Holy Trinity Headington Quarry

Sermon preached by the Rev Dr Hugh Houghton on Sunday 9th December 2007:

It’s me again this week. Clearly our observance of Advent this year is mirroring the
season, so that we’re saving the best until last! The second Sunday of Advent is
when we focus on the role of the prophets in preparing the way of Christ – and
today’s readings offer us both John the Baptist and Isaiah as models.

click link for full text: Sermon9Dec07

Sermon preached by the Rev Dr Hugh Houghton on Sunday 2nd December 2007:

The opening phrase in the Collect for Advent Sunday sums up for me what Advent
is about. “Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put
on the armour of light.” Christian life can be thought of as a journey, a pilgrimage,
from darkness to light. And while darkness may be a metaphor for many things
(some which are not very politically correct), in Advent we physically do spend the
majority of our time in darkness, as the days get shorter, night falls more quickly
and so on. It’s not an obvious time for celebration, and some of the time we might
be more tempted by the prospect of hibernation.

click link for full text:  sermon2Dec07