What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Statement on the fire at Notre Dame

    The fire at Notre Dame Cathedral is a tragedy not only for Paris and the people of France but for the world.

    Those who know the building will be unable to see the pictures of the fire without feeling heartbroken.

    So many different things that make up the building are priceless – the medieval roof, the woodwork, the organ, the stained glass, the relics. But this tragedy is more than the loss of them all. It is the loss of the heart of Paris, the loss of a place of pilgrimage and the loss of a place of romance.

    Every day this week, Christians will be reflecting on the heartbreak of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to whom Notre Dame was dedicated. Every day as we do so, we will be praying for the Paris its people as they face their own heartbreak.

    Notre Dame means Our Lady. Notre Dame doesn’t just belong to Paris, it belongs to us all.

    This was a building that is utterly associated with Paris. But it was an utterly priceless treasure for the world.

    It was truly ours, and this tragedy is our tragedy.

    Our Lady of Paris, pray for us and for all affected locally.

    Our Lady of Paris, we pray for you.

5 responses to “Sermon preached on 30 May 2010”

  1. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    I like those – especially the lion/lily/star approach from left field.

    There’s also the expression “God who loves us, and loves us, and loves us”.

    (A sermon, remembered years later, from a blogged transcript! Fear ye, etc. 🙂

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      Thanks Tim, it was good to see you at Evensong last night.

      Reply
  2. agatha Avatar
    agatha

    We had jaffa cakes at church as a symbol of the Trinity. Works for me!

    Reply
  3. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    On Sunday afternoon I did wonder, what did Provost Kelvin say on Trinity Sunday? No, I thought, he will have got someone else to do it – I think last year there was a Baptism or something.

    So thanks for this wonderful surprise today.

    Lil has spent the morning building a Lego village – I have heard the quiet conversations of all the lego people – and thought to myself how good it is to imagine other worlds, other places and other people.

    And now that imagination should lead all of us to encounter God.

    Again, heartfelt thanks for these ideas –

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      Thanks Melissa – lovely to hear from you. Hope all is well with all of you.

      Reply

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