# What is in Kelvin's Head?

> The Blog of the Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow


## Posts

- [Predictions 2026](https://thurible.net/2026/01/01/predictions-2026/): A rocky road to the enthronement of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Further turmoil and scandal in the Anglican Episcopates of the United Kingdom. No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England. More talk about the Quiet Revival which will continue not to show up in denominational statistics. Success for BBC Farage TV as Reform make great gains in the May elections Despite its record in government, the SNP get about 60 seats in the new Scottish Parliament. Because of its record in government, the Labour party gets terrible results and there is an attempt […]
- [How did I do with last year's predictions?](https://thurible.net/2025/12/31/how-did-i-do-with-last-years-predictions/): Here’s a run down of how I did at last year’s predictions. Good results for Nigel Farage following the English local elections in May. Terrible results for Conservative Party. Exactly what happened. YES No progress towards the marriage of same-sex couples in the Church of England Exactly what happened. Indeed, I think things may have gone into reverse. YES Turbulent year for WordPress, which powers about half of the internet. The year began with Automattic dramatically cutting its contribution to development leading to stagnation in development and much acrimony. Subsequently restored. Deep divisions remain about Gutenberg. I’m claiming this as […]
- [AI Ethics Questions for Preachers](https://thurible.net/2025/12/12/ai-ethics-questions-for-preachers/): The first time that I encountered ChatGPT was three years ago when I was staying in a seminary in the USA. It was a place dedicated to teaching theology and particularly to training Episcopal clergy. The ChatGPT preview release was let loose on the world on 30 November 2022, so I must have discovered it very early on. AI has moved on significantly since then but at the time one could use it to render a piece of text in the voice of someone well-known. The entertainment at mealtimes was to give it a well-known piece of the Bible such […]
- [We are not stewards](https://thurible.net/2025/09/19/we-are-not-stewards/): A long time ago, back in the mists of nearly twenty years ago, I started to think that it was important that there was a liturgical celebration of creation. I thought long and hard about it and decided that instead of celebrating that modern invention the Harvest Festival, we would celebrate Creation instead, rolling a sense of thanksgiving into that but praying too for the wellbeing of the created world. That is the way that it has been for quite a while now. We usually keep it on the first Sunday in October, around the time of the Feast of […]
- [Listening to the Quiet Revival](https://thurible.net/2025/09/12/listening-to-the-quiet-revival/): This Quiet Revival thing is real you know. At least, it feels real around here. For a number of years, I’ve been aware that young adults now seem to have different attitudes to religion to young adults of perhaps 20 years ago. Specifically, young adults of today do not seem as negative towards religion, and particularly organised religion, as their predecessors did. It has always been the case that there has been a minority of people interested in churchy things and a larger minority of people who would be prepared to acknowledge that they were interested in things that might […]
- [Sermon preached on 17 August 2025. (But should it have a content warning?)](https://thurible.net/2025/08/22/sermon-preached-on-17-august-2025-but-should-it-have-a-content-warning/): I wonder whether you have heard of a place called Edinburgh. It is a place about 50 miles away from here. And it is a wonderful diverse, international city…for at least three weeks a year. Now the East of Scotland and the West of Scotland are different one from another. Amongst other things, religion is different over there to over here. I’ve always said that if you preach the same sermon in Edinburgh and Glasgow and say something funny, in Edinburgh you have to give a warning that there’s a joke coming up by saying, “And that reminds me of […]
- ["Issues" is no more](https://thurible.net/2025/07/15/issues-is-no-more/): Earlier today, the General Synod of the Church of England took a hugely significant step. It removed a document called “Issues in Human Sexuality” from the discernment process for people being assessed for clerical vocations in the Church of England. Oh, I can hear you yawning from here. But it really is important and this is a significant step forward. “Issues” as it has come to be known became a touchstone for the Church of England. It was originally a statement from the Church of England Bishops about what they thought about sex and sexuality. It was never intended to […]
- [Fake Pope Quote Posts](https://thurible.net/2025/05/13/fake-pope-quote-posts/): One of the more bizarre developments in social media has been the rise in fake quotes from popes appearing online. One might think that Roman Catholics would be particularly at the forefront of this kind of activity, but that’s not necessarily the case. Anglicans seem to love a good fake pope quote. I’ve seen them posted by an incredible number of people including several senior clerics. I am bewildered as to why people post things and in doing so say something like “Isn’t it amazing that we’ve got a pope who said…?” and don’t pause for a moment to ask […]
- [In just three days...](https://thurible.net/2025/04/12/in-just-three-days/): Every year I make a promise to people. I say that if they keep the triduum with me at St Mary’s then it will change their life and change their faith. I think that keeping the Triduum helps make sense of all that we do in church for the rest of the year. In just three days, you can learn things about the faith and why Christians believe the things that they do that are much harder to learn during the rest of the year. The Triduum is the three days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Day. Although the various […]
- [A man had two sons...](https://thurible.net/2025/03/30/a-man-had-two-sons/): Jesus make up the story of the Parable Son for Lent 4 and maybe it isn't about repentance at all. So what was he on about?
- [The University Sermon - University of Oxford - 23 February 2025](https://thurible.net/2025/02/24/the-university-sermon-university-of-oxford-23-february-2025/): I glanced up from my desk as I sat down to write this sermon and gazed at an icon that has been on my wall for the last 8 years. It is obviously an icon showing the garden of Eden. A green background. Two figures stand on either side of the tree of knowledge. Although just an icon, painted by someone I know, it is a piece of art which does what all great art does. It inspires some people. It infuriates others. It throws some people into a rage. And sometimes we must pay attention to rage and make […]
- [Divine Dating - the Mysterious Art of Finding A New Cleric](https://thurible.net/2025/01/31/divine-dating-the-mysterious-art-of-finding-a-new-cleric/): How does God speak? Is it in the words of a CV or by judging the style in which it has been laid out? Would one font convince you to put someone on a shortlist and another make you put the application in the reject pile? Is it through the checking off of tick-boxes on a pre-prepared statement of needs and expectations? Is it likely to be someone who doesn’t surprise you or the person who completely astonishes you? Is it the name murmured on many lips or someone that no-one has ever heard of? Does it come down to […]
- [Predictions 2025](https://thurible.net/2025/01/01/predictions-2025/): Good results for Nigel Farage following the English local elections in May. Terrible results for Conservative Party. No progress towards the marriage of same-sex couples in the Church of England Turbulent year for WordPress, which powers about half of the internet. 2025 will be the hottest year on record. No trade deal for UK with US. Increasing talk of re-aligning economy closer to EU. Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war but no long term solution. “Assisted Dying” aka doctor assisted suicide becomes legal in at least one of the jurisdictions of the British Isles. Turbulent year for economy but stock market higher […]
- [Scottish Episcopal Kalendar 2025](https://thurible.net/2024/12/31/scottish-episcopal-kalendar-2025/): For years now, I’ve produced a Kalendar for the Scottish Episcopal Church with all the bible readings set out for the year. This year’s Kalendar is available online so that anyone can download it and print it out for themselves. It is available right here: http://thurible.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Final-Kalendar-2025.pdf Anyone who would like to make a donation because they enjoy the Kalendar so much and want to encourage me to keep doing it is welcome to do so via paypal. I used to offer printed copies at £5 per copy.
- [How were my Predictions last year?](https://thurible.net/2024/12/31/how-were-my-predictions-last-year/): Time to check out how I did with the predictions I made on New Year’s Day 2024. 1  General Election in UK – Labour landslide. PM – Sir Keir Starmer. (No great change in policies from the Tory government that Labour will replace). Yes – fulfilled in every way. 2  US politics will continue to be dominated by Donald Trump Yes 3  In the US Presidential election in November there will be victory for the Republican Party. Yes 4  AI/Deepfakes have a significant effect in electoral politics. Not really – AI/Deepfakes are present but there’s no real evidence that they […]
- [Sermon for Janey Godley](https://thurible.net/2024/11/30/sermon-for-janey-godley/): She said, “I’ve been making lists”. I said, “Oh, right. Is that lists of people that need to be invited to the funeral?” She said, “Naw – not that” Someone came into the hospice room for something and we were distracted.   I know that some of you might be a little surprised to find yourselves in church today. The first time she came into this church, she had been chatting to me outside and wanted to look around. But as we approached the door, she said, “I can’t come in”. Why not, I asked. Because it will fall down […]
- [Finding a place to be](https://thurible.net/2024/10/11/finding-a-place-to-be/): I heard of another church that is due to close this week. It is in a place some distance from me but a church community that I once knew and like many church closures, it seems incredible to me that this particular one is closing down. As it happens it is one of the very many Church of Scotland closures that are currently going on. The congregation in question, such as it is these days, will be invited to join with another congregation. It is a rare merger of churches which produces a church with the strengths of both congregational […]
- [The Beatitudes of Livestreaming](https://thurible.net/2024/09/13/the-beatitudes-of-livestreaming/): Blessed are they who livestream their church services for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs to share with others and they know it. Blessed are the sick and the dying in churches which livestream for they shall be comforted by still being able to be part of their congregations in addition to receiving the personal and pastoral care of their friends and clergy. Blessed are those who are meek enough to know that audio matters more than video for they will inherit the online audience. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for life-changing worship both online and in-person for […]
- [Farewell to Oliver Brewer-Lennon - a sermon preached on 18 August 2024](https://thurible.net/2024/08/19/farewell-to-oliver-brewer-lennon-a-sermon-preached-on-18-august-2024/): Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost ends of the earth. When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Oh Oliver. If only your manner of going was the same as that of our Lord. Jesus is simply surrounded by a cloud and then he is gone. If only I could shake the thurible at you and surround you with a cloud […]
- [David's Lamentation - a sermon preached on 12 August 2024](https://thurible.net/2024/08/19/davids-lamentation-a-sermon-preached-on-12-august-2024/): David the King, was grieved and moved He went to his chamber, his chamber and wept And as he wept, he wept and said… Oh, my son, oh, my son Would to God I had died Would to God I had died Would to God I had died For thee, oh Absalom, my son, my son Victory that day was turned into mourning When the people did see how the king grieved for his son He covered his face and in a loud voice cried… Did you ever meet someone who was better at something that you are and admire […]
- [There is no shortage of grace - a sermon for 28 July 2024](https://thurible.net/2024/07/30/there-is-no-shortage-of-grace-a-sermon-for-28-july-2024/): There lying in a kitchen cupboard they sit accusing me. I’ve realised that the time has come to throw them all away because it won’t work properly anyway any more. About a dozen small packets. Orange in colour. Each stamped with a best before date that is now about two years out of date anyway. I must have struggled to get them in the first place. And yet they sit there unused. My guess is that I won’t be the only person to have such a collection lying doing nothing in a cupboard. It is my Emergency Pandemic Yeast Stash. […]
- [Why I'll be Marching at Pride (2024)](https://thurible.net/2024/07/16/why-ill-be-marching-at-pride-2024/): I slipped into an unknown pub in Middle England to get out of the rain and have a pub lunch. It was welcoming and cosy. Steak and ale pie, since you ask. The part of the pub I was sitting in was right next to the bar. A small snug. The kind of room where you can hear everyone else’s conversations though it wasn’t too busy. Just a group of fifty-something men in for their pies a table a few feet from me, right next to the bar. It wasn’t terribly busy and so our host behind the bar joined […]
- [A sermon for BBC Radio 4 - 7 July 2024](https://thurible.net/2024/07/07/a-sermon-for-bbc-radio-4-7-july-2024/): We were asked to produce a service to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 7 July 2024 a few weeks before the General Election was called. The service had to be recorded in advance as the date for the broadcast fell within choir holidays. Once the election was called, I soon realised that the service would be broadcast amidst all the Sunday morning chatter about the election result. So, that meant trying to think about how to speak into that situation without actually knowing the result of the election. That’s not an easy thing to do but I soon […]
- [And the lot fell upon Matthias - a sermon](https://thurible.net/2024/05/14/and-the-lot-fell-upon-matthias-a-sermon/): This sermon was preached in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow on 12 May 2024 You don’t get many stained glass windows depicting Joseph Barsabbas – also known as Justus, do you? You get plenty of windows depicting Matthias. We’ve got one here in St Mary’s – over by the tea and coffee table. There he is with the fateful words – “And the lot fell upon Matthias”. But if you want to exercise a devotion to Justus, you’re out of luck. Or maybe he was out of luck in not being chosen. Or maybe he was the lucky one in not […]
- [Easter Day Sermon 2024 - It is started](https://thurible.net/2024/04/02/easter-day-sermon-2024/): It comes in waves, grief does. It is not a constant thing. And when you think that you are moving on another wave can hit you by surprise and leave you right back in the place you were trying to crawl out of. A big part of my life over the last 18 months has been adjusting to a world in which two of my friends are no longer present. Unexpected deaths, relatively young. Lives cut short. Ministries in the church unfinished. And friends left behind. I am a friend left behind. And so I find as I approach the […]
- [Good Friday Sermon 2024 - It is finished](https://thurible.net/2024/04/02/good-friday-sermon-2024-it-is-finished/): In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen I remember some years ago hearing someone speaking about what made people compatible. I think that it was someone who was a statistician who was making quite a living by advising people who were designing dating apps on what questions to ask people which would give the greatest likelihood of a match working out. And they reported that there were two questions which were way ahead of other questions in predicting people’s compatibility. And they were rather odd. The first one was about how […]
- [What's really happening to the churches in Scotland](https://thurible.net/2024/01/11/whats-really-happening-to-the-churches-in-scotland/): Over the last few weeks there’s been a number of articles that have appeared in the press highlighting decline in the religious life of Scotland and claiming in particular that it indicates a sudden decline in interest in organised religion in Scotland. On the face of it, this seems difficult to argue with. Fewer people are going to church, church buildings are being closed and sold off up and down the land and therefore organised religion must be in decline. However, I think that the picture is complex. In particular, within the three largest church denominations there is clear and […]
- [Predictions for 2024](https://thurible.net/2024/01/01/predictions-for-2024/): General Election in UK – Labour landslide. PM – Sir Keir Starmer. (No great change in policies from the Tory government that Labour will replace). US politics will continue to be dominated by Donald Trump In the US Presidential election in November there will be victory for the Republican Party. AI/Deepfakes have a significant effect in electoral politics. Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine unresolved by end of 2024. No progress for those wanting marriage equality in the Church of England. Twitter goes bust or is sold or both. The world will be warmer in 2024 than ever before. Another country […]
- [Predictions 2023 - How did I do?](https://thurible.net/2023/12/31/predictions-2023-how-did-i-do/): 1  Generative artificial intelligence will become significantly disruptive of many sectors this year. Education practices will change quickly as a result of this but education will be but one of many areas of life to be affected. Happening all around us (even to people who can’t see it happening around them) – prediction fulfilled. 2 No progress for those seeking marriage equality in the Church of England. There will be a lot of talk about moving towards some form of official blessings for same-sex couples which would have the effect of thwarting those seeking actual equality, making it more difficult […]
- [Coupled Together](https://thurible.net/2023/12/18/coupled-together/): Perhaps one of the most unexpected things that could have happened this year in religious terms is that in the last days of the year, both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church have moved to similar positions on same-sex couples. Now, precisely what those positions are is complex, almost falling into the realm of holy mystery. However, it is clear that some form of prayer is going to be allowed in each of those churches for which the context of those prayers is a public recognition of such a couple. Both churches seem to want to have […]
- [Scottish Episcopal Kalendar 2024](https://thurible.net/2023/12/02/scottish-episcopal-kalendar-2024/): For years now, I’ve produced a Kalendar for the Scottish Episcopal Church with all the bible readings set out for the year. This year’s Kalendar is available online so that anyone can download it and print it out for themselves. It is available right here: Kalendar 2024 Anyone who would like to make a donation because they enjoy the Kalendar so much and want to encourage me to keep doing it is welcome to do so via paypal. Alternatively, anyone who wishes to purchase a printed copy can do so here: Buy a Kalendar
- ["If God shows up in the guise of a tyrant, no-one should wear his uniform" - Sermon 15 October 2023](https://thurible.net/2023/10/17/if-god-shows-up-in-the-guise-of-a-tyrant-no-one-should-wear-his-uniform-sermon-15-october-2023/): That was quite the wedding banquet… So, there’s an Ox roast going on over there and the fatted calfs have been slaughtered and cooked. There doesn’t seem to be a vegetarian option at this wedding, but that’s the least of our worries at the moment. For the host has taken umbrage because not enough guests have turned up. Not only that, but the guests have seized the Big Man’s people and beaten them up and killed them. And so he sends in the heavies, destroys the murderers and burns the town down. Now that’s quite a wedding. Even for Glasgow, […]
- [The Friends of St Eucalyptus](https://thurible.net/2023/09/01/the-friends-of-st-eucalyptus/): Some years ago now, I introduced readers of this blog to the twin churches of St Eucalyptus on the Rocks and St Anaglypta by the Skerry. They were dreamt up by me in order to illustrate a point. I was trying to get people to think about whether bread and wine could be consecrated by a priest who couldn’t be in two places at once but who could connect them virtually in some way. This was a long time before the pandemic made those questions pertinent to far more people than had bothered to think about them previously. From time […]
- [If you meet a God who is racist. Call it out.](https://thurible.net/2023/08/25/if-you-meet-a-god-who-is-racist-call-it-out/): Content Warning. This gospel reading contains scenes which some viewers might find disturbing. Content Warning. Viewer discretion is advised. Content Warning. This exegesis contains strong language which some listeners may find offensive. Content Warning. The language used in this interpretation of the gospel contains expressions which were in common use at the time which may sound derogatory and disrespectful to modern ears. Content Warning. The kind of language that can be heard in today’s gospel remains in use today. And it remains just as offensive as it always was. Those of us who watch the television or listen to the […]
- [Leah’s Sad Eyes](https://thurible.net/2023/08/01/leahs-sad-eyes/): I have a question for those of you who went to Sunday School when you were young. What’s the least appropriate thing you remember being taught there? As we’ve been going through the stories from Genesis over the last few weeks, I keep thinking to myself – gosh, I remember learning this story in Sunday School. I’m not sure that we teach bible stories in Sunday School in quite the same way these days that we used to do. (And that’s not necessarily a bad thing – Sunday Schools of my day were statistically spectacularly bad at retaining people in […]
- [Eid, Pride and Abraham's Sacrifice](https://thurible.net/2023/07/06/eid-pride-and-abrahams-sacrifice/): The first thing that I tend to notice is that there seems to be more sweet things in the shops in Great Western Road than usual. And then on the day itself it is obvious that there’s more people going about their business all dressed up for an occasion. Some of them are carrying food. A swish of coloured fabric or a brilliantly white robe. And then I see people going visiting family in the local tenements. It is obvious that there’s a celebration going on. This week the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha was going on. The Islamic calendar […]
- [Sermon preached on BBC Radio 4 for Music Sunday](https://thurible.net/2023/06/18/sermon-preached-on-bbc-radio-4-for-music-sunday/): A couple of weeks ago, I sat on the sand in the blazing sunshine on the West Coast of Scotland chatting to a friend. I was to come away from that conversation with a furiously sunburnt face but also with a snatch of conversation that I remember that was about singing. My friend was telling me about the experience of living right beside the rocks and the beach for a couple of months. Swimming in the sea every day no matter what the temperature. And scrambling over the rocks to see what wildlife would pop up each day. “Sometimes there’s […]
- [Easter Sermon 2023](https://thurible.net/2023/04/10/easter-sermon-2023/): In a few week’s time, something will happen that hasn’t happened before. At 3 pm on the 23 April, all our mobile phones will be all a-tremble. They will begin to wail. The government is going to be testing a new emergency alert system. They have chosen the time carefully. The emergency alert is to be slipped in between people attending church and before the start of the English FA Cup Semi-Final. Because, of course, emergencies are like that. Coming along with a few weeks’ notice and fitting themselves in between worship and a football match. In some of the […]
- [Reforming Canon 4](https://thurible.net/2023/03/07/reforming-canon-4/): The Scottish Episcopal Church has a curious hobby and that hobby is reforming Canon 4. Now, Canon 4 is the set of rules by which we choose new bishops and from time to time the cry goes up that it is time to reform Canon 4. There are a limited number of reasons why anyone would want to reform Canon 4. Broadly speaking there’s two reasons – the first of which is that for some reason there’s a feeling held by some people within the church that the wrong person has been elected as a bishop somewhere. The second reason […]
- [Predictions 2023](https://thurible.net/2023/01/01/predictions-2023/): Generative artificial intelligence will become significantly disruptive of many sectors this year. Education practices will change quickly as a result of this but education will be but one of many areas of life to be affected. No progress for those seeking marriage equality in the Church of England. There will be a lot of talk about moving towards some form of official blessings for same-sex couples which would have the effect of thwarting those seeking actual equality, making it more difficult to achieve. Further division amongst pro-gay activists in the Church of England. Indyref 2 will not happen on 19 […]
- [Predictions 2022 - How did I do?](https://thurible.net/2022/12/31/predictions-2022-how-did-i-do/): Time to see how I did with my predictions at the start of the year. Boris Johnson will be replaced with a Prime Minister who is more competent, more right wing and more difficult to beat. Well, if we skip lightly over the horror of Liz Truss’s premiership, I’m going to claim this one as fulfilled. Left and right designations in politics mean less as the years go on. Prediction fulfilled. A good year for Michael Gove (who is almost invisible at the moment). I’m claiming this one too. He’s back in government and less invisible. If you don’t agree, you […]
- [Christmas Sermon 2022](https://thurible.net/2022/12/25/christmas-sermon-2022/): This is the sermon that I preached at Midnight Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow for 2022. This was reported in the Herald here: https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23213007.glasgow-clergyman-hits-rwanda-policy-christmas-service/ And in the Daily Record here: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scots-church-leader-brands-tory-28812715 Why is it always night? In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. She said, “I don’t get it. Why is it always night?” “What?” I said. We were just yards from Times Square buzzing with people. A space that never gets dark, lit perpetually by vast garish advertising slogans bidding all the world to come and buy. But […]
- [Christmas in St Mary's (with a twist at the end)](https://thurible.net/2022/12/17/christmas-in-st-marys-with-a-twist-at-the-end/): Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and there is perhaps no better place to experience the magic of the season than at St Mary’s Cathedral in the Scottish Episcopal Church. With its stunning architecture and rich history, this beautiful space offers a truly special and meaningful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. One of the highlights of a Christmas service at St Mary’s Cathedral is the music. The cathedral’s choir is known for their beautiful voices and their ability to bring the festive carols to life. The church also features a grand organ, which adds a sense […]
- [Reparations, the Churches and LGBT communities](https://thurible.net/2022/12/10/reparations-the-churches-and-lgbt-communities/): For one reason or another, I’ve been thinking about the idea of reparations for some time over the last year. I’m one of the chaplains at the University of Glasgow and it made me think a bit when the University started to implement concrete policies in recent times by way of trying to make reparations for actions that were taken long ago in the past.  Like many institutions in Glasgow, including many of the churches, the University benefited from the slave trade and has embarked on a programme of reparations to acknowledge that its current existence was built on something […]
- [The English Heresy](https://thurible.net/2022/12/02/the-english-heresy/): A long time ago and in a land far away, by which I mean Fife, I was a theological student. It was a good time in my life. By and large I was in the company of clever people, learning clever things from clever people. Theological education can be exciting and that was an exciting time for me. In the course of that time, I remember a little game that some of us used to play occasionally. It wasn’t Cards Against Humanity or even the Christian version, A Game for Good Christians that theological students are fond of in current […]
- [Turning Up and Being Counted](https://thurible.net/2022/11/26/turning-up-and-being-counted/): I’m currently going through a strange time. I’m away from my congregation on sabbatical. It is a good thing to do and I’m having a great time, meeting fantastic people and learning a thing or two by stopping for a while to breathe. There’s always things that you miss when you are away from the place you know best. For me, the fact that Branston Pickle has not conquered the world is astonishment and I’ve missed it in far flung places all around the world over the years. However, there’s something more quirky, churchy and odd that I really missed […]
- [12 Things I've Learned About Preaching](https://thurible.net/2022/11/17/things-ive-learned-about-preaching/): At the moment, I’m on sabbatical and am not preaching regularly. However, I recently had the opportunity to preach to a congregation largely made up of apprentice preachers – those who are training for ordained and lay ministries in the church in the future. A number of them have asked me to share some wisdom on how I prepare a sermon. One even asked me to share my ‘homiletic method’. I don’t know about that, but here’s a few things I’ve been learning about preaching. I’ve written posts like this before, but here’s where I am in 2022. In good […]
- [It was  30 years ago today...](https://thurible.net/2022/11/11/it-was-30-years-ago-today/): It seems extraordinary to me that it is thirty years since I stood with others in Deans Yard in London outside the meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England waiting for news. It was a long day and one that many had worked towards tirelessly, for many years. It was the day that the Church of England finally decided that women should be ordained to the priesthood. Well, I say that people had worked tirelessly towards that day but the reality was that many were extremely tired. Women had been ordained deacons some years before and were […]
- [Gender Recognition Act Reform - It's Time](https://thurible.net/2022/10/24/gender-recognition-act-reform-its-time/): This week the Scottish Government will be considering a piece of legislation which will affect most people’s lives very little but which has great significance for those seeking legal recognition that their gender is different to that which was assigned to them at birth. People being recognised legally as having a changed gender is nothing particularly new – it has been happening for years. What it means is that people are able to have access to documents that reflect their lived experience in the world. After all, if everyone experiences you as being one gender and yet your passport indicates […]
- [The Kalendar for 2022 - 2023 is available free!](https://thurible.net/2022/09/18/the-kalendar-for-2022-2023-is-available-free/): For years now, I’ve produced a Kalendar for the Scottish Episcopal Church with all the bible readings set out for the year. In the past I’ve sold it for around £4. For a range of reasons, I’m not going to be selling it this year but am releasing it online so that anyone can download it and print it out for themselves. It is available right here: Kalendar 2023 Anyone who would like to make a donation because they enjoy the Kalendar so much and want to encourage me to keep doing it is welcome to do so via paypal. […]
- [Fact checking Sandi Toksvig](https://thurible.net/2022/08/04/fact-checking-sandi-toksvig/): Sandi Toksvig has published an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury that a lot of people are getting very excited about as it seems to be a slam dunk refutation of the wicked, homophobic Archbishop of Canterbury. The only trouble with the letter is that it is based on a number of claims about the Archbishop and the Lambeth Conference that are not in fact actually true. For example: “You and your other religious pals got together at the Lambeth Conference and the main take away seems to be that gay sex is a sin.” Well, no, Justin Welby […]
- [The Lambeth Conference: Homophobic by Design](https://thurible.net/2022/07/22/the-lambeth-conference-homophobic-by-design/): Next week the long delayed Lambeth Conference gets underway. The conference is the gathering of bishops from around the Anglican Communion which used to take place every 10 years. The conference hasn’t taken place for 14 years and was delayed by Covid and also because relationships within the Anglican Communion were so difficult that it has taken years of careful diplomacy from the Archbishop of Canterbury to get to this point, where there seems to be a viable quorum of bishops who would actually attend. Famously, the last two Lambeth Conferences have been dominated by questions about the legitimacy of […]
- [I respectfully disagree...](https://thurible.net/2022/07/02/i-respectfully-disagree/): I respectfully disagree with the latest College of Bishops statement on Aberdeen and Orkney and I do so in two respects. Firstly, there is no mention of a mediation process in Canon 53. If the College of Bishops wishes to use Canon 53 section 11 and subsequent sections, then they should follow the procedure laid down there and name the bishop who is hearing the dispute. The bishop in question should publish the terms under which they are going to determine the dispute and the date on which the hearing will take place. Canon 53 does not allow for the […]
- [Don Giovanni - Scottish Opera - ***](https://thurible.net/2022/05/27/don-giovanni-scottish-opera/): It is difficult to know why Scottish Opera have revived Thomas Allan’s production of Don Giovanni, which they first presented in 2013. It wasn’t exciting then and isn’t exciting now. The curtain goes up to reveal a gauze that will remain in place to obscure the first scenes. Clouds can be seen scudding across it and eventually we get to glimpse Simon Higlett’s moody design. The clouds had been going for quite a while though and were the perfect visual metaphor for the intonation problems that the strings were having during the overture. This lack of musical clarity continued throughout […]
- [Easter Sermon 2022](https://thurible.net/2022/04/18/easter-sermon-2022/): https://youtu.be/738ChTRb61I?t=2104 Years ago I remember going on holiday. It was my kind of travel – ferries and trains and buses and then a sailing trip with friends who used to take me despite and not because of my sailing abilities. And there was this one morning that I remember. Will always remember. I’d managed to get myself off the boat without much incident. And rowed ashore and went for a walk in the first light of the day. And on the walk I heard something. A tiny bird singing. And not just singing but singing its heart out. Trilling its […]
- [That Damn Magnificat](https://thurible.net/2022/04/16/that-damn-magnificat/): A sermon preached in St Mary’s Cathedral on Good Friday 2022 There’s something about spending these three hours in a church dedicated to Mary. Through the year, we often get particular joy from keeping the Marian festivals. We’ve got more music in the choir library about her than about any of the others who accompanied Jesus in this life. We sing with her the Magnificat every Sunday at evensong. We share her joy. We share her hopes for a world turned upside down. Where the mighty would what they deserve. At last. In a church dedicated to Mary, because we […]
- [Ruth Innes RIP](https://thurible.net/2022/03/30/ruth-innes-rip/): This week the funeral will take place of an extraordinary priest, the Rev Canon Ruth Innes of the Diocese of Edinburgh. Ruth served various congregations in that diocese – St Fillan’s, Buckstone, Christ Church, Falkirk, St Mark’s, Portobello and St Peter’s (formerly St Mildred’s) in Linlithgow along with St Columba’s, Bathgate. Ruth never worked in large churches. Each of these places had their own vulnerabilities. But to her, each of her charges were for the time she was with them, My Little Flock. She was defensive of those she cared for too. Not so much a mother hen as a […]
- [Predictions for 2022](https://thurible.net/2022/01/01/predictions-for-2022/): Boris Johnson will be replaced with a Prime Minister who is more competent, more right wing and more difficult to beat. A good year for Michael Gove (who is almost invisible at the moment). Church of Scotland General Assembly votes to allow same-sex couples to be married in church. More significantly, almost no-one leaves in a huff. No progress for those seeking marriage equality in the Church of England. US Republican Party do well at the November midterms. Midnight Mass will happen at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow – some people will still be wearing masks but it won’t be mandatory. […]
- [Predictions 2021 - How did I do?](https://thurible.net/2021/12/31/predictions-2021-how-did-i-do/): Time to see how I did with my predictions at the start of this year. Boris Johnson will achieve his longstanding ambition to become a former Prime Minister. Alas, Boris Johnson did not achieve this ambition this year. But we must award him 10/10 for trying. He’ll get there in the end. Prediction not accurate Stock market higher at end of 2021 than at the beginning (FTSE – 6,460) but higher inflation too (most recent CPIH – 0.6%). Yes, the stock market is higher and so is inflation. (FTSE – 7379 and most recent CPIH – 4.6%). Prediction accurate. No […]
- [Christmas Sermon](https://thurible.net/2021/12/24/christmas-sermon-2/): One of the odd features of coronavirus time for me has been vivid dreams and disturbed sleep. I know that I’m not alone in this, I’ve heard others speak about it too. Particularly during the various lockdown experiences I’ve found myself suddenly sitting bolt upright at 3 in the morning trying to sort out my dreams from reality – something that hasn’t always been settled quickly. Perhaps modern life normally gives me so much contact with others that I work stuff out in the course of my day and sleep relatively undisturbed by dreams or nightmares. But these have not […]
- [Here Comes the Sun](https://thurible.net/2021/12/21/here-comes-the-sun-4/): Rejoice, rejoice! The solstice is past. Here comes the sun.
- [Remembering and Forgetting](https://thurible.net/2021/11/19/remembering-and-forgetting/): A sermon preached on 14 November 2021 We live in precedented times. Oh yes, I know what everyone has been saying for the best part of the last two years. They’ve been saying that we live in unprecedented times. Times we could never have imagined. Times we could never have foreseen. Times that were different to every time before them. Yes, said, every newspaper and media outlet. These are unprecedented times. But we only think that these times are unprecedented because in order to cope and survive, our species has developed ways of forgetting things alongside ways of remembering them. […]
- [While the shepherds at night were a-watching](https://thurible.net/2021/11/19/while-the-shepherds-at-night-were-a-watching/): While the shepherds at night were a-watching Where their flocks in the fields were abiding Th’angel of the Lord came and stood down beside them Opened his mouth and then greatly surprised them: “Shine Jesus shine. Shine Jesus shine” [Chorus] Fear not said he for dread had seized them mightily Minds were troubled, they all worried frightfully I bring you tidings of gladness eternally Dance with joy and with me sing supernally… “Shine Jesus Shine. Shine Jesus Shine. [Chorus] Unto you is born now a saviour Who is Christ the Lord and he made you. He’s of David’s line, a […]
- [Making the Real Presence real.](https://thurible.net/2021/09/21/making-the-real-presence-real/): The following paper has been prepared to stimulate discussion at an online conference that is being held on Saturday 25 September 2021 on the subject of the Real Presence in relation to Online Eucharists.These thoughts stem from many conversations with others – both those I agree with and those I don’t. I would particularly remember amongst these conversations, discussing these issues with Diana Butler Bass, Deanna A Thompson and Joshua Case in a similar online conversation last year and also with the Bishop of Argyll and The Isles, the Rt Rev Keith Riglin. I am particularly indebted to Bishop Keith […]
- [Sev'n Whole Days](https://thurible.net/2021/06/25/sevn-whole-days/): Sev’n whole days, not one in sev’n,I will praise Thee. I am sure gentle reader, that every Friday, if you are like me, you wait with great eagerness for the weekly delivery of that great organ called the Church Times. And if you are indeed like me, you find yourself flicking through the front of the newspaper quite quickly to get to the best bits, which are all at the back. Chief amongst them are the job advertisements. Now, I read these religiously every week, though not because I am looking for a new job. I read them because they […]
- [The Bishop of St Davids and the Archbishop of Canterbury](https://thurible.net/2021/06/19/the-bishop-of-st-davids-and-the-archbishop-of-canterbury/): The Rt Rev Dr Joanna Penberthy is the 129th Bishop of St Davids. In tweets that came to light recently, she exhibited an antipathy to members of the Conservative Party which did not sit well with her position.  “Never, never, never trust a Tory” is not what people expect to see a bishop tweeting. Once these tweets came to light, there was a considerable brouhaha which seemed to die down when she apologised and deleted her twitter account. Now, I happen to think that Bishop Joanna’s tweets were not compatible with her role. I work in a congregation which has […]
- [Pollokshields - These are our neighbours](https://thurible.net/2021/05/14/pollokshields-these-are-our-neighbours/): It was impossible not to be moved by people standing around an immigration enforcement van in Pollokshields yesterday chanting “These are our neighbours, let them go”. Many people today are proud of those in this city who stopped this enforcement action. Every country needs to have an immigration system and every immigration system needs to be enforced in some way. Every such system needs to be fair and just. However the immigration system in this country has ceased to be fair and has ceased to be just. Any government that actively seeks to be hostile to those seeking asylum has […]
- [Easter Sermon 2021](https://thurible.net/2021/04/03/easter-sermon-2021/): Lent has been long enough. This Lent particularly has been long enough. Just over a year ago we locked down in the middle of Lent. And it feels as though that existence has been going on in one form or another ever since. Most people have embraced the need for the lockdown lives that we have been living. And this itself is a miracle that we should not ignore. Collective altruistic action on such a mass scale to protect life and human flourishing is a miracle of no small stature. But Lent has still been long enough. We have known […]
- [A Preface for Ash Wednesday](https://thurible.net/2021/02/13/a-preface-for-ash-wednesday/): The following preface was written to mark the beginning of Lent and reflects the language and character of the Lenten material in the Scottish Liturgy 1982 and Daily Prayer of the Scottish Episcopal Church Dear Friends in Christ, it is the custom of Christian people to prepare to mark the time of Christ’s passion and resurrection by a season of penitence and fasting. The church calls each of us during these forty days to repent of all that causes harm to ourselves, harm to our earthly dwelling place and harm to our relationship with God. By carefully keeping these days, […]
- [Predictions for 2021](https://thurible.net/2021/01/01/predictions-for-2021/): Boris Johnston will achieve his longstanding ambition to become a former Prime Minister. Stock market higher at end of 2021 than at the beginning (FTSE – 6,460)  but higher inflation too (most recent CHPI – 0.6%). No progress for those hoping for marriage equality in the Church of England. State based hackers turn their disruptive attention to open source software. (Watch out WordPress). Donald Trump will remain the centre of attention. There will be midnight mass in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow next Christmas Eve. People will be wearing masks. A rocky year for Nicola Sturgeon but the SNP will be […]
- [Last year's predictions (2020) - how did I do?](https://thurible.net/2020/12/31/last-years-predictions-2020-how-did-i-do/): Well, thank you for asking. Here’s what I predicted for 2020 and here’s how I did. Scotland will not vote for Independence in 2020 Scotland didn’t. Prediction accurate. No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England. There was none. Prediction accurate. Narrow Democrat victory in American election – country as divided as ever – widespread belief that the election was rigged. Well, there was a Democrat victory in America. It wasn’t as narrow as it initially appeared but the country is as divided as ever with widespread belief that the election was rigged. Prediction substantially […]
- [Here Comes the Sun](https://thurible.net/2020/12/21/here-comes-the-sun-3/)
- [Conversion Therapy and why I can't join calls for it to be banned](https://thurible.net/2020/12/16/conversion-therapy-and-why-i-cant-join-calls-for-it-to-be-banned/): There’s a huge new initiative launched today which brings hundreds of faith leaders together to “affirm and celebrate the dignity of all, independent of a person’s sexuality, gender expression and gender identity”. It is quite an achievement to get so many people from different traditions to sign up and publicly identify themselves with that cause. You might think that would be right up my alley and that I’d be adding my name to the list and imploring others to do the same. However, I don’t find myself able to do that as the campaign is focussed on trying to achieve […]
- [Fill the hungry. Lift the lowly. Cast down the mighty. Send the rich away.](https://thurible.net/2020/08/16/fill-the-hungry-lift-the-lowly-cast-down-the-mighty-send-the-rich-away/): A sermon for the Feast of the Assumption – 2020 It was one of those things that appeared on the internet and all of a sudden it seemed like everyone I knew was retweeting it and sharing it. At first when you looked at it you might have thought it was quite an old image. There’s something about a woodcut that is rather nostalgic. But this was nostalgic and retro in a hipster kind of way and it was a newly created image. A familiar figure, but in a stance that I’ve never seen her depicted in before. Her head […]
- [Every Eucharist is a Virtual Eucharist](https://thurible.net/2020/08/05/every-eucharist-is-a-virtual-eucharist/): Every Eucharist is a virtual Eucharist. Of course it is. We know this. We experience this. We forget this. Christianity – at least the bits of Christianity that are worth taking seriously – takes time and space so seriously that it knows that the particular cannot ever express the ultimate. Indeed, time and space are playthings in the hands of the religiously inspired. Over the last few months it hasn’t been possible for my congregation to celebrate the Eucharist together in one space. But when we used to do that, we were never entirely in one space anyway. The very […]
- [Daily Prayer - New Life, The Spirit](https://thurible.net/2020/05/23/daily-prayer-new-life-the-spirit/): Here are the files needed to say Daily Prayer this week. New Life – The Spirit New Life the Spirit – Evening Prayer – Whole Week Compline in Eastertide Kalendar for March – June 2020
- [What if this is  the end of the Eucharist?](https://thurible.net/2020/05/05/what-if-this-is-the-end-of-the-eucharist/): So, what happens to the church if this is the end of the Eucharist? Right now we lie in a very uncertain time. Very much thought is directed towards to a mythical time – “after this current crisis is over”. There is a deep desire to get back to normal that exists in both our spoken discourse and our deepest longings. And yet, that notion of getting back to normal is undermined by the oft repeated assertions that things are never going to be the same again. Politicians talk of developing a “new normal” which is a euphemism for “things […]
- [Grace Received: communion on the battlefield](https://thurible.net/2020/04/16/grace-received-communion-on-the-battlefield/): Two hundred and seventy four years ago, as I write this, some members of the congregation which I now serve were in desperate straits. They had been following the fortunes of the Young Pretender for some time – hoping for the restoration of the Stuart cause. Some had, no doubt, been following developments from home. Some had offered support to the cause. Some had followed. Some had gone into battle. Bonnie Prince Charlie was himself not unknown to this congregation. Clementina Walkinshaw his long term mistress (some say his wife) was a daughter of this congregation. It has rightly been […]
- [Daily Prayer Resources for Eastertide](https://thurible.net/2020/04/11/daily-prayer-resources-for-eastertide/): Here are the files you need for saying Daily Prayer at the moment. Kalendar for March – June 2020 New Life – The Lord New Life – Evening Prayer – Whole Week Compline in Eastertide
- [Daily Prayer Resources for Holy Week](https://thurible.net/2020/04/05/daily-prayer-resources-for-holy-week/): Here are the files you need for saying Daily Prayer at the moment. Kalendar for March – June 2020 The Suffering Christ – Holy Week The Suffering Christ Whole Week Holy Week Evening Prayer Compline in Lent
- [Daily Prayer resources - Passiontide](https://thurible.net/2020/03/29/daily-prayer-resources-passiontide/): Whilst working from home, I’m going to be updating the Daily Prayer resources that I make available. Here are the files you need for saying Daily Prayer at the moment. Kalendar for March – June 2020 The Suffering Christ – Passiontide – Morning Prayer The Suffering Christ – Passiontide – Evening Prayer Compline in Lent
- [Daily Prayer Resources](https://thurible.net/2020/03/19/daily-prayer-resources/): Whilst working from home, I’m going to be updating the Daily Prayer resources that I make available. Here are the files you need for saying Daily Prayer at the moment. Kalendar for March – June 2020 Returning to God – Morning Prayer Returning to God – Evening Prayer Compline in Lent Some days are particular feast days and need a different book. Here’s Morning Prayer for Feast Days. (Evening Prayer for Feasts still to come).
- [The Provost's Perfect Pancake Receipt](https://thurible.net/2020/02/25/the-provosts-perfect-pancake-receipt/): Here’s the perfect pancake receipt one more time. Ingredients: 100g plain flour pinch of salt 2 large heggs 200 ml milk 75 ml water 50g melted butter Method: Sieve Whizz Fry #pisky
- [Review: Nixon in China - Scottish Opera - ****](https://thurible.net/2020/02/21/review-nixon-in-china-scottish-opera/): Do we make history or does it make us? Scottish Opera’s co-production of Nixon in China is a timely and intelligent piece that asks questions about things that many in the audience will remember yet provides no easy answers. This is not a simple morality tale, nor a love story, nor a tragedy. It is an opportunity for every audience member to reflect on the swirling currents of modern political life. It is a piece that is at once about how strange the past seems to be and how even stranger, the present. The dominant theme in John Fulljames’s production […]
- [Tales of the City - February 2020](https://thurible.net/2020/02/20/tales-of-the-city-february-2020/): On the way home from the opera I step into a shop to get out of the rain, and buy something to eat against the cold – a late-night post-operatic chittery-bite. In front of me are two young men dressed in much less than I am. They are the worse for wear and arguing. Drunk Young Man #1: Well we’ll ask someone else then. Drunk Young Man #2: Yes! Someone neutral. They turn to me. DYM#1: Here man. Settle an arugment for us will you. Is coronavirus real or is it propoganda Self: I think it is real. DYM#2: Aye […]
- [Youse are the Salt of the Earth - sermon preached 9 February 2020](https://thurible.net/2020/02/10/youse-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-sermon-preached-9-february-2020/): In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I seem to have reached a particular age. I seem to have reached the particular age which is that whenever I got to the doctor about anything I come out with a prescription for another regular medicine and an instruction to give something up. Red meat was one of this first things. No more red meat. Red wine was the next. No more red wine. (Though I’m not that much of a drinker anyway). [This being St Mary’s I can see several doctors in the congregation working out what prescriptions […]
- [Five Thoughts On Losing Elections (and a referendum)](https://thurible.net/2020/01/31/five-thoughts-on-losing-elections-and-a-referendum/): Everyone has their own speciality. Mine is losing elections. It seems to have become a primary passtime. More than a hobby, less than a national identity but part of who I am. I’ve lost elections in school, university, the church and civic society. I’ve not become president of my College student association, nor a Member of Parliament, nor a Councillor, nor a Rector of the Univerity of Glasgow and I’ve recently not become a bishop. I am proficient at it. It is my own special skill. I’ve done it so often that I’m sure I’ve forgotten some of my most […]
- [Predictions for 2020](https://thurible.net/2020/01/01/predictions-for-2020/): Scotland will not vote for Independence in 2020 No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England. Narrow Democrat victory in American election – country as divided as ever – widespread belief that the election was rigged. Scottish government proposals on reforming the Gender Recognition Act go through largely as proposed in consultation document. Limited agreements at COP talks but derided as too little too late. UK leaves the EU and is subsequently unable to agree a substantial deal. No trade deal with the USA Yvette Cooper will become the leader of the Labour Party. Stock […]
- [Last year's predictions - how did I do?](https://thurible.net/2019/12/31/last-years-predictions-how-did-i-do/): The UK will begin leaving the EU on 29 March 2019. It will take 10 years to leave, 10 years for it to be evident to the whole country how stupid it was and 10 years to get back in, with none of our current special measures. (Hope this prediction doesn’t come to pass but fear it will). Well, we didn’t begin leaving on 29 March 2019 but the clock is ticking. Failed prediction The only thing to make EU-positive lefty-liberals to have pause for thought will be the EU Elections in May which will result in big gains for […]
- [Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance 2019](https://thurible.net/2019/11/20/statement-on-transgender-day-of-remembrance-2019/): Earlier this year, someone was convicted in Glasgow Sheriff Court of sending me threatening and abusive messages. The offence was found to be aggravated by prejudice related to both sexual orientation and transgender identity. Someone had threatened my life, and my own association and support for trans people was one of the reasons for the prejudice and one of the reasons that the court and the police took the offence as seriously as they did. Whilst it was unpleasant having to deal with that incident, I’m well aware that it was the one time in my life when I’ve seriously […]
- [What was the worst sermon you ever heard?](https://thurible.net/2019/11/17/what-was-the-worst-sermon-you-ever-heard/): In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I was at a clergy conference some years ago down in England. At the end of the evening meal one evening, someone suddenly said, “what is the most stupid prayer you ever heard”. And I have to say that there then followed a very funny half hour as the various clergy from all different kinds of churches put their bids in for the most stupid prayer that they had ever heard. The winner was – “And Lord, we pray for Beirut… which is in the Lebanon” And perhaps inevitably, and […]
- [Sermon for Oliver Brewer-Lennon - 27 October 2019](https://thurible.net/2019/10/29/sermon-for-oliver-brewer-27-october-2019/): In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Oliver! The time has come! The removal van has departed. You told me this week that you can see the floor in every room in the flat. And you spoke as though that was your greatest ever achievement. After what seemed to take forever: advertising and interviewing and appointing, you’re here. After what seemed like an age finding you somewhere to live. You’re here. After all that has made you and shaped you and prepared you and formed you. You are here. Right here and right now you are going […]
- [How Awesome is this Place - sermon preached for Dedication Sunday 2019](https://thurible.net/2019/10/29/how-awesome-is-this-place-sermon-preached-for-dedication-sunday-2019/): How awesome is this place! In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. How awesome is this place – it is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven. Now Jacob was on the move. He wasn’t at home when he had that dream about Jacob’s ladder. The truth is, his father Isaac seems to have become fed up of him moping around on his own in the Promised Land and had decided that the only thing that could be done with him was to tell him to pack his bags and […]
- [Tosca Review - Scottish Opera 16 October 2019 - ****](https://thurible.net/2019/10/21/tosca-review-scottish-opera-16-october-2019/): If the fascists came to power, how far would you go to stand up to them? Would you save a prisoner on the run? Would you betray a friend? Would you be prepared to die for love? Scottish Opera’s endlessly revived production of Tosca asks all these questions and more. Thirty nine years ago, almost to the day, Anthony Besch’s glorious production first came to the stage, updating Puccini’s melodrama to Mussolini’s Italy. Jonathan Cocker has blown fresh life into it as the revival director and proves that it still has something to say today. The sets look gorgeous, the […]
- [Sermon - Reading the Signs of the Times](https://thurible.net/2019/08/24/sermon-reading-the-signs-of-the-times/):   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. One of the nicest things that I’ve been at this week was the annual dinner that the Shia Muslim community put on to celebrate Eid-al-adha. The festival of the sacrifice. Islam has the same story that Christians and Jews share, remembering Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son, only for God to provide a sheep to be sacrificed at the last minute. The only difference being that our Muslim friends speak of the son saved from being sacrificed as Ishmael – the son […]
- [Emerging glistening from the water - sermon preached on 7 July 2019](https://thurible.net/2019/07/07/emerging-glistening-from-the-water-sermon-preached-on-7-july-2019/): In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I emerged from the water, radiant and glistening in the sunlight and made my way up onto the beach. Not like Daniel Craig emerging from the sea in Casino Royale. Not even like Ursula Andress coming up out of the waves in Dr No. No – I emerged from the waves more like Venus, the goddess of Love arriving on the shore in Botticelli’s famous painting. Not that there were many witnesses. Not for me the crowds of people in the Uffizi Gallery looking […]
- [Whose Spiritual Mantle Will You Inherit?](https://thurible.net/2019/07/04/whose-spiritual-mantle-will-you-inherit/): Sermon preached on 30 June 2019 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Just the other week I was chatting with someone who asked me where I had studied. I told them that I had read Divinity at the University of St Andrews. Straightaway, the question came back – “Oh, whilst you were there, did you have a Chariots of Fire moment on the beach?” For those who don’t know, Chariots of Fire was a huge film in the 1980s. A story based around the 1924 Olympic Games, which famously opens […]
- [50 Years of Protest and Change](https://thurible.net/2019/06/28/50-years-of-protest-and-change/): As day turns to evening on the 28 June 2019, it is difficult not to think of a couple of relatively small-scale riots that took place 50 years ago and murmur a quiet prayer of thanksgiving for the rioters. I have little doubt that there was no way they could foresee the movement which was to spring from the events that took place in and around the Stonewall Inn in New York. Earlier this week I spent a lovely evening in the sun sitting outside the Royal Gourock Yacht Club eating a meal with friends. The sun was shining, the […]
- [Honorary Fellowship Citation](https://thurible.net/2019/06/05/honorary-fellowship-citation/): This afternoon I was admitted as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. I found myself in the most extraordinary company and still can’t believe that this happened to me. Below is the citation which was read as part of the ceremony by the Registrar of the College, Roddy Neilson – also pictured here. It may not be exactly word for word what was said but is certainly the gist of it. It has been a very moving day. Madam President, I have the honour to present to you the Very Reverend Kelvin Holdsworth […]
- [Sermon for Easter Day](https://thurible.net/2019/04/21/sermon-for-easter-day/):   In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Shining brightly in the sanctuary, surrounded by flowers is the light of Easter – the Great Paschal candle. The fire that we kindled as day began and brought into church. It shines at the significant moments here in church – when someone is baptised or is buried or is ordained and at all the big feasts that we have. The light of Easter touches them all. That’s just the way it is. I have to confess that the Holy Easter Fire did seem to reach me a little […]

## Pages

- [Blog](https://thurible.net/blog/)
- [Blog Archive](https://thurible.net/blog-archive/)
- [Test Front page](https://thurible.net/test-front-page/): Latest Posts
- [Christmas Services 2015](https://thurible.net/christmas2015/): [google_maps id=”14760″]
- [My Account](https://thurible.net/my-account/): [woocommerce_my_account]
- [Checkout](https://thurible.net/checkout/): [woocommerce_checkout]
- [Cart](https://thurible.net/cart/): [woocommerce_cart]
- [Shop](https://thurible.net/shop/)
- [Commenting Policy](https://thurible.net/commenting-policy/): The following types of comments will be deleted without question. Comments which appear to be legitimate but whose posters’ details point to porn sites. Comments which contain homophobic epithets. I’m open to intelligent discussion but I’m not running a site which allows people to get away with silly name calling. Comments which claim to prove something by quoting a single verse taken out of context from the Bible. Scripture is too precious to me to allow that. This is a place where the Bible is loved and honoured and treasured. Comments which use it as a weapon are unwelcome. Comments […]
- [Follow this blog](https://thurible.net/follow-blog/): Please use the form below to follow this blog with email updates. Email Address * First Name * Last name *
- [Social Media](https://thurible.net/social/): I love social media – here’s how to connect with me on various platforms. Facebook The following button can be used to follow me on facebook. Although I once used to befriend everyone who wanted to be my friend on facebook, in recent times I’ve been restricting that to those whom I know, those who are connected in some way with my work and those whom I interact with online. If you think I know you then by all means send me a friend request. If we’ve never interacted before then you’re welcome to use the following button to subscribe […]
- [Scottish Episcopal Church News](https://thurible.net/scottish-episcopal-church-news/): If you would like to receive news from within and about the Scottish Episcopal Church, please fill in your details below. Email Address * First Name * Last name * Diocese/Ecumenical *– Select –Diocese of Aberdeen and OrkneyDiocese of Argyll and The IslesDiocese of BrechinDiocese of EdinburghDiocese of Glasgow and GallowayDiocese of Moray, Ross and CaithnessDiocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and DunblaneAnglican: Church of EnglandAnglican: OtherEcumenical: Church of ScotlandEcumenical: Roman CatholicEcumenical: OtherPlease select your diocese or ecumenical association
- [newsletter test page](https://thurible.net/newsletter-test-page/): This is a newsletter test page
- [Manage Subscriptions](https://thurible.net/manage-subscriptions/): [newsletters_management]
- [Sample Page](https://thurible.net/sample-page/): This is an example page. It’s different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I’m a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my blog. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin’ caught in the rain.) …or something like this: The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, […]
- [About](https://thurible.net/about/): Hi, I’m Kelvin Holdsworth. Welcome to my blog. I’ve been writing here since August 2003. I’m the Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow – a busy church with a progressive ethos in the inner West End of the city. Glasgow is a place that I love and have a strong connections with both through my family and my childhood – I went to school just a few miles outside of the city. After school, which I finished back in Yorkshire where I was born, I studied Mathematics and Computing at Manchester Polytechnic before going on to study theology at […]
- [Photographs](https://thurible.net/photographs/): This picture shows The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow. Photographer – Gordon Smith. This picture can be freely reproduced – please credit the photographer. This picture shows The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth at a Gay Pride march in Glasgow. Photographer – Gordon Smith. This picture can be freely reproduced – please credit the photographer.
- [Daily Prayer](https://thurible.net/daily-prayer/): Here are the materials that I’ve formatted for using Daily Prayer. This is the way we do it in St Mary’s. In order to know which set of prayers are for which time of year, you need to use a Kalendar. You can download a Kalendar for 2024 here: http://thurible.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kalendar-2023-Version-4.pdf The major difference between these books and the book published by the Scttosh Episcopal Church is that the material is set out in the order you say it and there is no need to announce page turns during the prayers. Morning Prayer Anticipation – Morning Prayer for Advent Incarnation – […]
- [Contact](https://thurible.net/contact/): I can be contacted by mail at St Mary’s Cathedral, 300 Great Western Road Glasgow You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.  If you ask me to, I’m more likely to add you as a friend on facebook if I’ve interacted with you either online or face to face. If you would like to send me an e-mail message, please use the form on the St Mary’s website – www.thecathedral.org.uk
- [100 Things](https://thurible.net/100-things/): 100 things about me   Born 1966 Born in Leeds in Yorkshire You can find me easily on Facebook I have been a candidate in a General Election Activism is, to me, a spiritual discipline I enjoy changing people’s minds “The way to peace, is to actively build a just and civil society” Only 17 votes came between me and seat on Stirling Council in May 2003 Movie choice: Cabaret Prefer theatre to cinema though I’ve never smoked I can knit better than I can sew Ordained deacon in 1997 Ordained priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1998 I […]


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