Latest Posts
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Epiphany sermon 2007
Today is the Epiphany – the day we remember visitors from the East coming to worship Jesus, and bringing with them their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The temptation, when preaching in the West of Scotland is to dwell on the idea of people coming from the East and tell jokes about people from…
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Thomas Becket
Let us pause for a moment to remember Thomas Becket on his feast day. The thing that he is remembered for is his death in Canterbury Cathedral – struck down by knights who believed that they were carrying out the orders of Henry II of England. His cult spread through Europe and I remember discovering…
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Post Christmas
A big thank you to everyone who helped get things ready for Christmas. The cathedral looked stunning, the choir sang magnificently throughout and everything that was supposed to happen did happen. Like others (Gadgetvicar and +David amongst them), I can report that numbers were up. Indeed, they were up significantly for all the services over…
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Midnight Mass Sermon
Most years at around this time, the same story appears in the press. A couple of years ago, I had a call 2 days before Christmas. It was a Sunday paper ringing to “just ask a couple of questions”. They were apparently ringing round a load of ordained people and asking them whether they believed…
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Fairytale of New York
UPDATED – See below BBC Radio 1 is missing the point by finding new ways to censor the Fairytale of New York by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. In the olden days, they used to suppress the word arse in the verse: You’re a bum You’re a punk You’re an old slut on junk Lying…
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Sermon for Advent 3 2007
You will probably be aware that we are using a new microphone system here today. I remember that when I first came here I was told that it was a difficult building to preach in, but you were a good congregation to preach to. Indeed you are. You laugh in all the right places. However…
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I agree with the Pope
I find that I’m in agreement with the Pope. Well, in terms of the Advent Wreath Candle Controversy, anyway. The Catholic News Service has highlighted the fact that the Papal Library has a wreath with red candles and has generously linked to the controversy on such topics on this blog. Delighted to reciprocate.
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