St Paul's Cathedral

Sermon by The Reverend Prebendary Dr Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Priest in Charge, St Mary-at-Hill, London, at Sung Eucharist on the Feast Day of Philip and James, Apostles, Tuesday 1st May 2018.

Part 2 - Please note that this podcast has been edited to remove audience comments and questions which are inaudible. Handouts are referred to at the following places (click on link to see handout): 00.00.15.668 https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/caterpillar-handout.JPG 00.10.00.503 https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/meerkats-handout.JPG 00.22.24.706 https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/bluebells-handout.JPG 00.28.44.793 https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/Stonehange-handout.JPG The scientific consensus is that humans have been on the Earth for some 200,000 years of its 4,700,000,000 year history. There have been arguments about what this means for the creation stories in the Bible, but the growing understanding of the Earth’s history challenges us to expand all our ideas of God. In addition it raises fascinating and perplexing questions about, for instance, the Earth’s beauty and the violence which is also seemingly inherent to it. Why do so many of us find the natural world so beautiful? And is there an answer to the dilemma of the brutality that seems built into evolution –‘nature red in tooth and claw’? Michael Reiss will explore some of the questions that science and the study of evolution raise for us about the wonder of God’s world and our place in it. The Revd Professor Michael Reiss is a Bioethicist, Professor of Science Education at the UCL Institute of Education, University of London and a Priest in the Church of England. Recorded 10 March 2018.

Part 1 - Please note that this podcast has been edited to remove audience comments and questions which are inaudible. A handout is referred to at 00.18.38.704 - a copy of which can be found at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/medialibrary/Giraffes-handout.JPG The scientific consensus is that humans have been on the Earth for some 200,000 years of its 4,700,000,000 year history. There have been arguments about what this means for the creation stories in the Bible, but the growing understanding of the Earth’s history challenges us to expand all our ideas of God. In addition it raises fascinating and perplexing questions about, for instance, the Earth’s beauty and the violence which is also seemingly inherent to it. Why do so many of us find the natural world so beautiful? And is there an answer to the dilemma of the brutality that seems built into evolution –‘nature red in tooth and claw’? Michael Reiss will explore some of the questions that science and the study of evolution raise for us about the wonder of God’s world and our place in it. The Revd Professor Michael Reiss is a Bioethicist, Professor of Science Education at the UCL Institute of Education, University of London and a Priest in the Church of England. Recorded 10 March 2018.

Please note that this podcast has been edited to remove any poems read out at the workshop due to copyright issues. Poems which were read out were at 00.05.25.517 - 'The Kingdom' from the collection 'Hm'm', at 00.23.50.331 - 'This To Do' which can be found in Collected Poems, at 00.33.52.143 - 'Kneeling' which can be found in Collected Poems and at 00.43.16.446 - 'The Gap' which can be found in 'Frequencies'. R.S. Thomas is one of the finest poets of the 20th century. His subject matter is the search for God, and his insights into the life of faith – from rebellion to reverence – are razor-sharp. Seamus Heaney described him as ‘a loner taking on the universe, a kind of Clint Eastwood of the spirit’. This workshop was originally to be led by Mark Oakley, Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Carys Walsh led the workshop in his place. The Revd Dr Carys Walsh is Tutor and Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at St Mellitus College in the London Diocese, and has a Phd in Christian Spirituality, focussing on the Sacramental Vision of R S Thomas. She previously worked in the Ministry Division of the Church of England, selecting those who go forward for training to be ordained, and as a psychotherapist. Recorded 14 April 2018.

Sermon by the Reverend Canon Tricia Hillas, Canon Pastor, at Evensong on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, 29 April 2018.

Sermon by Paul Woodbridge, Tutor in New Testament and Director of College Placements, Oakhill College, at Sung Eucharist on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, 29 April 2018.

Sermon by The Reverend Prebendary Stephen Coles, Vicar, St Thomas the Apostle, Finsbury Park, at Evensong on St George's Day, Monday 23 April 2018.

What is it that makes you who you are? In the West we live with a passionately autobiographical sense of self – I am who I am so long as I can tell my own story. Research tells us that people are more afraid of dementia than cancer because loss of identity is the worst thing we can imagine. But are there other ways to think about this? Beginning from the experience of people whose identity is seemingly dissolving in dementia, two of our greatest theologians will consider what it really means to be a human being. They will reflect on what roles our bodies, communities, faith and memories play, and ask how God in the person of Christ invites us to a radically new consideration of our humanity in all its variety and vulnerability, including its place in the very heart of the divine life. John Swinton is the Director of The Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability and the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. His theology is founded in his background in nursing, ministry and healthcare chaplaincy. His books include Dementia: Living in the Memories of God, winner of the 2016 Michael Ramsey Prize for best contemporary theological writing, and Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship (both SCM Press). Rowan Williams is the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and was formerly Archbishop of Canterbury. He is a poet and theologian and the author of numerous academic and popular works of theology, including Being Christian, Being Disciples, and Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons (all SPCK). Chaired by Canon Tricia Hillas and recorded on 16 April 2018.

The Reverend Canon Dr Jennifer Smith, Superintendent Minister, Wesley’s Chapel and Leysian Mission, preaches at Evensong, the Third Sunday of Easter, 15 April 2018.

The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor, preaches at Evensong on the Eve of the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sunday 8 April 2018.