It is interesting that when you spent less time engaged in God's work, you spend more time thinking about Him and about the work of God. This half term has been no exception: a wonderful week away - minus teenagers so just the wife and I and the six-year old in a parishoner's cottage in…
The first and last time St Luke's Chapel, RNH Haslar has held a patronal festival. The Church is deconsecrated next year when the Navy march out of it. The congregation are left bereft. Stirring songs, and this especially resonated with me: tumult, division and schism in the Church of England and unity in the sacraments.…
It's all happening so fast. No sooner am I back from a hectic Summer than I am having to think about Christmas. Spent half of my day off preparing letters to everyone related to any funeral I have conducted in the past 12 months, inviting them to the All-Souls Requiem Mass. 32 funerals in the…
I've had bad experiences. I've made mistakes. I've learnt from them. I have been a baaaad blogger, and upset people with blogs in the past. I also appreciate that blogging is an excellent form of theological reflection, and that Parish Life (note the capitals) benefits from parishLife (the opportunity to blog). This means that if…
Sermon: Ordinary 27, Year B Text: Genesis 2:18-24 Mark 10:2-16 In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. I promise…until death do us part. This is my solemn vow. How many of us have repeated these…
Sermon: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Text: Mark 7: 31-37 “And Jesus said to him “Ephphatha!” that is “be opened”” In the name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The next few weeks of Scripture are all centred on the same theme: sight to the blind, speech to…
Sermon: Ordinary 16, Year B Text: Mark 6:30-34 In the name of the +Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen It has been said: We can worry or we can worship. Strangely enough, busy people find it a whole lot easier to worry than to worship. A wise man once said,…
Sermon: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Text: Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13 In the name of the +Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen There’s only so much you can learn sitting in a classroom. At some point, you’re going to have to get some real life experience!…
Real Clergy should * always be on time for services and meetings * not have to use answerphones or have their mobiles switched off * remember everyone's names * always be available at the Church Door on a Sunday morning * always be in a clerical collar * never have to go shopping (or be…
Sermon: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Text: Mark 4:26-34 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” In the name of the +Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I have heard it said that Heaven really must be a wonderful place, because no-one has yet come back to complain! As active Christians,…
