Alan, Thank you so so much! You absolutely blew us away with your message, and your homily was amazing. To top it off, your exit on the Vespa was the icing on the cake! Thank you for the humorous, practical, and joyous reminder that God is with us always. We are so excited to start… Continue reading
For many years I have longed to preach on the text for today (“You shall be like a watered garden” Isaiah 58:11) and now I have! Below is the audio of the sermon, and below that is the text – they are not identical but similar; things just happen once in the pulpit. “You shall… Continue reading
Today’s sermon emerged from reflection on the Gospel passage, one of the so-called and obviously called “Uncomfortable Words of Jesus” (Luke 12:49-53). For nearly forty years it has been my intent never to be politically partisan in preaching and yet, as an Anglican, I am enjoined to provide principles/concepts so that those in my pastoral… Continue reading
The Genesis passage today is startling. It stresses the importance of honest questions and concentrated attention – this is crucial in a healthy relationship with God and with others. And please note the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is definitively not about homosexuality but about the grievous sin of radical inhospitality. Sermon Audio … Continue reading
What was once considered unimaginable in our world (local and beyond) continues to occur with increasing frequency – acts of gross turpitude and vile horror. Much that has been said in response unites people of all and no faiths. In today’s sermon I attempt to offer a uniquely Christian theological response. This is not meant… Continue reading
Today’s sermon begins with reference to the film “City Slickers” and one of the final conversations with Curly (Jack Palance) and Mitch (Billy Crystal). Before the 10am service I had the most perfect conversation with an artist called Chris Wyllie. “Chris Wyllie’s work explores issues of beauty, desire and the legacy of a historic material… Continue reading
Officiating at nearly 700 weddings, it is always a moment of special wonder as I observe the groom’s reaction to seeing his bride walk down the aisle. They may have been together for years, he may even have seen her before the wedding for photographs but there is that existential, divine, climactic moment when she… Continue reading
(the text is not “exactly” what was preached – hear the audio above! Alan) Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport, RI, Sunday June 5th 2016 The Reverend Alan Neale, “Transformers, not in disguise” In 1985 I spent a ten day silent retreat at the Convent of the Sisters of the Love of God in Hertforshire,… Continue reading
As if the delicious Roasted Pear BLT was not delicious enough, as if our server Molly was not wonderfully efficient and engaging… I had the visual delight of seeing just one of Molly’s jewellery creations. I asked about the key, then noticed the skull – it was a “skeleton key”. So whimsy, elegance and… Continue reading
Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport RI Sunday May 22nd 2016 (Trinity Sunday) The Reverend Alan Neale “Will you, won’t you… join the dance?” Sermon Audio Sermon Text Romans 5:1,5 “Since we are justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And God’s love is poured into our hearts by… Continue reading