Category Archives: sermon preparation

Lullaby for the end of the world

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

This Sunday’s readings are a little apocalyptic; whether one reads Daniel and Mark, or Hannah’s proto-Magnificat, change is in the air, and much of it alarming. Jürgen Moltmann believes that the Christian should not be afraid of the end of … Continue reading →

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Lazarus, unbound

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

Feeling the ground with his hands, touching the soil with his feet, kissing the earth, Lazarus, unbound, raises his face to see his friends retreat – in fear they have let him go –  stares at Jesus with eyes too … Continue reading →

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Gloriana

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

[Sometimes, the search for a sermon feels like a game of free association – chasing words down rabbit holes and across parklands, trying to track down an idea, the spirit of an idea, and bottle it. This week’s wild goose … Continue reading →

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Threading the needle

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

First, unpack your camel. Divest it of its commodities: sugar, salt, and spices, unguents, oils, perfume, all excisable goods must go; hold a trunk sale if you must. Next, take off its defences; not only the cannons and the turret … Continue reading →

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Better

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

It started out easily enough: I shaved off my hair, my pride and my vanity, and cast it in the fire. Trouble was, I just looked too damned good that way; so I broke the mirror and used the shards … Continue reading →

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Year B Proper 19: Jesus, losers, the cross, and The Donald

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

Are we ashamed of the continuing bitterness of the world, and Christ’s endurance of it? Do we wish in our hearts that he would come down off that cross and smash it with their mallets and pile the pieces into a funeral pyre for all death and suffering, all grief and strife? Of course. Continue reading →

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A vain and foolish thing

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

Vain and foolish, one would not think that with no animal spirit, nor soul, no mind of its own, but an idle thing could inspire such passion, such pain, such tearing, such rending of hearts, of lives apart; only with … Continue reading →

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The strange story of Barry Baker

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

There are occasional joys in being a borderline hoarder. This week at Bible Study, we were looking at the Gospel for the coming Sunday, and feeling as bewildered as the poor people in the passage wondering what the devil Jesus … Continue reading →

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Pigeon

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

I like to hang around the fountains, water coolers of the city, where traffic intersects, dropping crumbs of cake and gossip, lies and lives. Few notice me, but in the moment that it takes their breath to fall I have named … Continue reading →

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Simon Peter Says

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

Think positive Put on a brave face Put your best foot forward Do not waver Do not speak of death and it will not happen Do not look upon the cross and it will not crush you Look on the … Continue reading →

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