If you’ve been coming to St Oswald’s for any length of time, you’ll know that Candlemas is my favourite festival. I love it for all sorts of reasons: I love the Candlemas snowdrop legends: that when Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden after the fall, it is said that snowdrops grew in Eve’s…Continue reading Sermon for Candlemas 2023
Author: Anne Morris
I have jsut retired. Watch this space!
Intercessions for Advent 4
God whom we await, we pray for your world; for leaders who, like Mary, say yes to your radical call to bring justice and fairness, and compassion for your vulnerable ones. We pray for God-bearers who, with great courage, bring hope in places of despair and light in places of darkness: help us to be…Continue reading Intercessions for Advent 4
Bits of liturgy for Christmas
Short Preface And now we give you thanks because, In the darkness you come as our light, In our despair you come as our hope, And, far from home, you draw near in love. Affirmation of Faith: We believe in God, who, in Jesus, came to share our lives: He came as a newborn child,…Continue reading Bits of liturgy for Christmas
Intercessions for the third Sunday of Advent
God, merciful and loving judge of all, John the Baptist was your herald: we pray for your church, asking that all its members, especially those who preach and teach, will put aside their own interests and ambitions, their egos and love of power, and point others to you in simplicity and with honesty. Forgive us…Continue reading Intercessions for the third Sunday of Advent
A Visit to Bethlehem
I went to Bethlehem a few years ago and came away in tears. It’s desperate place. Unlike most pilgrims, who get there on a tour bus and are dropped off in Manger Square, we went on the bus used by the locals. As we approached Bethlehem we could see the Israeli settlements in the surrounding…Continue reading A Visit to Bethlehem
Intercessions for Advent 2
God of hope, your servant Isaiah refused to give up on hope and imagined a peaceable kingdom without bloodshed and violence. Give us courage and faith to hold that hope for your world in our own times, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who showed us how to be a blessing to those we…Continue reading Intercessions for Advent 2
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent
Advent is a multi-faceted season. It has all kinds of overtones, including that of judgement – we see that in today’s Gospel in the words of John the Baptist. He has a special place in the third Sunday of Advent, so we’ll leave him for now and look at the Old Testament reading which encompasses…Continue reading Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent
Intercessions – Christ the King
Christ our true and humble King, we pray for the kingdoms, republics and dictatorships of the world: where there is violence, injustice, poverty and exclusion, may your peaceable and just Kingdom come. We pray for monarchs, politicians and heads of state, that they will follow you in the ways of service and love. We pray…Continue reading Intercessions – Christ the King
Sermon for the Feast of Christ the King 2022
Christ the King 2022 So, the shops are full of baubles and tinsel and Christmas cards and huge foil dishes for roasting turkey. It doesn’t feel quite as over the top as it has in the past – I think the supermarkets have worked out that we won’t have as much money to spend this…Continue reading Sermon for the Feast of Christ the King 2022
Intercessions for the Second Sunday before Advent
God of time and eternity, you hold our future in your hands: help us to trust you in all we do and in all that we experience and to work for the justice and peace which are the hallmarks of your Kingdom. We give thanks for those whose knowledge and expertise rings alarm bells and…Continue reading Intercessions for the Second Sunday before Advent