Sermons

An Easter Jubliate

Matins on Easter day is a song of joy.  Heart deep, world wide, heaven high, life long. For forty days the Church has fasted.  We have denied ourselves the Alleluia and the Gloria. We have walked the way of the cross.  We have journeyed…
Oils

Lift up your hearts

Thank you for your welcome to the Diocese over these last seven months. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers. I have been asked many times “How can we pray for you?” I have normally quoted some words spoken by the Bishop in the ordinal:…

Mercy and Judgement

A reflection for Ash Wednesday “Blessed are the merciful”, says Jesus, “for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5.7). “Mercy is the very foundation of the church’s life” writes Pope Francis (Amoris Laetitia, 310) I want to…

How to be angry

My subject this evening is anger and “How to be angry”.  It’s not a theme we address very often.  What part does anger play in our lives and in our world?  If we could measure it, it seems to me the sum total of anger in the world would…

Seeking the truth in a post truth world

Long ago a prophet looked at the world with honest eyes.  He saw nations in turmoil, an economy in crisis, the clash of empires.  He saw corruption in politics and religion and media and law.  Truth was eroded. The foundations were crumbling. …

Presidential Address to Diocesan Synod 12.11.16

Welcome to this Synod and thank you in turn for your welcome to me. I am deeply honoured to be here. I am enjoying exploring the Diocese. I am greatly in need of your prayers. I am thankful for so many able colleagues and especially grateful…
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Sing to the LORD a new song

Welcome Eucharists Psalm 96; Matthew 5.1-10 Thank you so much for your welcome.  It is very good to be here. I’m deeply thankful for the Church in these three counties.  I have experienced good things over many years. I am enjoying…

The Church of the Beatitudes

Inauguration as Bishop of Oxford Christ Church Cathedral Genesis 12.1-8 and Matthew 5.1-10 May I speak with humility, mercy and joy, May I speak of Jesus and his ways May I speak clearly and with boldness now and always.  Amen. Thank…
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Gentleness

Easter Day sermon from the Bishop of Sheffield. Acts 10.34-43 and John 20.1-18 One of the great figures of the Quaker movement, Isaac Pennington, wrote these words in a letter to his friends in 1667.  He is trying to describe what it…