Steven Shakespeare’s Animal Welfare sermon

Sermon for the annual service of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals
Durham Cathedral, Saturday 26th September 2009
The Reverend Doctor Steven Shakespeare, Lecturer at Liverpool Hope University
I want you to imagine something. I want you to imagine that there is another world above us. I’m not talking about a heavenly or spiritual [...]

“Thoughts in Exile” – Jonathan Hutchison’s sermon for September 6, 2009

Pentecost 14 – Year B [...]

Presiding Bishop on Mission, July 7, 2009

Presiding Bishop’s Opening Sermon
[July 8, 2009] The following is the opening sermon of Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, preached at the July 8 opening Eucharist at the Church’s 76th General Convention.
Four and one-half years ago, I had the great privilege to join in the consecration of a new bishop, one who told an [...]

“Perfection” – Deborah Hutchison’s sermon, 5/10/2009

The Fifth Sunday of Easter,  Year B,  May 10, 2009
Acts 8:26-40  /  Psalm 22:24-30 / 1 John 4:7-21 / John 15:1-8
Looking over the readings for this Sunday, I’m immediately brought up short by this line in the Collect, that prayer that summarizes – or collects – the themes of our scriptures:  “Grant us so perfectly [...]

The Darkest Night – Deborah Hutchison’s sermon, Maundy Thursday 2009

Together, in the dimming of this darkest night, we build the Body that will be broken and mended, food and feeding, love and lover a thousand thousand thousand times before the story is through.

Don’t Waste Time – Advent 2, Year B

A sermon by the Rev’d Jonathan Hutchison, December 7, 2008 – 2 Peter 3:8-15a
This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town, and beats high mountain down.         – The Hobbit
Some of you who are readers of Tolkien’s The Hobbit, will remember that this is [...]

Wake Up! Advent 1, Year B

A sermon by the Rev’d Jonathan Hutchison, November 30, 2008 – Mark 13:24-37
Today is the first Sunday of Advent (a word which means “coming”). Advent is traditionally observed in the Church as a season of preparation, not only for the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but also for the return of Christ in glory – [...]

The Compassionate Kingdom – Christ the King Sunday

A sermon in song offered by the Rev’s Jonathan Hutchison,   November 23, 2008 – Matthew 25:31-46
Today is the festival of Christ The King, when the Church reflects on the authority of Christ as sovereign in the lives of his people. His authority includes (but is not limited to) the moral force of his teachings, his [...]

Risk Aversion and the Realm of God – Pentecost 27, Year A

A sermon by the Rev’d Jonathan Hutchison on November  18, 2008 – Matthew 25:14-30
Once again, the lectionary has given us several bible lessons with a lot to chew on. At the same time, God has given us just so much time for the meal and has endowed the preacher with just so many brains. There [...]

Megan’s Mystery – Pentecost 26, Year A

A sermon by Jonathan Hutchison on November 9, 2008 – Psalm 78:1-7

Today is a very special day in the life of the Church, of this congregation, and of one of our youngest members. Today, Megan Riley Young will receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Our Bible helps us understand why baptism is so special and [...]