St Paul's Cathedral

Sermon by The Dean, at Mattins on The Second Sunday of Advent, 9 December 2018.

Session 2 - 8 December 2018. (Following sessions are 15 & 22 December). Handout referred to is the session can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/Handout-week-2.pdf Advent is traditionally the season when we reflect on humanity’s relationship with God through the lives of the Old and New Testament Fathers and Mothers of the faith. It is also a season which calls us to slow down and contemplate the things of eternity. One of the ways we can slow down our busy lives and minds is by taking the time to listen attentively to music. This Advent we will explore in music and words the human lives which tell the story of salvation from its very beginning in the Garden of Eden to Mary’s song of joy as she receives the world-changing news of the coming of the Messiah. Through the Biblical accounts and the music which has been inspired by them, we will focus on Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, the great Prophets including Isaiah, Ezekiel and John the Baptist, and Mary the Mother of God. The four week course includes music from the Renaissance to the 21st century, by composers including Bach, Haydn, Elgar, Arvo Pärt and Benjamin Britten. Andrew Carwood is the Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Founder-Conductor of The Cardinall’s Musick, an internationally-regarded singer and winner of the 2010 Gramaphone Awards Recording of the Year for his recording of William Byrd’s music.

‘The will to pray is the essence of prayer’ wrote Thomas Merton, and ‘the secret of prayer is a hunger for God’. Stephen Cottrell describes himself as ‘an experienced beginner’ at prayer who has never got much beyond this, but says his long apprenticeship has taught him that the beginning and end of prayer is the longing to know God and to be known by God. But for many people profound questions remain. Is God really listening? Does what we pray affect what God does? Also, why is it that everyone struggles with prayer; shouldn’t it be easy? Stephen Cottrell will reflect on what prayer is and how we might begin, or begin again, to pray more authentically. The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell is the Bishop of Chelmsford. He has written widely on evangelism, spirituality and discipleship, and is the author of numerous books including How to Pray: Alone, with Others, at Any Time, in Any Place (Church House Publishing, 3rd edition 2010). Recorded Sunday 2 December 2018.

Sermon by the Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas, Canon Pastor, at Sung Eucharist on Advent Sunday, 2 December 2018.

What is Growth, and how do we measure it? The journey from poverty to prosperity is widely measured by and credited to the growth in a country’s GDP. But what if there is more to consider? What about the needs which this doesn’t address – a healthy family life, civic participation, and freedom from discrimination or exploitation? Using Christian Aid’s An Unquenchable Thirst report, St Paul’s Institute and Christian Aid brought together a panel of experts in economics, business, social metrics and theology to discuss ways to track, measure and celebrate human flourishing. The Speakers were: - Amanda Mukwashi, Christian Aid - Professor Jagjit Chadha, National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) - Danny Kruger, Expert Adviser on Civil Society, HM Government - Cal Baliey, SALT Network - Christine Allen, Christian Aid (convenor)

Session 1 - 1 December 2018. (Following sessions are 8, 15 & 22 December). Handout referred to is the session can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/Handout-week-1.pdf Advent is traditionally the season when we reflect on humanity’s relationship with God through the lives of the Old and New Testament Fathers and Mothers of the faith. It is also a season which calls us to slow down and contemplate the things of eternity. One of the ways we can slow down our busy lives and minds is by taking the time to listen attentively to music. This Advent we will explore in music and words the human lives which tell the story of salvation from its very beginning in the Garden of Eden to Mary’s song of joy as she receives the world-changing news of the coming of the Messiah. Through the Biblical accounts and the music which has been inspired by them, we will focus on Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, the great Prophets including Isaiah, Ezekiel and John the Baptist, and Mary the Mother of God. The four week course includes music from the Renaissance to the 21st century, by composers including Bach, Haydn, Elgar, Arvo Pärt and Benjamin Britten. Andrew Carwood is the Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Founder-Conductor of The Cardinall’s Musick, an internationally-regarded singer and winner of the 2010 Gramaphone Awards Recording of the Year for his recording of William Byrd’s music.

Sermon by The Reverend Canon Jonathan Brewster, Treasurer, at A Service for Remembrance on Sunday 11 November 2018.

We all have crossing places in our lives - moments on which our life turns. A new baby, leaving home, a bereavement, a new job or country, a medical diagnosis. These ‘liminal’ times – thresholds between one life and another – are often times of uncertainty, waiting and not knowing, but are also precious because they can open us up to a new closeness to God. Richard Rohr has called them ‘a unique spiritual place where human beings hate to be but where the Biblical God is always leading us’. Tricia Hillas says crossing places are where we have to relinquish control and because of that they can be places of profound liberation. In this talk she will explore the challenges, lessons and joys that can come from meeting God at the crossing place. Canon Tricia Hillas is the Canon Pastor at St Paul’s Cathedral, overseeing pastoral care, outreach and interfaith relationships. Prior to ordination she was a social worker, specialising in working with people with HIV/Aids, and has recently completed an MSc in conflict resolution and mediation. Chaired by Pim Baxter, Lay Canon at St Paul's Cathedral. Recorded 4 November 2018.

Sermon by the Reverend Canon Jonathan Brewster, Treasurer, at Sung Eucharist on all Saints' Day, 1 November 2018.

The traditional story of the birth of Christianity is dominated by men. It is often thought that Jesus only chose men to be his disciples and apostles, but evidence suggests that this is really only half the story. Were female disciples in fact crucial to the Jesus movement? Profoundly scandalous at the time, the idea remains highly controversial 2,000 years later. Two distinguished early church historians will present research that shows as many as half of Jesus’ disciples were women. They say the evidence shows that women were integral to his mission and only if we see men and women working together do we see the whole story, revealing the early church as far more radical than we thought. And they will also explore what this means for us today. Can it teach us new things not only about women and men’s ministries and roles, but also about the radical, transformative way of Jesus? Professor Helen Bond is Professor in Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. Her books include 'Jesus: A Very Brief History' and 'The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed'. She was historical consultant for the History Channel's miniseries 'The Bible' and for BBC 1's 'The Nativity'. Professor Joan Taylor is Professor of Christian Origins at King’s College, London. She is the author of 'What Did Jesus Look Like?' and has edited 'The Body in Biblical, Christian and Jewish Texts' and 'Jesus and Brian: Exploring the Historical Jesus and his Times via Monty Python’s Life of Brian'. She was historical consultant for the 2018 film 'Mary Magdalene'. Their documentary 'Jesus' Female Disciples' (Minerva Productions) screened on Channel 4 in April 2018. The evening was chaired by Andrew Carwood, Director of Music at St Paul’s Cathedral. Recorded 30 October 2018.