Gathered around the cross, remembering your suffering and death, your refusal to hate, we bring the suffering of the world here – we bring it here, to the foot of the cross; the place where the love of God meets the pain of the world. To all this suffering, to broken bodies, broken lives, to…Continue reading Good Friday Intercessions
Intercessions for Maundy Thursday
Gathering to celebrate Jesus’ last meal with his friends, we pray for the church which has the Last Supper at its heart: that this meal of our salvation will not be a meal of immunity from pain, a place where we are detached from affliction, but a place where we bring suffering humanity to you,…Continue reading Intercessions for Maundy Thursday
Sermon for Maundy Thursday
Jesus’ last supper was a meal hovering on the threshold of things. We tend to think of it as settled, easy, and relaxed – a big Jewish meal with friends at the heart of the Passover celebrations in Jerusalem. Whether this was a Seder Celebration is now a matter of debate, but what we do…Continue reading Sermon for Maundy Thursday
Palm Sunday Intercessions
O Christ, in whose face we see both the suffering of the world and the love of God, we bring to you the world’s pain, the anguish of your children in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, on the African continent. Help us to build a peaceful world, a world of love, compassion and respect, a world…Continue reading Palm Sunday Intercessions
Sermon for Palm Sunday
East West Street I have been re-reading East West Street by Philippe Sands: an account of the lives of two men who introduced the terms Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity into international law. Both men were Jewish, both lived in the Ukrainian town now known as Lviv in the first half of the C20th. Along…Continue reading Sermon for Palm Sunday
Interecessions for Passion Sunday
As we approach the time of Jesus’ suffering and death we hold in our hearts and bring to God’s heart all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. We pray for all who suffer today: for victims of torture: for those denied the basics of human dignity: for those who are forsaken. for those who…Continue reading Interecessions for Passion Sunday
Intercessions for Mothering Sunday
God our Mother, we thank you for the richness of the world around us: for the circle of the seasons: birth – death – birth, flourishing – dying – flourishing again. Give us open eyes and glad hearts as we enjoy your world in all its beauty. Today we give thanks for our mother the…Continue reading Intercessions for Mothering Sunday
Sermon for Mothering Sunday 2022
I was talking to my mum this week about the lady who used to come and help her with the cleaning – a cheerful and kind woman who lived in terrible poverty and was married to a violent and abusive man. Their son died as a young man as an indirect result of the beatings…Continue reading Sermon for Mothering Sunday 2022
Intercessions for the First Sunday of Lent 2022
God of peace and justice, We pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort will draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and…Continue reading Intercessions for the First Sunday of Lent 2022
Sermon for the first Sunday in Lent
Noise! At a hospital appointment on Monday morning I was dismayed by the noise. There was a TV on somewhere – a sitcom with canned laughter but meaningless because the screen wasn’t visible. At the other end of the ward there was a radio playing, and then some people came in with a child and…Continue reading Sermon for the first Sunday in Lent