Sermons
Sermon: Christmas Day, 25 December 2019, St John the Divine
It seems that today the Queen will tell us all that 2019 has been, quote, ‘quite bumpy’. An interesting choice of words, typically diplomatic and understated, but leading to much speculation as to what she might really have in mind. … Continue reading
Sermon: Second Sunday before Advent, 17 November 2019, St Mary Magdalene, morning
Readings 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13 & Luke 21.5-19Preacher Revd Alan Sykes Pondering that passage from Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Thessalonians – our first reading – I was reminded of the Canadian clinical psychologist Dr Jordan Peterson. In the last few … Continue reading
Talk: War and Peace in the Holy Land, Sunday 29 September 2019
A very brief overview of the Arab Israeli conflict Talk by: Major General Sir Michael Carleton-Smith, CBE, DL I think an anonymous quote explains a lot of the attitude of the Israeli Hawks. ‘If the Arabs put their weapons down, … Continue reading
Sermon: Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 15 September 2019, St Mary Magdalene, morning
Reading Luke 15.1-10 Preacher Revd Alan Sykes Everyone loves a party – or so they say. But, as with anything involving human beings, things are rarely that simple. Parties can be difficult if you’re on the shy side of the … Continue reading
Sermon: 80 years since the outbreak of WW2, 1 September 2019, St Mary Magdalene, morning
Preacher Sir Michael Carleton-Smith In November last year we remembered the one hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War, the war to end all wars. But eighty years ago today on Sunday 1st September 1939 the Germans … Continue reading
Sermon: Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 25 August 2019, St Mary Magdalene, evening
Reading 2 Corinthians 9Preacher Revd Alan Sykes To get full value from this evening’s reading we need to bear in mind one of the major aspects of early Church history, namely that there was major dissension in the Church between … Continue reading
Sermon: Team Service of Rededication, 21 July 2019, St Mary Magdalene
Readings 2 Corinthians 5.14-17; John 20.1-2, 11-18 Preacher Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark I am very glad to be with you to give thanks for 800 years of worship in this House of Prayer, rededicated to the Glory … Continue reading
Sermon: Fourth Sunday after Trinity, 14 July 2019, St John the Divine
Readings Deuteronomy 30.9-14; Colossians 1.1-14; Luke 10.25-37 Preacher Revd Neil Summers I guess the Good Samaritan is one of the most familiar and memorable stories of the Bible. I think its hold on us is at least partly to do … Continue reading
Sermon: Third Sunday after Trinity, 7 July 2019, St John the Divine
Readings Isaiah 66.10-14; Galatians 6.7-16; Luke 10.1-11, 16-20 Preacher Revd Neil Summers Chapters 8-10 of Luke’s Gospel set out a very interesting – what we might call in today’s church jargon – ‘Mission Action Plan’. And it all sounds quite … Continue reading
Sermon: Third Sunday after Trinity, 7 July 2019, St Matthias
Readings Luke 10.1-11 & 16-20 Preacher Revd Alan Sykes Presently I’ll be talking about the gospel reading that we’ve just heard but first it’s confession time. Don’t fret, this is confession time for me, not for you. I’ll be the … Continue reading