What is in Kelvin's Head?

Sermon – Hagar, Ambridge, Church Abuse, Eid Mubarak

26/06/2017

If I think back to my grandfather, now long passed away, I have a number of memories. One strikes me in particularly today.

And it was a particular devotion. Almost a religious ritual.

It could be performed at lunchtime or it could be performed in the early evening. But the important thing was that it had to happen every day.

I believe my grandfather may well have had some connection with country living in his youth though he was a city dweller for all the life that I ever knew him to have. But his devotion to an everyday story of country folk was a thing of legend.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I refer to the longest running radio soap opera – the Archers, broadcast now on Radio 4.

Actually, it may be the only radio soap opera for all I know – it does not seem to be a particularly crowded field.

It was a part of my grandfather’s life. He listened with a passion.

In the way of families, my own father inherited no love of the Archers and only has to hear the cheery, bouncing signature tune to prompt him to reach for the off switch.

For myself, I have found a good old-fashioned Anglican via media (more…)

abuse, George Carey

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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