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Slow Eucharist – Teaching Mass – Lord’s Supper with FAQ
I’m doing something a bit different on Monday. It happens to be the Feast of St Bartholomew and normally we would have a celebratory Eucharist in the morning instead of morning prayer. Now, I’m the master of having all the works in less than half an hour. Clouds of smoke, a simple sung plainsong setting…
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On turning down Big Brother
This morning could have been so very different. I could have been waking in a room of sleeping pseudo-clebs and instead of writing a blog post I could have been called to the diary room. The funniest telephone call I’ve taken in the last year was from an agent looking for candidates for the Big…
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A wee homily for Derek and Nelson
Derek and Nelson – you have come here to St Mary’s today to declare your love for one another and so that we can share your joy and give thanks with you. Today is a feast day in the church. It is the Feast of St Mary – and here we all are in a…
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Calling out Homophobia in the Church of England
It is very, very rare that I accuse someone of homophobia. Those who know me in Scotland, who happen to hold different views to me will know that it simply isn’t an accusation that I throw around. However, I did make that accusation last night, against the Director of Communications of the Church of England.…
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A blessing for Vicky Beeching
I see from my twitter feed that there is a big church story in the press just breaking as I write this. Vicky Beeching has talked about being a gay woman for the first time. It is a big story because she has a strong public profile which she has worked hard to build up…
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Not drowning but thriving – sermon from 10 August 2014
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace When I was growing up – that’s exactly the kind of thing that I would have been singing on a Sunday morning. And it came…
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Who guessed the Pope would turn out to be Mrs Beamish?
It has been wonderful seeing the enthusiasm of Roman Catholic friends for the refreshing breeze that Pope Francis has been bringing to their church over the last few months. Lots of Anglicans are hugely admiring of what he has managed to achieve. But what’s this coming from the Vatican now? No less than an injunction…
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The Privatization of Public Space and the Commonwealth Games
Glasgow’s having a ball hosting the Commonwealth Games at the moment. As everyone here is going around saying to one another, there’s a real buzz about the place. However, that buzz comes at a significant price. I had a wander down to Glasgow’s great public gathering place by the Clyde yesterday – Glasgow Green. I…
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Remembering Dr Pritchard
Every day at morning prayer in St Mary’s we remember those whose year’s mind falls on that day. This means remembering by name in our prayers those from the congregation whom we know to have died on that day. Now, our year’s mind list goes back a few decades and we’ve added one or two…