For over thirty years Alan Neale has spoken with passion, relevance, authenticity and humor of themes that are profound and pressing; the profound he makes simple and accessible, the pressing he makes immediate and welcoming. All these years past have provided little time for Alan to write extensively and so now he begins a long-postponed desire and there are many themes waiting to be translated into books; the task is daunting and enthralling and he longs to begin in 2015
(A Note! As often happens, sermon themes began to develop far beyond the actual preaching event. Again and again I was challenged to consider the invitation “come and see” not only made by God to me but also my readiness and comfort to make the invitation to God! Accessibility & Transparency – we expect this… Continue reading
(These are the bare bones, the provided notes, that helped guide the conversation yesterday. There was interest in discussing what it is that inhibits us from making “gut/instinctive” decisions? There was also a strong emphasis that before, during and after making decisions we develop our faith in God who wishes the best for us and… Continue reading
Some years back Malcolm Gladwell published “Blink”; in the book he argued well that we seem to have lost the ability to hear and follow the immediate decisions of our hearts and have surrendered this to a long process of decision-making. I agree… in part. Decision-making occurs throughout our days – from the minute and… Continue reading
Watching innumerable episodes of “Peppa Pig” I think the “Muddy Puddles” is one of my favorites. Our Lord delights jumping right into the “messy puddles” of life bringing joy and friendship and purpose. Below is the sermon audio and below that the text. Sermon Preached at Trinity Church, Newport RI Christmas Day 2016 The Reverend… Continue reading
This sermon is about the commonly experienced trauma of living in circles whereas the Lord wants to break the circle and move us forward… always. At the beginning of the sermon I speak of a scene from “European Vacation” – the challenge of ‘breaking the circle’ according to Chevy Chase. See below for the movie… Continue reading
Advent is such a glorious season of the Church’s Year; it shouts “counter-cultural” to a mad, mad, mad, mad world engorged by crass commercialism and a rapid race toward the numbing of spirituality and the unreadiness to accept the Christ-child… born in a stable. I plan to sport the purple rubber band throughout Advent and… Continue reading
It had to happen one day… a few minutes before early service yesterday I discovered (to my “surprise”) that I was the preacher. My friend and “boss”, Anne Marie Richards, generously and effectively took up the challenge at 8am. I preached at 10am trusting more than ever in the Spirit’s grace. So no text because… Continue reading
(A few people have contacted me and said these notes are largely incomprehensible; probably so! What takes place in the class is so unexpected and exciting that it cannot be expressed in words and a recording would not be good. So, this is the best I can offer… if you have questions, disagreements – let… Continue reading
Sermon Audio (text plus…) Sermon Text Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport RI. Sunday October 23 2016 The Reverend Alan Neale “Healthy Self-Deprecation” Luke 18:11 “11 The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men… or… Continue reading
Sermon Audio Sermon Text Sermon preached at Trinity Church. Newport RI; Sunday October 16th 2016 The Reverend Alan Neale “True Grit?” “Angela Duckworth begins her book by sharing a personal life story. In her childhood, she was constantly told by her father that she was not a genius. He not only underestimated her intellectual potential… Continue reading