Advent 1
Sunday Sermon 24.11.19 The Right Reverend Cameron Venables
This weekend’s Gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12) has the powerful figure of John the Baptist calling people to ‘Repent!’ because he believed the Kingdom of Heaven had come near. Lean, unwashed, and hairy John would have been a dramatic sight accentuated by his clothing, strange diet and uncompromising faithfulness to God. I imagine, probably unfairly, sophisticated political and religious leaders shaking their heads in derision… and yet it seems that the people flocked to him.
Advent 1
Sunday Sermon 24.11.19 The Right Reverend Cameron Venables
We gather this weekend on the first Sunday of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new annual cycle of readings for the Church; at least those parts of the Church that use the Revised Common Lectionary! Advent is a relatively short season with just four Sundays and these weeks are intended to be a time of preparation before the celebration of Christmas. Some of you may have a flicker of anxiety at this point, so let me make it explicit, we only have three and a half weeks to go before Christmas!
Christ the King – The Reign of Christ
Sunday Sermon 24.11.19 The Right Reverend Cameron Venables
What do you think makes a good leader? Or, to express the question another way, what abilities and qualities do you look for and expect in leadership? I think the abilities are often easier to identify than the qualities which are less tangible! But, to prime the pump for our thinking let me offer a personal response. I look for someone with a high level of competence, a desire to learn, and a willingness to work hard; someone who can think strategically, work collaboratively, and articulate things well; even someone encourages and enables the people around them to be their best selves. I hope also to find in a leader integrity, compassion, wisdom, humility, creativity, generosity… and a sense of humour!
Pentecost 22
Sunday Sermon 27.10.19 The Right Reverend Cameron Venables
I’ve have organised many funerals over the years and generally it has been a privilege to help grieving family members give thanks for the life of someone they’ve loved, while assuring them of God’s love in the midst of it all. Often at the shared hospitality after a funeral people have suggested what the person who has died might be doing in the next life. For people who have loved golf there has been talk about them forever playing on the great golf course in the sky! Some talk about the person being reunited with loved ones who have died in previous years. And, for those who have been good at organising things, there has even been the suggestion that they are helping St Peter bring order to an otherwise disorganised heaven!