Category Archives: sermon preparation

For tomorrow’s sermon: a little story about repentance

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Rosalind C Hughes

Once upon a time, I was a little girl, and that little girl had the attention span of a sphinx. I would get seriously, eternally lost in books, daydreams, and the stories and songs which soundtracked my inner mind. Fire, … 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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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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Sheep and goats: beyond the parable

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

The first goat I ever met as an individual, got to know as a person, as it were, lived in an urban back garden in Oxford, England. He did not, however, necessarily stay there. One evening, doing the dishes after … Continue reading →

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Parabolic

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

It is often said, but bears repeating, that we have a tendency to tame Jesus’ parables. Familiarity breeds, if not contempt, at least complacency. When we stop hearing them as stories, and instead hear only the interpretation and allegorization and reenactment … Continue reading →

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Render

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

A silhouette against my eyelids, black on red; a name beaten out by my heart’s tattoo; the claim that staked me through and through; I render unto, surrender unto – whose image and title is this?

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The wedding robe

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

White lace cut down to a christening robe. Later, a doll with curly blonde hair wore my mother’s leftover wedding weeds, a moulded Miss Haversham preserved in plastic, dressed for the feast, rosebud lips perpetually parted for love.

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Vineyards

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

I cannot grow an apple tree, aromatic herbs, fresh flowers. I dig and plant and water and weed; everything dies. I drink the wine of another’s vineyard, climb the walls to scrump the orchard, cadge the scent of another’s roses … Continue reading →

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Year A Proper 21: By whose authority?

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

Rarely does Jesus give a straight answer to a straight question; but rarely, too, is he quite as direct about his indirection as he is here. Leading to the following reflection: Can you imagine being Jesus’ mother? I don’t mean … Continue reading →

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The Gospel according to Jonah

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Rosalind C Hughes

In the form of a bedtime board book: I love you to the end of the ocean. I love you to the depth of the sea. I love you to the belly of the whale and back. * I love you … Continue reading →

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