What is in Kelvin's Head?

Blog

  • Ditching the sermon – a dialogue for Holy Innocents

    This morning I decided to ditch the sermon in favour of a dialogue with Bishop Gregor. It has been a difficult Christmas in Glasgow with a major tragedy in the centre of the city as people were doing their last minute Christmas shopping. Bishop Gregor was himself there in the square just after the incident…

  • The Comites Christi – Gay Icons

    The days after Christmas often seem strange to people. Boxing day is St Stephen’s Day, 27th December is dedicated to St John and then on 28th you get the Holy Innocents. Collectively these three days are known as the Comites Christ or Companions of Christ. Lots of people and lots of churches have run out…

  • Christmas Day 2014 – Sermon

    Come with me to Bethlehem. Come and see the babe in the manger. Come and worship and adore the Lord of Heaven and Earth with the shepherds at the manger. But don’t come with me to Bethlehem of Judea. Not yet anyway. Come with me instead in your mind to the city of Venice where…

  • Midnight Mass 2014 Sermon for Glasgow

    Where does the light of Christ most need to shine? A long time ago on the first holiday that I went on with a friend rather than my parents, I travelled partly by train, partly by boat and partly hitchhiking, to the Orkney Isles. And one of my strongest memories of being there was crawling…

  • Christmas Services

    Today, Christmas Eve, at 4 pm there’s a Christmas Crib Service for all ages – see the photograph below for a picture of last year’s crib service. Then at 6.30 pm there’s the Cathedral Carol Service featuring the full Cathedral Choir of trebles and adults. At 11.15 pm, midnight mass begins which will feature the…

  • Prof Bill Fishman

    I’ve just returned from one funeral of someone (Michael Hare Duke) who inspired me when I was in my late twenties to hear of the death of another one. I knew Prof William (always Bill) Fishman when I worked in the chaplaincy at Queen Mary and Westfield College – now just Queen Mary, University of…

  • Prayers at a time of tragedy

    As I write this I’m hearing and seeing the news of the tragedy in George Square involving a bin lorry, unfold on twitter and news services. The accident is just about a 100 yards away from the Diocesan Office, an area I know well. My thoughts and prayers are there and it is hard not…

  • The Solstice is Past – Here Comes the Sun

    For all those who get the winter blues. The solstice is past. Here comes the sun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muFOeZSIC2U

  • Dear Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church

    Last weekend I signed the following letter which was sent to the Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It was organised by a group of clergy in the diocese of Edinburgh. The fifty or so signatories were those who happened to learn of this over a couple of days last weekend. There will no doubt…

  • Generous Episcopacy: The Rt Rev Michael Hare Duke RIP

    I gather from a twitter correspondent that the Rt Rev Michael Hare Duke has died. Bishop Michael was the bishop with whom I first tested my vocation. Having been a bishop since 1969, he saw and influenced the entire modern story of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Where to begin with memories? The time I sat…