Preaching Radical and Orthodox

Alison Milbank is Associate Professor of Literature and Theology at the University of Nottingham, and Canon Theologian of Southwell Minster. John Hughes was Dean of Chapel of Jesus College Cambridge, and one of the Church of England’s most promising theologians until his death in 2014. Arabella Milbank is an ordinand at Westcott House and completing her postgraduate studies in English and Theology at the University of Cambridge.

This collection of sermons delivered by representatives of different ecclesial traditions show-cases the art of homiletics. Each sermon makes a point or two about core creedal Christian beliefs linked to the liturgical readings and season. The ideas are expressed in edifying language and the sentences are crafted with due attention given to their rhythm so that the congregation is offered some ideas for reflection that are not only true and good but beautiful as well. -- Professor Tracey Rowland These passionate and powerful sermons are as intense as Jacob's wrestling with the angel, as intimate as Elijah bidding farewell to Elisha, and as thrilling as Mary meeting the risen Lord. Those who know only the austere and abrasive dimension of Radical Orthodoxy's reputation will find here food to make their soul grow and an invitation to participate in nothing less than the life of God. Those who believe the word is a sacrament will find themselves worshipping through this book. Those who don't will need to think again. -- Sam Wells

• I. Reclaiming Time: AdventLifting the Veil on the World - Ian Boxall 11 The Christ Who is Coming - Arabella Milbank 15 Waiting and Birthing - Kirsten Pinto Gfroerer 19II. Preaching Paradox: Christmas to Candlemas Nativity: Words and the Word - Alison Milbank 27 Epiphany: Surprised by Joy - Alison Milbank 30 Music and What Matters Most - Andrew Davison 33 Christ's Baptism: The Cold Water of Baptism - Joseph Vnuk 37 Amiably Drawn Edmund Newey 41 Conversion of St Paul: The Road to Insight - Silvianne Aspray 45 Christian Unity: Splendour with no Bounds - Martin Warner 49 St Thomas Aquinas: Beatific Theology - Jeffrey Phillips 52 Presentation of Christ: Out of the Dark Time - John Milbank 56III. Unfolding the Story: Lent to Easter Sunday Ash Wednesday: On Being Dust - Anthony Baker 63 Living in the Rhythm of Worship - David Moss 67 God and Nature - David Neaum 72 Passion Sunday: A Wondrous Exchange - Rachel Greene 76 Palm Sunday: Inside the Story - Melanie Marshall 80 Maundy Thursday: Food Enough to Triumph - Jeffrey P. Bishop 82 Good Friday: Passionate Actions - John Muddiman 87 Easter Sunday: Death's Name for Love is Resurrection - David Widdicombe 92IV. Real Resurrection: Eastertide to Trinity Sunday Disturbing Faith - Ruth Jackson 99 Being Witnesses - Peter Groves 104 Heaven is Other People - Jeremy Morris 108 Love is the only Politics that Matters - Matthew Bullimore 112 The Tangled Vine - Jennifer Strawbridge 117 Ascension: Becoming Heaven-bent - Simone Kotva 121 St Philip and St James: Love's Labour - Graham Ward 126 Pentecost: Language of Joy - John Inge 129 Trinity: Finding Ourselves in the Trinity - Alison Milbank 134V. For the Time Being: Trinity Season and Christian Lives Corpus Christi: Consume and be Consumed - Gregory Platten 141 The Sound of Silence - Stanley Hauerwas 145 St Mary Magdalene: Witness to the Depths of God - Stephen Conway 151 Transfiguration: The Beauty in the Ugliness - John Hughes 156 Assumption: Mary, Battered and Glorious Vessel - Melanie Marshall 160 Challenging Christians? - Fergus Kerr 164 Michaelmas: I Believe in Angels - Robert Chapman 168 Lord of the Harvest - Michael Northcott 171 Dedication Festival: The Feast of You and Me - Richard Stanton 176 Holy Fear, Holy Play Frances Ward 181 Remembrance: Remembering Well - Philip Krinks 186 Baptism: Higher than the Angels - John Hughes 189 Confirmation: Divine Athletes - Stephen Platten 192 Confirmation: God's Designer Label - Nigel Peyton 195 Marriage: The Abundant Economy - Simon Oliver 198 Ordination: Are You Real? - Anna Matthews 202 First Mass: Overlapping Gifts - Catherine Pickstock 206 Funeral: Repeating Ourselves- James Robinson 211