Sermons
The Elephant in the Room
Fr Paul’s sermon, 22nd October 2017 Do you know the expression, “the elephant in the room”? It goes back to a cartoon by the American humorist James Thurber. He showed a roomful of people, all in earnest conversation with each other, and in the middle an elephant, which they are [...]
Remembrance Sunday
Fr Paul’s sermon: Yesterday was the ninety-ninth anniversary of the Armistice at the end of the First World War, and next year we shall have completed the centenary of our remembrance. I am currently reading Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain, her account of her early life. In August 1914 [...]
The Third Sunday of Eastertide
The Gospel story is another version of that told by John – our Lord’s first appearance to the disciples after his resurrection. There are differences, because John was actually there and describes what he saw and what was important to him, whereas Luke is reporting at second hand. Because in [...]
TRINITY SUNDAY
Fr Paul’s Sermon: When I said to someone that I was (again) down to preach on Trinity Sunday, he replied, “So you’ve drawn the short straw again”, the implication being that no preacher ever wants to have to explain the fundamental mystery of our faith. Well, actually I do. I’ve [...]
JOHN THE BAPTIST
Fr Paul’s Sermon, 24th June 2018 John the Baptist is one of the few saints who gets two festivals in the Church’s year – today, his birthday, and August 29, the commemoration of his death. Only our Lord himself and his blessed mother have their births commemorated, besides John. John [...]
TRINITY 7
Fr Paul’s Sermon, 15th July 2018 “Amos and John the Baptist: Compare and contrast.” That would make a good examination question in Scripture. The most obvious comparison is that both of them confronted a wicked King. Amos, seven centuries before John, warned King Jeroboam that his country would be made [...]