Category Archives: sermon preparation

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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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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