What is in Kelvin's Head?

Statement on the fire at Notre Dame

15/04/2019

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.

9 responses to “David's Lamentation – Sermon for 9 August 2009”

Muriel

09/08/2009

Thank you very much for your very moving rendition of David’s Lamentation this morning in between the two readings. You were in excellent voice. I am surprised there are (as yet) no more comments but I am glad that the video held in there until your song was ended.
I will be putting in on my new IPod once I have bought it and,more importantly, got to grips with it.
A haunting and memorable moment……

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susan s.

10/08/2009

Thank you for posting this Lamentation. As Muriel says, haunting and memorable. If ever I get to Glasgow again I can come to church and hear you in person.

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RosemaryHannah

10/08/2009

It not only moved me to tears (not that hard) – it raised the hairs on the back of my arms – which is just about vanishingly rare. Stunning does not do justice to it. Just how profoundly the congregation were affected was heard in the quality of the silence which fell afterwards.

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Sarah SSM

11/08/2009

Thank you very much for this sermon and for the music accompanying it.

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Jimmy

12/08/2009

Considering the machinations of our leaders over the last few years, the accounts of David’s life are quite up to date.
In our hearts and in our political and social structures we are no better than the people then and we have not moved on.
Hypocricy at home and exploitation abroad is not my idea of an improved mankind or world.
There is not one person in this world who does not need to get on their knees with psalm 51 in front of them.

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kelvin

12/08/2009

Yes, someone said to me on Sunday that they did not think we had moved on at all. However, I think we have.

Clearly the whole world hasn’t moved on at the same pace or to the same place. However, I’d rather live in the UK with all its faults and failings than live in Burma or Zimbabwe or Afghanistan.

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Grandmère Mimi

12/08/2009

The lamentation is beautifully done, Kelvin.

I’m with your parishioner who said that we have not come so very far from the times of David.

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Aghaveagh

12/08/2009

Simply wonderful.

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Maureen (McK)

16/08/2009

I loved the lamentation, Kelvin, having never heard it before. The sermon was very good, too. Thanks

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