Category Archives: sermon

Year C Epiphany 1: For us, and for our salvation

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Rosalind C Hughes

After Christmas, after Epiphany, we come to the baptism of Jesus. In a way, this story is the culmination and confirmation of everything that has happened up to now. An angel announced his conception. Faithful even before he was born, … Continue reading →

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In bodily form

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Rosalind C Hughes

When our bodies betray us, let us down, we berate them, hesitate to call them holy, when, after all, they are the sacrament of God’s creative genius, each featherlight touch a reminder of the love that engendered our creation, redemption, … Continue reading →

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Telling stories: extracts from a sermon on Jesus in the Temple, aged twelve

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Rosalind C Hughes

I have a weakness, I confess, for all things biblical, especially stories, especially imaginative retellings of biblical stories, or poetry, or words, words, words … I am drawn like a moth to a flame to a new fictionalized gospel account, … Continue reading →

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Epiphany

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Rosalind C Hughes

Epiphany: A lightbulb moment. A parish church. A cake, a tradition. People going down to a snowy river in Russia to renew their baptismal promises in the freezing waters. The other Christmas. Magi, wise men, kings; gold, frankincense, myrrh; Herod … Continue reading →

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Following

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Rosalind C Hughes

The brightness beckoning, reckoning light years away, in the beginning, there was a star which now calls them from afar to follow, stumbling in the daytime, in the forests, fog-filled valleys, rallying with breathless joy on the mountaintop where all … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve: Good news

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

“I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” Good news. “To you is born this day a Saviour, the Messiah, the Lord.” Good news indeed. The shepherds were, it is safe to say, not used … Continue reading →

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Year C Advent 4: The Magnificat

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Mary went out with haste into the hill country. A young woman, a teenager pregnant with a baby of uncertain paternity, an unwed mother in first-century Galilee – you can bet that she got out of town with some haste. … Continue reading →

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Blue Christmas homily

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

I remember one Christmas Eve years ago, when I was a Sunday School teacher trying to wrangle small children dressed as shepherds and herd animals dressed as small children and deal with both kings and wise guys and try not … Continue reading →

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Year C Advent 3: Rachel refused to be consoled

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

Here’s Matthew’s gospel, telling what happened not long after Jesus was born: Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in … Continue reading →

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Broody vipers

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Rosalind C Hughes

“John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You broody vipers!” (Luke 3:7 … almost)

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