Meditation and Reflection

happy new year 2021 star

2021: a new year of change and the promise of hope

As seasons go, 2020 was a year to cast away. It was a time die, a time to break down, a time to weep and a time to mourn. Its shadows and darkness went on forever, often plunging us to…
lonely christmas

It’ll be lonely this Christmas

"Even if we can't be together as normal, no-one needs to feel lonely this Christmas", tweeted Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. "We're giving £7.5m to charities, arts organisations, libraries and local…
sheep dog shepherd jesus

Sheep(dog) Sunday

Today is not liturgically designated as “Sheep Sunday”, but our lectionary readings effectively render it so, as up and down the country preachers dust off their ovine metaphors and try…
Supper at Emmaus caravaggio

The Supper at Emmaus

Today’s Gospel reading gives me the opportunity to share with you one of my favourite paintings, that of The Supper at Emmaus, by the Italian Renaissance genius Caravaggio. It hangs…
harrowing of hell

Holy Saturday: the Harrowing of Hell

Each Easter, those charged with preaching sermons have the opportunity to refresh their understanding of the story. Being human, not all of us do so each and every year. Life,…
jesus crucified good friday

Good Friday is good enough

The crucifixion of Christ remains the event of salvation-history: it is the defining pivotal moment of creation, redemption and reconciliation. It is the nexus of the realm of eschatology, without…
clap for jesus

Nobody claps for Jesus

This is the 12th contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. It comes from Mike Stallard, who has been in education all his life, and is…
whisky priest

Whisky Priests Galore

I have a sense that many clerics today find themselves no less confused and variously out of sorts than their widely dispersed flocks. Some report being frazzled with too much…
Micelangelo human touch god adam latex rubber gloves coronavirus covid-19 funny self isolate

The Human Touch

This is the eighth contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. The author is a Christian and key-worker, who has had a busy week.   Were…
plague of cyprian

The Plague of Cyprian

This is the seventh contribution to His Grace’s emergency team ministry during the coronavirus pestilence. It comes from Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage and Father of the Church, from his work…