The Pulpit
Latest postings:
Two for oneOrdinary 14 : 5 July 2026
Today's Gospel reading, Matthew 11: 25-30, can look like two stories in one. But are they really two parts of a single whole?
St PeterPatronal Festival : 28 June 2026
Celebrating our Patronal Festival, Our Vicar looks at the life of St Peter and some lessons he can teach us.
Christ unconfinedCorpus Christi : 7 June 2026
"The procession reminds us that Christ is not confined to the Sanctuary but comes among His people...".
A clerical jokeTrinity Sunday : 31 May 2026
Our Vicar starts with a standing joke amongst clergy to introduce perhaps the most difficult of all subjects for a sermon.
The work of the ChurchAscension : 17 May 2026
"So what is the work of the Church?" A look at how we can live our lives to reflect "the life of the resurrected Christ."
A walk with PaulEaster 6 : 10 May 2026
Father John takes a walk through 51AD Athens with the Apostle Paul.
Unfinished businessEaster 5 : 3 May 2026
"These events form the entire basis of Christian worship." – but there is still work for us to do.
Urban shepherdEaster 4 : 26 April 2026
The Bible makes much use of pastoral imagery. How does that fit with modern urban life?
The courage of faithEaster 3 : 19 April 2026
Peter developed the courage to follow Christ. Can we?
The point of a sermonEaster 2 : 12 April 2026
Father John's first sermon as Vicar discusses what a sermon should be – then demonstrates with Thomas.
United in Song
In September 2025 we received audio of a Service from St Mary's Liscard at the time when Father Carl Somers-Edgar was Vicar there. You can listen to Father Carl's United in Song Service here.
An unlikely saintAll Saints' Day : 31 October 2021
Father John tells a story of a saint we might not like.
What's in a name?Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 24 October 2021
Why are some actors in the Gospels named while others are not?
Unflattered disciplesTwenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 17 October 2021
“...once again we’re given a reading in which [the disciples] do not come out in a good light.” But they turned out not so badly. What would the world be like if we did as well?
DivorceTwenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time : 3 October 2021
There is nothing new about divorce – even the Bible accepts the fact if not the desirability of divorce. So what is the Christian teaching on the subject?
InterpretingTwenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 26 September 2021
“What a gospel reading we have this morning”. Father John finds a lot depends upon how one interprets the story.
The greatestTwenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 19 September 2021
Who was the greatest disciple of them all? Why did they care? And did it matter to anyone else?
Who is he?Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : 5 September 2021
Father John looks into the nature of God.
Spreading the wordTwenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time : 5 September 2021
The tradition of the eldersTwenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time : 29 August 2021
Trust in trying timesTwenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time : 22 August 2021
Father John finds this morning's Gospel reading is entirely suited to our current level 4 circumstances.
Older sermons
57 Baker Street, Caversham, Dunedin, New Zealand +64-3-455-3961 : or e-mail us
