Distant Mountain

Sermon for July 19 th 2015 on Jeremiah 23. 1-6; Ephesians 2. 11-end and Mark 6. 30-34, 53-end  May I speak in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. A couple of years ago, I was in one of those fast, rib boats heading down a Scottish loch on the way to an uninhabited island in the Inner Hebrides. Now, as Louise will tell you, this was a rather unexpected move on my part. Only the year before, I’d opted to paddle back, with my trouser legs rolled up, to the mainland on the causeway from St Michaels Mount in Cornwall, rather than face a small open boat on relatively calm seas.  So, by contrast, I was now heading towards the Gulf of Corryvreckan, which is narrow channel between the islands of Jura and Scarba, where two tides meet over an underwater rock pinnacle to create the UK’s only natural whirlpool. We were heading right for it when the skipper, who knew the waters well, quickly turned the boat 90 degrees left, increased ...

Sermon preached on Sunday 25th January 2015 at St Georges, Cam and St Cyrs, Stinchcombe May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Exactly one month ago, it was Christmas morning. We were celebrating a feast day in the church in the same way a feast is celebrated in our Gospel reading. On Christmas morning, especially for some of our children, the expectation was all about an abundance of presents. In fact, children of all ages will often study the quantity of presents and the size of the boxes under the tree before wondering what they could be. The general rule of thumb being, the bigger the better. At first analysis, contents are less important, it’s all about the size versus quantity ratio. In fact, the contents can sometimes be so unimportant that even an empty box would be welcome and often, an empty box can be just as much fun as a full one. All a big empty box needs is an abundance of imagination. In our Gospel today, there is a message of abu...

The last few months have seen some of the biggest roller coaster lurches in all of my vocational journey, and I haven't said anything here, because I haven't really known what to to say, even though I wanted to share, especially as people have prayed for me in the past, which has always meant a huge amount to me. So what has happened? Back in October, I met two Diocesan Assessors, one lay and one ordained. It then took about a month to receive feedback (for entirely understandable reasons), which effectively said that while I had a clear vocation to ordained ministry, it was felt that I lacked the necessary leadership skills and especially confidence, which I would need to do well at a panel. Now, it's honesty time, my confidence had taken quite a battering over the previous six months, the drawn out vocation process and continued levels of required introspection had started to take their toll, combined with a work situation which had meant my confidence in my role and ...

That, was a crazy weekend. On Sunday, I preached for the first time at my home church (the text is here if you're interested: http://distant-mountain.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sermon-for-may-25th-2014.html ) I'm not sure if I'll always blog sermons (if I get to do any more, only the Lord knows), but for now, they are a record of steps on my vocation journey. On the Friday evening, the Vicar agreed by e-mail to meet me for a run through on Saturday morning, I had sent a copy of the text about ten days earlier but this was the first response, so by this stage, I was trusting that God would be with me and that no major changes would be needed or that the chance to preach may be cancelled and to be honest, all these things had crossed my mind, but I also knew that generally, the Vicar lets you know if theres an issue, and if you hear nothing, you can assume all is well, and it was. The run through was very helpful, working out logistics and a few very helpful tweaks...

First sermon preached at my home church (only the second ever) on May 25 th 2014 May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I have seen a vision, alleluia! Honestly, I have. Straight away, you’re probably thinking, who is this nutcase and how did he get there. Well, as some of you may know, I’ve been exploring vocation to some form of ministry in the church, there’s nothing definite yet, but me standing here is a way to gain experience and hopefully to share a little of what I’ve learnt while studying the bible. So, anyway, I saw a vision and I wasn’t a million miles from this spot. It was a couple of years ago and I was sitting in this church, just about there, in the second row from the front, with the rest of the choir. The altar was here, in the nave and the candles were on each side of the altar, as normal. So it was as I was sitting there quietly, listening to the sermon, that I saw the vision. I was actually looking at the stained gla...

Part of the reason I don't blog very often is that it can sometimes seem rather introspective (such is the nature of exploring vocation), some details can be personal and private, then if I'm being careful not to mention too many names and places, there can then be little left to say. However, things do move on. This vocation journey is more like a container ship than a speed boat, or perhaps a long distance backpacker than a 5k runner. It's a steady, onwards exploration. I'm seeing, experiencing and learning a lot on the way and no matter what happens, my faith, will be much deeper than I would have imagined a few years ago. This journey also needs much prayer and so the odd update may be helpful to people who have said they'll pray for me. So here we go... It's taken some time to realise God's timing isn't the same as mine. As I have explored vocation to ministry, tested some avenues, tried a few cul-de-sacs then found a path which seems more lev...

Journey to the Isles of the Sea Landing on an alien shore, a few minutes from the world. Abandoned, if only for a while Worn out, in the wilderness, ready to pray Dazed, we wander, seeking a home Eagles, Golden, soar overhead. Silence, filled with sound, the breeze, birdsong, streams and gentle surging ocean God seems far away, but when sought for, is close enough to touch Prayerful words not needed, our innermost thoughts known. His spirit pounding in our souls, the pulse growing louder, made bolder in rain, wind and fire. Ancient Rock, exploding, shards popping, laughter, talk and hope Firelight, waves lap on stones, light fades, day ends. Dawn light, gentle, dripping drops. A shelter, tent of meeting fortified, a place of banter, silence, prayer and love. Disoriented shifts from bawdy to sublime, crudity to grace, all encompassed in fellowship, in church. Pilgrimage upon pilgrimage, over pathless, tusssocked ground, a small hanging valley, ...