All want their wedding to be personal and welcoming, dignified and humorous, profound and celebratory. Such hopes align perfectly with those of Alan Neale who after hundreds of weddings has constantly been praised and thanked for wedding services as never experienced before. Alan believes that the your wedding should express your hopes and expectations for marriage
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
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
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
Well, this is not my experience as an ordained minister in the United States. A large part of me fears that this disinterest in the UK church is due to faith communities that have lost their vision to welcome all for whatever reason brings them to the church’s door. I also fear that the UK… Continue reading
In what I consider to be a rather revealing article in UK’s Daily Mirror, Prince Harry speaks of his “paranoia about women”. I am not quite sure what this phrase means even after some reflection but here’s what I suggest thus far… Before speaking of his particular paranoia, the red-headed Prince speaks of the challenges… Continue reading
At 10am I was foolish enough to sing the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore song; it received applause maybe out of sympathy. Strangely (?) the 10am sermon did not record properly… so be thankful. Alan The audio is above. Sermon Preached at Trinity Church, Newport, Sunday May 8th 2016 The Reverend Alan Neale, “Now is the time… Continue reading
Next March Wendy and I will be celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary; both of us were married before but sadly you cannot carry “credits” into the subsequent marriage – ah well. A young bride recently exploded with surprise that I had been married some 42 years altogether; I was touched by her kindness and immediately… Continue reading
I do my best to ensure that there is a vital connection between me and the couple that I am about to marry. The connection should not be enlarged unrealistically suggesting that we all have been good friends for years – this is disrespectful to the couple and their guests. But it is so essential… Continue reading
It was so very good to meet this couple this morning, just shining with love for each other and the God who has made them. All couples have the opportunity to “preach” sermons of the power and vitality of love. I’m reminded of St. Francis “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words.”