What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Sermon – the Maker, Troublemaker, Peacemaker

    Here’s what I said on Sunday in the pulpit about that tricky gospel reading.

    Not peace, but a division

    Sometimes one reads the Gospel in church and everyone nods knowingly. You can tell that people think that what is being said is wise and good.

    When we tell the story of the Good Samaritan, perhaps. Or the Prodigal Son. Or the stories of his response when people brought him those who were sick.

    We hear Jesus being clever, holy and gracious. We see him healing and enlightening and blessing.

    And we approve.

    We approve of this Saviour for he is made in the image of all our hopes and our dreams.

    This is a God whom we can like. He would not be out of place in our company. We would be honoured to take him home for tea.

    But the truth is, Christianity is about something a little more than this. It is about following a Saviour who sometimes turns around and says things that we find tricky, difficult or bewildering. (more…)

3 responses to “Church and Civil Partnerships”

  1. Margaret of the Sea of Galilee Avatar
    Margaret of the Sea of Galilee

    Watching, watching – exclusive language in hymn and liturgy so far…not encouraging. Although the Moderator’s purple spectacles are a hopeful sign.

    Reply
  2. Robert Kirk Avatar
    Robert Kirk

    to give items of undergarments equal status – should one not also use ‘underpants’?

    Reply
  3. Scottish Bishops on Marriage and Civil Partnership | Law & Religion UK

    […] As observed in the Thinking Anglicans’ post, the substance of the Scottish guidance is very similar to that of the Church of England House of Bishops which was issued in February this year: it is more prescriptive than the CofE Declaration and appears to take a stronger line on blessings after marriage and civil partnerships, an area on which the CofE’s position has been less than clear; although some issues of detail are different[4], both take a very similar approach to clergy entering into same-sex marriage and to the position on ordinands.  Likewise, both have a relaxed approach to clergy within civil partnerships, although in May 2013 Kelvin Holdsworth noted: […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Millport

    Just back from a meeting in Millport. Cumbrae was bedrowsled with mist. It must have been the Millport Country & Western Music festival last week, I think – or perhaps it is still on. The lampposts were bedecked with US and Confederacy flags. I can’t help but think that Millport is surreal enough without this.

  • Listen again

    For 7 days, the service that was broadcast from St Mary’s yesterday can be heard from the BBC’s webpages.

  • Sermon for BBC Radio 4

    In the name of God, Creator, Saviour and Spirit. The context for the conversation between Jesus and this Gentile woman whose name goes unrecorded, was a place quite different to our own. The two of them met in a place called Tyre – the same city in southern Lebanon which has featured so often in…

  • L'Arche Event

    The cathedral is open today and tomorrow for an art and craft sale which has been organised by folk associated with L’Arche. The pics on the walls are lovely and it is good to have the place open for people to drop in. Getting the building open for more hours per week is a part…