Words from Ian J. Burgess
Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 78:15-26, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15 In many of the liturgies for celebrating Holy Communion used in the worldwide church, including the form typically used in this congregation, at the conclusion of the prayer of Consecration, the Celebrant proclaims "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" with the people responding… Continue reading The Sacrifice which Saves and Sanctifies
Fourth Sunday in Lent 2 Chronicles 36:14-23, Psalm 122, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 6:1-15 Where I grew up, and this may be true here as well, two events loom large in our collective unconscious: The First and Second world wars. Each year on the 11th of November we stop everything we are doing at 11am and… Continue reading You Can Go Home
Last Sunday of Epiphany 1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 27, 2 Peter 1:13-21, Mark 9:2-9 If I were to make up a religion designed to make people be better than they are otherwise disposed to be, a religion that extolled selflessness, patience, courage, holiness, peaceableness, rule-following, cooperation, and all the other virtues necessary to a good, flourishing,… Continue reading This isn’t made up
Fourth Sunday of Epiphany Deuteronomy 18:15-22, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 I have to confess this morning something which has plagued my mind of late. I think I might be an Atheist. Or functionally one at least. Atheist These habits of prayer and devotion that clearly come naturally to him are not unfamiliar… Continue reading Not A Problem We Can Solve
Fourth Sunday in Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-17, Psalm 132:(1-7) 8-19, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38 When the people of God rejected God as their King and chose instead to have a human king like other nations, God in perhaps one of the most perplexing moments in Old Testament history, accepts their request. Dissatisfied with the unreliable… Continue reading Made Ready By Hope
Christ The King Sunday Ezekiel 34:11-20, Psalm 95, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Matthew 25:31-46 Shortly before he is betrayed, abandoned, despised, stripped, scourged, and nailed to a cross; Jesus tells his disciples that when the Son of Man comes in glory he will separate people one from another. He will look to the deeds of each… Continue reading The King’s Judgement
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost -Proper 21 Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32, Psalm 25:1-14, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:28-32 On the first of April 1990 a riot began in the Chapel of Strangeways Prison in Manchester England. Within an hour the inmates had taken control of the entire jail and the guards fled. They broke through the roof and stood… Continue reading Friend Of Tax Collectors And Prostitutes
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost -Proper 16 Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138 Romand 11:25-36 Matthew 16:13-20 One comforting lie we like to tell ourselves is that in a time of adversity and great trial we will band together, set aside petty differences, and rise above those things which keep us divided and discordant. Amongst British people this… Continue reading Confess Jesus As The Christ And Be Saved
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost -Proper 11 Last Saturday morning a community of believers in Ocala, Florida were gathering to celebrate Holy Communion in their church, when a man drove his van directly through the front doors into the lobby. He got out of his vehicle and proceeded to pour gasoline on the floor and lit… Continue reading The Patience To Let The Weeds Grow
Trinity Sunday The confession of faith which we will recite today begins with frightening words: Whosoever will be saved, *before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, *without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Without doubt perish everlastingly Perhaps this strength of this language… Continue reading If You Do Not Believe This, You Cannot Be Saved
Finally Human 