Mark 6.1-13. 

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.