I once said hello to Bill Nighy on Jermyn Street. I recognised his face, but realised too late that I didn’t actually know him. To his credit he smiled back and said hello. This must happen to him all the time. With the radio there is a little more anonymity, but some voices are immediately recognisable, such as Moira Stewart, Linda Snell from The Archer’s, or our own Angela Tilby leading the daily service.
Read MoreThe Bible, and especially the Psalms, sometimes uses the image of storm and heat for God. Psalm 18 talks about God ‘flying on the wings of the storm’ to rescue us, with lightning bursting from the ‘brightness of his presence.’ The prophets speak of God as being like a refiner’s fire or sun of righteousness.
Read MoreI’ve just celebrated a significant birthday. My mother complained that as she was going into labour, and after giving birth, no one was interested in her or me. It was the greatest achievement in her life - I was late and it was a difficult birth - yet it paled into insignificance with the small step for man and giant leap for mankind.
Read MoreThe parable of the Good Samaritan is so over-used, even in a relatively secular society, that it is often very difficult to get beyond our familiarity with it and see its message afresh.
When asked to imagine ourselves in the position of the Samaritan, we often think of the scene in the following way: a poor person is sitting at the side of the road, bleeding after having been attacked. Of course we would help any such person, we tell ourselves. Yet we should ask ourselves what that person by the side of the road looks like. I think it is quite likely that he or she is someone we regard as respectable or acceptable, someone who looks quite similar to ourselves, someone we want to help because we can see them as an obviously innocent victim whose situation is in no way their fault.
Read MoreWe have reached the time of year when we are saying a number of goodbyes, from choir members to our outgoing Chapter Clerk, Peter Sanders. Such occasions are poignant and an occasion for grateful thanksgiving – but also for reflection on how the life of the church has a continuity that does not depend on particular individuals. After the summer holidays our choirs will be back with new members, and if all goes well next Thursday we will be begin the process of appointing a successor to Peter. I write this in the knowledge that it has recently been announced who is taking on the role I left to come to Portsmouth!
Read MoreLast Sunday evening in his sermon ‘Understanding vulnerability: a path to personal and spiritual growth’, Dr Kevin O’Shea, Consultant Psychiatrist, talked about how vulnerability is the essence of the incarnation, God becoming human in the form of Jesus. Dr O’Shea also noted that it was the essence of charity and community. I have been thinking about this a lot over this past week and wondered if today’s highlights could explore these ideas a bit more.
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