A homily delivered at Open Table, St John Waterloo on Sunday 13 April 2025 on the Palm Gospel (Luke 19:28-40, Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem). Opening Prayer: Loving God, we gather today as your beloved people, fearfully and wonderfully made. As we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, fill our hearts with your radical love. Let… Continue reading “The Stones Would Shout Out” – Palm Sunday: a protest that became a movement
Author: C E Lord
Transformation, Resurrection, Belonging and Mission – four meanings of Christ’s Baptism and our own
A homily delivered on Sunday 12 January 2025 at St Mary Magdalene, Munster Square, London NW1 (11:00) and Open Table Central London, St John Waterloo, SE1 (18:00) on John’s Proclamation and Baptism of Jesus (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22) The Gospel today brings us to the Jordan river, 30 years after Jesus was born, where expectation hangs… Continue reading Transformation, Resurrection, Belonging and Mission – four meanings of Christ’s Baptism and our own
Celebrating two decades of promoting inclusion in sport: my welcome remarks at Access Sport’s 20th Anniversary Dinner
The City of London Corporation was delighted to welcome Access Sport to Guildhall last night (27 November 2024) to celebrate the charity’s 20th anniversary, marking two decades of making inclusion the norm in community sport by tackling access barriers faced by disadvantaged and disabled young people. As Lead Member for Sport, it was my privilege… Continue reading Celebrating two decades of promoting inclusion in sport: my welcome remarks at Access Sport’s 20th Anniversary Dinner
The future of Smithfield and Billingsgate – my contribution to the debate on the City of London’s markets
The City of London’s governing body, the Court of Common Council, took the difficult decision on Tuesday (26 November 2024) not to proceed with its plans to collocate its wholesale food markets on a new site in Dagenham, East London, and also to close the present Billingsgate and Smithfield markets in the coming years. Much… Continue reading The future of Smithfield and Billingsgate – my contribution to the debate on the City of London’s markets
“I am the bread of life”, a homily on Jesus’s nourishing love
Open Table, St John Waterloo, Sunday 11 August 2024 Trinity 11 – Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51 “I am the bread of life” That is quite a declaration from our Saviour. “whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” This was the first of the “I am”… Continue reading “I am the bread of life”, a homily on Jesus’s nourishing love
Trans youth are loved
In the summer of 2024, in the face of open hostility towards trans people and especially trans young people, in the media, social media, and in political life, the Trans Solidarity Alliance invited celebrities, politicians, and the general public to record short videos telling trans young people that they are loved. Here is mine.
“Peace be with you” – a homily on radical inclusion
Open Table, St John Waterloo, Sunday 14 April 2024 Easter 2 – Gospel: Luke 24:36-48 As we gather this evening for our Open Table service, full of warmth, welcome and inclusion here at St John’s, we come with our own unique experiences, our struggles, and our joys. As queer Christians, we often come to Church… Continue reading “Peace be with you” – a homily on radical inclusion
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – a homily on discipleship
St Mary Magdalene Munster Square (11:00) Open Table, St John Waterloo (18:00) Sunday 14 January 2024 Epiphany 2 – Gospel: John 1:43-end Can anything good come out of Nazareth? That was Nathanael’s sceptical response to Philip’s invitation to meet Jesus the one he said was prophesied in the Law and by the Prophets. Can anything… Continue reading “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – a homily on discipleship
Time for change that will bring a more equal share in God’s kingdom for everyone – a homily on the parable of the wicked tenants
In a departure to my usual occasional blog posts, this one records the first time on which I have preached in church and hopefully will be the first of several such posts where I have the opportunity to publish homilies and sermons as I begin to explore my vocation towards ordained ministry. I hope readers… Continue reading Time for change that will bring a more equal share in God’s kingdom for everyone – a homily on the parable of the wicked tenants
Pride in the City 2023
I had the privilege of hosting the reception at Guildhall following the Pride flag raising in June 2023. Here is the speech I gave welcoming the over 200 guests that evening.
C. E. Lord OBE 