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
Read at the beginning of sermon in honor of Remembrance Sunday, Veteran’s Day They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. For the Fallen, Lawrence Binyon… Continue reading
It must be accepted that the nursing of resentments is a futile and harmful business. Interesting that “nursing” is used as it suggests a kind embrace, a sensitive nourishment of the very thing that will gradually and surely erode our sense of serenity and well-being. It is ironic that the nursing of a resentment has… Continue reading
Sermon Audio Sermon Text Sermon preached at Trinity Church, Newport, Sunday October 25th 2015 The Reverend Alan Neale, “Is there really loose change?” Mark 10:51 “Jesus asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?”. There are seven profound questions that Jesus asks in the records of New Testament history. All of them redundant,… Continue reading
Increasingly this theme of “confidence” has become important to me both as pastor and as preacher and as… person. Maybe it’s getting nearer to dying that prompts such reflection but I think it is more that I realize how crippled are by lack of confidence… and the awful things that occur on this frightening soil… Continue reading
And so sexism continues apace, regardless of education and experience. The article below gives the facts, it seems that a cursory review will give the conclusions. Oh dear! Gender Gap Increases With Age
Over recent weeks there has been a constant flow of news that ISIS is, apparently without system or premeditation, destroying the historic symbols of an ancient nation, culture, ethos and religion. At first the response to this is “how could they wreak such barbaric and mindless destruction”, pummeling into oblivion beautiful and valuable markers of… Continue reading
I read yesterday that Henning Mankell died, age 67. This was the man who introduced me to the deceptively prosaic and the definitively shadowy nature of Scandinavian mystery stories. I pray he has discovered a place without mystery (except that of grace) and without shadow. Mr. Mankell – rest in deserved peace… and light
As part of our spiritual, emotional, psychic journey we are wanting to move towards “wholeness”. The “wanting to move” is significant – do we want to be whole or maybe the path seems too strewn with rocks over which to stumble and briars too prevalent to escape scratching, bruising pain.’ “I call with my whole… Continue reading
I find this rather fascinating. The practice once by our glorious Celtic Christian ancestors was to find pagan symbols, rites, places and then “baptize” them, make them Christian. This was not to deny their origin and meaning, not to denigrate and ignore the behavior of others but, in the name of the Holy, to include… Continue reading
“For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes” – Matthew 24:12. The processes of an evil deed… After the bloodshed and massacre of Roseburg, some have started to admit (though hesitantly) that they are becoming inured to such tragedies. The murders of… Continue reading