Category Archives: sermon

Epiphany: wise gifts

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

I wonder whether, in the clumsy and hurried packing of a small family with a small child, fleeing for their lives with the essentials and little more, listening over their shoulders for the alarm, the tramp of boots, the metallic … Continue reading →

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Year B Christmas 2: the flight into Egypt and beyond

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

This is not a story about how special, important, and indispensable Jesus was; that his family out of all the others in Bethlehem was warned to get out of town, so that he alone out of all the little boys … Continue reading →

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Christmas 2014

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

On Christmas Eve, we talked about miracles and the veil between heaven and earth rent by angel song and the birth of God, the love of God borne into the world by a baby. The next morning, wondering what to … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve: love you to Bethlehem and back

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

There is a tradition that the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a time for miracles. Beatrix Potter, who wrote the Peter Rabbit books, said that, it is in the old story that all the beasts can talk, … Continue reading →

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Year B Advent 4: Annunciation

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

The archangel had had a busy season. Nothing is heard of him for the greater part of the Bible, but now within six months he has visited Zechariah in the temple to announce the advent of John, who would become … Continue reading →

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Healing the holidays homily 2014 edition: holding out on hope

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Six months before the Angel Gabriel to earth came down, as the story goes, he was hanging out in Jerusalem, visiting with Zechariah. Zechariah and Elizabeth were much older than Mary – which is not to say that the young … Continue reading →

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Annunciation and assent

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Ave Accustomed to many perplexing forms of greeting from the ridiculous to the ribald, when hailed by the sublime she was only mildly bemused, hardly struck dumb at all. Maria Accustomed to the music of her name on the lips … Continue reading →

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Year B Advent 3: Do not quench the Spirit

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

It really wasn’t the first time I’d spoken up at church. I mean, I’d been reading the Lessons since I was twelve; I’d been on the PCC, which is a rough English translation of Vestry. I’d taught Sunday School, participated … Continue reading →

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Do not quench the spirit

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

From the Lectionary for Year B Advent 3: 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the spirit, pour cold water on its fervour; be afraid of the passion it inflames; that is only the beginning of wisdom. Let it burn. Do … Continue reading →

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Year B Advent 2: Comfort ye my people

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

This sermon quotes liberally and loosely the lectionary readings for the day throughout: Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85, 2 Peter 3:8-15, Mark 1:1-8 Comfort, comfort ye my people. The history of this oracle is the return of the Exiles from Babylon … Continue reading →

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