They said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. May I speak in the name of God… A hospital chaplain told the story of taking Communion round people on the hospital wards one Sunday morning.  The chaplain then reported back the refusals: ‘no thank you, I’m anglican’ was a […]

HOMILY—Pentecost 9—Enough for Everyone          In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity: Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen. Some weeks ago, I read a brief item in a magazine which said that world hunger could be eliminated if every person living in the First World, our world, gave 200 US dollars to make it […]

PREACHED AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, MONTREAL SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2015 Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29 Benjamin Stuchbery The first time I came home after having been away at school was an odd experience. I remember having conversations with my parents in which I no longer felt like a child talking to a parent or […]

And he could do no deed of power there. May I speak in the name …. Power and success, weakness and failure, these are the themes for this morning.   Ezekiel is sent to speak the word whether he succeeds or not. Paul writes that it is when he is weak that he is strong. And […]

As usual, in preparing for this sermon, I read quite a few articles and commentaries on our Gospel passage. I was…let’s call it surprised, when only about 10% of them focused on the fact that the people receiving Jesus’ healing attentions in this passage are both women. And most of those noted only that Jesus […]

HOMILY—Pentecost 3—That Famous Mustard Seed “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?” In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity: Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen. I’ve learnt more about mustard and mustard seeds this past week than I ever thought I would, or probably […]

Great Spirit, may the words from my lips be ever pleasing to your ears. You who are before all else and who dwells in every object, in every person and in every place, we cry unto you. We summon you from the far places into our present awareness. (Prayer composed by Elder Noel Knockwood). Weliegsitpu’g. Welta’si na’ […]

And Jesus said to them, when you pray, say, Our Father in heaven, May I speak…. I can just remember when fathers were scratchy and mothers were soft.  My father wore a hard suit, his skin was prickly, his pockets were full of wallets and pens and keys which stuck into you, and he always squeezed my hand too […]

Sermon preached by Archbishop Fred Hiltz  (download) https://www.montrealcathedral.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Sermon-Ordination-of-Deacons-Christ-Church-Cathedral-Montreal.pdf  

When the Advocate comes, the Advocate will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: Sin, righteousness, judgment, – not exactly the most encouraging words to begin my sermon – but how nice to be affirmed by Jesus that so many people, over the ages –  including us of course, have got it […]

a sermon on John 16:6-19 Saying good-bye is hard. Whether you’re the one leaving or the one being left, the anticipation of missing the ones we love makes us sad as we imagine our lives without them. But saying good-bye isn’t hard just because it’s sad – saying good-bye is hard because it’s a little […]