by Bp. Rob Northwood Foundation Day, 27 June 2021 As we celebrate Foundation Day, Bp. Elmer has asked me to bring you a word about expansion, the purpose of Church, and the purpose of setting apart sacred space. Sacred space is really important.  The ancient churches put a footprint on the earth, which we hope…

Proper 7, 20 June 2021 Things and people change over time.  I lived in Madrid from 1984 to 1985, and Paris from 1985 to 1999; when I returned to Madrid in 1999, it had changed.  After I’ve lived there another 22 years, it has really changed.  Before the pandemic, some Asian travellers wore masks when…

Proper 6, 13 June 2021 The Church enters the season of Ordinary Time, when the Church should flourish.  After all God has done and given, it’s time to expect the fruit of the cross to be seen in the life of the Church individually and collectively.  Today’s Gospel speaks of the mystery of the Kingdom. …

6 June 2021 On Maundy Thursday, during the Last Supper, the Lord instructed His disciples and the Church to celebrate the Eucharist until He returns: this is our vocation.  The institution of the Feast was largely owing to the influence of Blessed Juliana in the 13th century, a devout nun of Liège, Belgium, who responded…

by Patriarch Craig Bates Trinity Sunday, 31 May 2021 I’d like to show you how John 3:16-17 and 3:3 connect and how important they are for preaching and living the Gospel, the good news. Jesus reveals God’s love God did not send the pandemic, either as a punishment or a way to draw us to…

23 May 2021 Today we join the Church around the world in celebrating the Feast of Pentecost.  The Christianisation of Jewish feasts The early, pre-Nicene[1] Church was simple in its liturgical celebrations.  They had three celebrations, one every Sunday and two annually:  Sundays: The Lord’s Day, a “mini Easter” Because the Resurrection is important, Pascha…

16 May 2021 Today we join the Church in celebrating Christ’s ascension to heaven.  After 40 days of Easter, in which the disciples were gradually grasping Christ’s death and resurrection, when all seemed to have been fulfilled, they finally asked the resurrected Lord, “Is this the time when You will restore the kingdom of Israel?” …

6th Sunday of Easter, 9 May 2021 I’d like to share with you what our second lesson says: what does it mean to be born of God?  Today’s Gospel continues the discourse of the organic relationship between God and Jesus and, since we’re in Jesus, humanity.  As we heard last Sunday, Jesus is the True…

5th Sunday of Easter, 2 May 2021 An attribute of children is their desire to learn: many are curious and ask a litany of questions.  At a young age I asked my parents where I came from: they joked that I came from a banana or coconut tree; I would say, “No, that can’t be”. …

4th Sunday of Easter, 25 April 2021 Today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In John 10:22, Jesus attended a religious feast in Jerusalem: the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah.  The feast celebrates the rededication of the temple after its desecration in 167 BC.  During the feast the…