07 January 2018 Epiphany Revd Jonathan Cain Isaiah 60: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 With this ambiguous earth His dealings have been told us. These abide: The signal to a maid, the human birth, The lesson, and the young Man crucified. But not a star of all The innumerable host of stars has heard How He […]
19 November 2017 10.30 Sung Eucharist Second Sunday before Advent Canon Simon Cowling Zechariah 1. 7, 12-18; Matthew 25. 14 -30 You fell victims in the deadly struggle of unselfish love towards your people. You gave whatever you had for it for life, for honour, for freedom. Anniversaries seem to be little more than marketing […]
05 November 2017 All Saints Sunday Revd Jonathan Cain 1 John 3: 1-3, Matthew 5: 1-12 “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and he taught them …” This is the context for a piece of Jesus’ teaching, […]
22 October 2017 10.30 Sung Eucharist Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Canon Simon Cowling Isaiah 45. 1-7; Matthew 22. 15-22 The godless florin This was the name given to a coin struck by the Royal Mint in 1849. It was the United Kingdom government’s first attempt to simplify the nation’s coinage by decimalisation. The inscription […]
15 October 2017 10.30 Sung Eucharist Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Revd Martin Wray Isaiah 25. 1-9; Matthew 22. 1-14 Several years ago, when I was in local church ministry, there appeared on the church bookstall a book entitled, ‘101 things to do during a dull sermon.’ To my dismay it quickly became a best-seller – […]
08 October 2017 10.30 Sung Eucharist Harvest Festival (Trinity 17) Canon Simon Cowling Deuteronomy 8. 7-18; Matthew 21. 33 – end One day Rabbi Akiva met a man who asked him, ‘who created the world?’ ‘Why, God created the world, answered the rabbi’. ‘What proof do you have?’ asked the man. ‘Come back tomorrow and […]
01 October 2017 Trinity 16 Revd Jonathan Cain Ezekiel 18: 1-4 & 25-end, Matthew 21: 23-32 In 1977 a young man aged 16 stood up at the Conservative Party conference and gave a speech that the then leader, Margaret Thatcher later described as thrilling. The young man was of course William Hague; the speech was […]
17 September 2017 Trinity 14 Revd Jonathan Cain Romans 14 1-12, Matthew 18: 21-35 The Hebrew words for Spirit and breath have the same root – ruach. I love this because it suggests that the Spirit, the divine action of God in the world is tied up with breathing, our breathing. Those of you who practice […]
10 September 2017 Trinity 13 Revd Jonathan Cain Romans 13 8-14, Matthew 18: 15-20 “I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem.” This, I hope you’ll be pleased to hear, is not a personal statement, as some of you know Rebecca and I celebrated our Silver Wedding Anniversary this week. No, “I may have […]
27 August 2017 10.30 Sung Eucharist The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Tony Cantlow Romans 12. 1-8; Matthew 16. 13-20 For the past few years Tony Cantlow has served as the Priory’s much-loved verger. Earlier this year Tony was recommended by a Bishops’ Advisory Panel for ordination training as a distinctive deacon. He will begin formal training next […]