Category Archives: sermon

Year C Proper 11: echoes of eternity

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Vanity, all is vanity: A brief reflection on the lawn. Ludwig van Beethoven was, for the latter portion of his life, profoundly deaf. A musician to his core, he could so easily have fallen into cynicism and despair (and often … Continue reading →

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Year C Proper 12: Teach us to pray

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Jesus gave a couple of different words of advice to his disciples about prayer. In one, he tells his disciples to lock themselves behind closed doors in secret, to pray privately to God, and there is a place for that … Continue reading →

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About prayer

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Father, Mother, source of life, all being; your very name fills us with awe. We long to know you, ruler of all; unelected, you elect us to do your will, here, now, forever. You who nursed creation as it grew, … Continue reading →

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Martha & Mary

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

There is so much to be done: the sweeping of the streets, the hanging of bags full of plasma, saline, the careful placement of Kleenex. There are so many distractions: tanks and trucks, bullets and bombs, the cleaning of windows … Continue reading →

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“Do not be overcome by evil”

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

… “but overcome evil with good.” Continue reading →

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Year C Proper 10: who is my neighbour? (read: which lives matter?)

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

It’s not a pretty story about being kind to people. Put it back into its context, in which Jesus is asked the question, not by a devoted disciple seeking enlightenment, but by a cynic trying to trip him up, looking … Continue reading →

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Morning Prayer for July 7, 2016: Psalm 18, Part I

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Last time, I came back cold; colder than any living thing was meant to feel. Your burning coals, flung from your flaming tongue, extinguished themselves against the skin of my unclaimed body, and I didn’t feel a thing, except cold; … Continue reading →

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Samaritans and street vendors

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Here’s what happens: the priest looks back and sees the Levite pass by. Their eyes meet. They are of the same tribe, and their unspoken concurrence in the decision not to stop reinforces itself in that consecrated moment of collusion, … Continue reading →

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The business traveller

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

After the incident; forever after as he travelled from city to stone city, he would look across the crowd, scanning the horizon and its fall, not for danger – he never saw the robbers coming, never would – blissfully ignorant, … Continue reading →

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Year C Proper 9: Make Jerusalem Great Again

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

On this July fourth weekend, it is perhaps appropriate that we hear a word from some of our political campaigners.* Towards the end of Isaiah, the “Make Jerusalem Great Again” party is gaining in popularity. The prophet paints a vivid … Continue reading →

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