Sermons

“When these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” It is a real privilege to be welcomed into this community especially at the very start of this liturgical new year. Advent is such a rich season: A time of...

Such a welcome into the house of God surely reflects the welcoming tone of Jesus as given in the New Testament.  In Matthew, chapter 11, Jesus encourages people to come to him for rest from heavy burdens and for their souls.  In Luke’s Gospel the disciples order people not to...

The light provided by restored vision is a gift indeed with many benefits but there is also the light of understanding which does not necessarily involve sight.  In today’s Gospel reading we learn that disciples James and John, even though they can see Jesus, have not fully understood who Jesus...

Today we shall hallow above that 1962 installation, a roundel by Graham Jones in memory of Anne Griffiths, long-time, neighbour, pillar, churchwarden, flower-arranger friend. And how lovely that her family have been so much a part of this project. How dreadful is this place, Jacob says, this is none other...

It brings home very powerfully the whole idea of how we are shaped by the way we are raised and taught. It also asks the question, what kind of wisdom do we live by? What is its source and its authority? How do we judge if it is really wisdom...

Yet in today’s Gospel reading John takes this search for proof a step further.  Even when the crowd have seen signs they do not perceive their full significance.  In the verses that precede today’s reading we learn that the crowd regarded the healing and feeding work of Jesus as signs...

Yesterday, Lady Jane Fellowes, sister of the late Diana, Princess of Wales read at the wedding of her nephew, Prince Harry, from King Solomon’s Song of Songs: Set me as a seal upon your heart, a seal upon your arm, love is as strong as death, passion as strong as...

A keynote address by Dr. Clare Amos at the conference: ‘Homeland? Exploring the heritage of the Balfour Declaration’, 21st October 2017 There is a wonderful saying of Archbishop Michael Ramsey that I often find myself drawing on when I want to encourage lay people to believe that they, or should...

“The theme of my sermon today is unity. I have chosen this theme as we are now in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which seeks to reconcile the pain of deep divisions affecting the unity of the church, following the many divisions in the history...

“The Battle of the Somme raged for 141 days. More than a million men were killed or wounded, making it one of the bloodiest battles in history. And this year marks the centenary of what has been seen as the beginning of modern all-arms warfare. As a German working as...

“I’d like you to hold in your mind three fight- related images which are presented to us in today’s readings. First from today’s Old Testament reading the night time wrestling even between Jacob and the un-named man. Second, the picture from this morning’s Gospel reading of the importunate widow addressing...

“And behold, I come quickly.” Rev 22: 12 . This Sunday after the Ascension is the opportunity to look back at the moment of Our Lord’s departure from the sight of his Disciples and the sending of His Spirit, on the Feast of Pentecost, which we mark next week, and which...

“And he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven” . Ascension Day is a magnificent and triumphant celebration of Christ’s Kingship and enthronement in his proper place at the right hand of God the Father. Continue the reading    ...

Revd William Gulliford, 23 January 2016, Sermon for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  Christchurch Eldon Road SW7 “Un membre du corps souffre-t-il? Tous les membres souffrent avec lui. Un membre est-il a l’honneur ? tous les membres se réjouissent avec lui. » Continue the reading...

Words repeated in chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel, our Gospel of this year: “But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” ...

I always think that preaching on the Bible is a little bit like building a sand castle in front of the Tower of London. The best you can ever hope to do is to catch the eyes of those who are looking down instead of up, and in doing so...

Jesus before his Jewish and Roman judges is both judged and judge, condemned and the one who himself condemns.I want to reflect with you on one person in particular with whom Jesus has to do in these final hours. Spare me one or two moments of improbable exploration on this...

“Righteousness comes by faith not by the law. The law brings God’s wrath, but faith brings righteousness, justification, the promises of God made real in our lives. What are these words: ‘faith’, ‘righteousness’, ‘justification’, ‘wrath’? What do they mean? What do we mean when we say them? What does Christ...