BOOK REVIEW : Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio

Saying Yes To Life - The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020 by Ruth Valerio

Ruth Valerio uses the Days of Creation (Genesis 1) to form the seven chapters of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 2020 Lent Book, which ends with a large bibliography and is accompanied by a website that contains five fifteen minute video clips and links to further resources associated with each chapter - which will be helpful for those using the book in the context of a weekly study group during Lent.

Start-Stop : A Song for Anna

A Song for Simeon - by Edward McKnight Kauffer to accompany T.S.Eliot's poem, 1928

Start Stop at St Stephen Walbrook offers the chance for busy commuters to start their day by stopping to pray and reflect for ten minutes. Reflections start every quarter of an hour on Tuesday mornings from 7.45am with the last reflection starting at 9.00am. This is the script of my reflection from Tuesday 4th February 2020.

BOOK REVIEW : The Man who Listens by Janet Taylor Caldwell

Recently I was fortunate to have the chance to speak with The Very Reverend David Ison, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, who has had a great deal of experience training both priests and lay people. We talked about different aspects of what it means to be a priest and what I have learnt so far from my experience at St Stephen Walbrook - the birthplace of the Samaritans. Amongst the great deal of wisdom he imparted was a recommendation to read this book - and I am very glad I was able to find a second hand copy.

Start-Stop:Teach Me, O Lord

The Ancient of Days, William Blake, 1794

Good morning and welcome to Start:Stop. Today the church celebrates the Patron Saint of Scholars, St Thomas Aquinas.

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.