• The Cumbrae Revels

    Here’s some pics from last Saturday. I was on the island of Greater Cumbrae at the Cathedral of the Isles to see its two new canons installed. They are the Dean of that diocese – the Very Rev Andrew Swift and the Provost of St John’s Cathedral, Oban the Very Rev Nicola McNelly.

    Here they are:
    Canons in Millport

    This is how they process in the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles. (This tradition developed due to a history of Viking Raids, I believe)
    procession

    This is the bishop sporting a slighty twisty lappet.
    twisty lappet

    This is the light fitting that I once again failed to smuggle off the island but which I found myself coveting when I should have been praying.

    candles

3 responses to “Six Points for Preachers”

  1. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    I think I would add: if it does not matter to you, yourself, then don’t imagine it is likely to matter to anybody else. Find, if you can, the point where your concerns and the concerns of the text cross. Better to say a very little that matters, than a lot which really does not.

    Also: read (to yourself, before you start) the whole passage you are going to speak on and read what comes before and after. You do not have to agree with it. You do have to enter into dialogue with it. Supine agreement of Scripture is not (in my opinion) required. Taking it seriously, is.

  2. […] Dent-de-Lion by admin Posted on November 2, 2012  Six Points for Preachers […]

  3. Melissa Holloway Avatar
    Melissa Holloway

    I’ve noticed how uncomfortable preachers are with the word ‘love’. Discounting the times in is used in a pre-set theological phrase like ‘love of Christ’ as sort of a plug in, I rarely hear it in sermons.

    Its a reason to be Episcopalian – if the preacher avoids love, you can always hear it – or see it- or taste it – in the Eucharist.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Previous Posts

  • Questions for Ordinands #1

    Prepare a theological reflection on the natural affinity of the dog collar with the fruit bowl in the average clergy household. [Hint – Consider using poetry, collage, mime or song in your response to this question].

  • Spare hymnbooks anyone?

    Following significant growth in the choir at St Saviour’s over the last year, we find ourselves short of choir copies of our normal hymn book – Hymns Ancient and Modern: New Standard Edition. It may be that we have to buy more copies (at ?30 a go), though I would prefer not to have to…

  • Episcopal Elections

    Reforming the Episcopate – well, why not? The idea of a geographic diocese is under particular threat. It is as much under threat from the internet as it is from the anti-women, anti-gay groups. I don’t think that territorial organisation is proving very effective in church life. Remember the parish system? So, what comes next?…

  • The 23rd Sigh

    This is doing the rounds at the moment and was forwarded to me by e-mail from someone who had been given it by someone who is no stranger to ring, crook and funny hat. The 23rd Sigh: A Psalm of Liberal America Bush is my shepherd; I dwell in want. He maketh logs to be…