Christians observe Epiphany feasts because the manifestation of God’s glory in the person of Jesus Christ commands our attention and adoration in worship. The scriptures we have heard in this observance bear the record that Jesus of Nazareth who is co-eternal with the Father, anticipated by the prophets, born of a Virgin, was revealed to […]
Sermon Topic: Incarnation
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
What does Jesus mean when he says in today’s gospel reading that the Kingdom of God is “at hand?” The term “kingdom of God,” along with its parallel, “kingdom of heaven,” appears in the gospels dozens of times, but in only a few is it described as being “at hand” (Mt 3:2, 4:17, 10:7; Mk […]
The urgent message of Lent demands immediate action.
Today, we hear in our Gospel reading of the journey of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry and how significant the beginning of that ministry is in Mark’s Gospel. There is an immediacy about Mark’s Gospel – the first to have been written with its, sometimes very rough and ready, Greek and its almost […]
We Should Be More Materialistic
It is a commonplace of the weeks leading up to Christmas for preachers and other religious folks to decry the materialism that creeps into the Christmas season. We shouldn’t be so materialistic, it is said. Don’t forget the true reason for the season. Don’t let the world’s materialism eclipse the spiritual reason that we celebrate […]
The "X-Factor" of Christmas
In London there is a very famous department store founded in 1707 with Royal connections called Fortnum and Mason. Each year, a friend loans me their Christmas Catalogue and asks me if I want anything shipped over. I opened this year’s catalogue and was pleased to see the introduction that seemed quite religious: “At Fortnum, […]
Stained Glass Icons
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen. First of all, thank you to Father Turner for the invitation, given last October, to preach for this happy occasion of the celebration of the completion of the restoration of the stained glass. It has been a long pilgrimage […]
Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified
One of the most surprising phenomena of the late twentieth-century, on into the present day, must be the resilience of religion and spirituality. This is against the expectations of most modern sociologists and students of history. To choose just one example: the sociologist Peter Berger in the 1960s and 70s predicted that secularization was the […]
Be born in us today.
It is often said the Anglicans reveal what they believe through their liturgy and music – the old adage is Lex orandi – Lex Credendi; loosely translated as, “The law of praying is the law of believing.” Thus, the great collects of the Book for Common Prayer which Archbishop Cranmer composed in the 16th century, […]
Mary points to Jesus: "Do whatever he tells you."
“New York needs shrines; this crazy city needs such meeting places, silent and hidden from the heat and burden of the New York day.” [1] Words of John Andrew, 11th rector of St Thomas Church. Since we have had to relocate the image of our Lady of Fifth Avenue because of the great organ project, […]
Trinity and Epiphany
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. I’m sure I’m not the only one who counts himself lucky this afternoon to be here for this service. The readings and prayers are those customary for this season following Christmas, but the Epiphany music of this service is a unique gift […]
