Sermons at St Matthew's Carver Street: Recent Episodes
St Matthews Carver Street
In this Sunday's Gospel we hear the third of Jesus' prophecies about His death in Mark's Gospel. Yet the Disciples at this moment are more worried about who is the greatest of them. How do we become great in Jesus' eyes? Well it looks a lot like crucifixion.
The Bishop of Oswestry preached this sermon for our Patronal Festival, reflecting on how Our Lord called St Matthew from the lowly and despised Tax Booth to be raised up - resurrected even - to walk in His ways and become like Him.
The 2024 Annual Lecture in Catholic Evangelism delivered by The Rt Rev'd Paul Thomas SSC, The Bishop of Oswestry, sponsored by the Diocese of Sheffield and The Church Union.
This Lecture is also available on Youtube.
Timings:
- 0:00 Opening from Fr Naylor
- 4:20 Welcome from Bishop Pete Wilcox
- 11:35 The Annual Lecture in Catholic Evangelism - Bishop Paul Thomas
- 58:20 Q&A from the audience
- 1:26:40 Concluding remarks from Fr Naylor
- 1:30:12 Summary and Closing Blessing from Bishop Wilcox
Jesus asks His Disciples who they think He is. It is a profound question beyond an academic exercise, one that reveals in our hearts who we really are, too.
At the Evening Mass Fr Price explores the reading from the Epistle of James removing us for showing deference to the wealthy and shunning the poor. May our eyes be opened to see how God sees and may our actions be changed to reflect the Kingdom.
At 11:00am on Sunday we celebrated a joyful Baptism. Welcoming a new Christian into the Church is a great time to remember why we are Christians and give thanks for our own Baptisms. So what is it that makes Christians 'Christian' after all?
One simple question...
What man-made traditions are we relying on to find peace and help in times of need? God has sent His Son to reveal the Word of God and give us a new way to live, one which gives real peace and real help. Let us hold fast to the Faith and leave behind that which doesn't save.
Many who heard Jesus teach that the only way they could gain Eternal Life is by eating His flesh and drinking His blood chose to walk away. How will we hear this teaching today? Fr Morrison reminds us of these radical claims of our Faith and challenges us to cherish the great Gift of the Eucharist.
Fr Michael Dixon proclaims the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ who welcomes us to return to Him when we have broken our promises and failed to live as His disciples. The Good News of God in Christ is that He is faithful even when we are not. Following the example of Bl. Carlo Acutis we see how we can become the Saints we are destined to be, too.
Ordinand on placement Antonio Joseph (College of the Resurrection, Mirfield) explores how Jesus is the Bread of Life and how those who eat of it receive a pledge of Eternal Life.
On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ordinand on placement Antonio Joseph (College of the Resurrection, Mirfield) speaks on the importance of Mary and her role in Salvation.
Continuing through John 6, often called the Bread of Life Discourse, we encounter the doubters who did not want to hear it. But God's people have always grumbled against the provision God offers them. Let us learn to see with eyes of faith and receive the true Bread from Heaven with joy.
Jesus came to bring us the new Bread of Heaven that will give us strength to make it to the Promised Land of Heaven.
This Sunday's Gospel features the feeding of the 5000. What does this tell us about Jesus, what He has come to do, and how He feeds us for all time with His own Body and Blood?
Jesus has compassion on his people and in his compassion calls men to be Priests to be Shepherds for His people. In this sermon Fr Naylor explains what it is like to be called to the Ministry and encourages us to pray for more Priests for God's Church.
God has especially chosen each one of us to come to know Him, united with His love, and sent out into the world to be his witnesses. Let us go not in our own strength but in that of Christ!
In this week's Scripture readings we hear of the calling to go and proclaim the Gospel, but also how the Gospel and those who proclaim it can be rejected. How can we live out and share Good News today? It is only in God's power which is perfect in weakness.
In this commemoration of two towering leaders of the Early Church Fr Naylor explores how their lives, both in the good and the bad, lead us to trust in Christ and His ability to make His people into His Bride.
In this week's Gospel we see a revelation of Jesus Christ's power over all creation, demonstrating His Divinity. That same Christ now dwells in our hearts. Let us call upon Him when we are battered by the storms of this life and find peace with Him.
Fr Price gives his testimony of how God grew his faith through the journey of becoming an adoptive father. If we are serious about wanting abundant life for all, from conception to natural death, adoption ought to be a part of our church life. Let us pray for an increase in faith to help us prayerfully consider adoption.
In this election season it is not for the Christian or the Church to be partisan, but we also must make a public witness of our faith. Let us learn from the Word of God and find strength and inspiration to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
In this sermon for Corpus Christi we hear the importance of the true presence of Christ in the Sacrament and how we are to rightly honour, worship, and adore this Gift.
The Trinity confronts us with the challenge of speaking of an indescribable Godhead. How can we find the knowledge of God? Let us carefully attend to His Word in the Bible and enter into the Trinitarian Life in Sacrament and Witness.
The Trinity is the Mysterious doctrine at the heart of our Faith. But this is a Mystery which invites us close, to know God as we know someone who loves us. Let us take the time to enter into that Mystery and not be put off by the seeming enormity of the challenge.
"All people have a right to hear the Good News and Christians have a duty to share that joy with others" - Pope Francis
Today we seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to make us able to share the Gospel with all people and especially our neighbours and friends.
In Jesus' great prayer before his Passion recorded in John's Gospel we hear the Lord pray for unity amongst His followers. This can seem impossible because of all our sins, our differences, and disagreements. Yet God lavishes His gifts on us - even the gift of unity - because of His grace. Let us trust in Him!
On this Solemnity of the Ascension we heard how good, and glorious, it is that Christ in human flesh ascended to the Father. He has dignified our lowly nature with the dignity of heaven! What difference does this make?
In the first reading this week we hear how St Peter realises that the Gospel is for everyone and not just the Jewish people. Who are those we find it hard to accept? Do we know deep down that God has no favourites?
In this sermon for the evening Mass Fr Naylor warns us of the danger of being a branch all by ourselves, disconnected from the True Vine. How can we cultivate a spiritual life that will bear much fruit?
On Sunday Morning Fr Price gave us two encouragements in how we can remain fruitful and connected in God's Vine - the Church.
By remembering to greet and welcome strangers in our midst, and by remembering our brothers and sisters around the world who suffer for the Faith.
Check out Open Doors and learn more about the Persecuted Church.
On this Sunday sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday we learn how Jesus is our Good Shepherd who goes before us and guards us from danger, who even lays down His life to save us when we are lost and alone.
On the Third Sunday of Easter we hear how the Disciples had their minds opened to fully understand the Scriptures and how this led to them becoming bold witnesses to Jesus Christ even unto death.
The truth of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ shows us that we can stand up with hope and share it with the world which needs it so much.
In this sermon on Philippians 2:6-11 Fr Naylor explores how knowing Jesus' divine identity transforms us in His self-giving on the Cross.
In this week's Gospel we hear that some Greeks had come to find Jesus. Why is this the moment that Jesus chooses to announce not only His identity but also His death?
On this Mothering Sunday Fr Naylor explores what the ideal image of motherhood says about the Church and about the love of God.
On the Third Sunday of Lent we welcomed The Rev'd Canon Dr Robin Ward SSC, Principal of St Stephen's House Oxford to preach. He reminded us of the three great conversions in the life of the Christian, the three moments that set us on our path to become saints.
For the Second Sunday of Lent we were joined by The Rev'd Dr Phil Wall, URC Chaplain of Oakhill Young Offender's Training Institution. In this homily he explores how fear shapes our lives to great destructive ends, and the way to find hope in Jesus Christ.
On the first Sunday of Lent we were joined by The Rt Rev'd Mark Bryant, sometime Bishop of Jarrow. He spoke to us of how all our spiritual strivings and efforts are always only rooted in the love God has for us first. We never earn it.
Now is the day of salvation! Let us lay aside anything keeping us from the Lord. Let us make confession. Let us come to Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us be reconciled to our neighbour. Now is a favourable time. Now is the day of salvation!
At the 6:00pm Mass The Very Rev'd Otis Nichols, the Dean of St George's Cathedral, St Vincent and the Grenadines, taught us how God gives us His own self in the Eucharist so give us power and grace to share His life with the world in need.
The Very Rev'd Otis Nichols, the Dean of St George's Cathedral, St Vincent and the Grenadines, preached at the 11:00am Mass on how our worship flows into our fellowship, which overflows into our mission. The Church has a distinct culture and unless we drink deeply from that which is uniquely our own, we will have little to give to our needy world.
In this homily we learn how Jesus has come to bring us healing and to deliver us from the power of evil. Let us put our trust in Him and ask for His touch in every place we are broken.
Homily preached on the joyful occasion of Liam and Maddie's Nuptial Mass. Rich teaching for all of us and especially those discerning their call to married life and what that means for living out our Missionary lives.
On the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple we heard how God fulfils His promise to be united to His people and dwell amongst them, no longer in a temple of stone but a living Temple built by the Holy Spirit.
Fr Stephen Edmonds preaches at the 6:00pm Mass exploring how Jesus is the great Prophet - and more than a Prophet - for whom the people of God have waited. How then do we respond?
Fr Price explores 5 teachings from St Paul and how we are instructed to live in this time as we await the fulfilment of Christ's Kingdom.
Fr Price preaches on our calling like the first disciples to follow Jesus and how we can grow in our faith by making use of the Confessional and by studying the Scriptures.
Fr Naylor's Epiphany message giving thanks for the past year and looking forward to the coming months
Fr Naylor's Epiphany message giving thanks for the past year and looking forward to the coming months
On the Feast of the Epiphany we rejoice that salvation in Christ is for ever nation. In this sermon we learn how to share that hope with others.
In this homily we hear how the perfection and beauty of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Jospeh isn't a judgement against us and our experiences of family, but an invitation to join in God's vast and loving family in Christ.
"God became man that man might become God"
Fr Naylor preaches on our calling in Christ to become all that God intends for us.
Fr Naylor helps us celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ and the joy of knowing peace in Him.
Fr Price explores how God has persevered with us to bring about our Salvation in Christ. God plays the long game.
In this sermon Fr Dickinson, sometime Vicar of New Bentley, teaches us how God shapes us to become more and more like Jesus when we make our Confession.
Fr Mark Brown, Area Dean and Vicar of All Saints Ecclesall preaches on the witness of John the Baptist and how we can learn from him and take our place in leading people to Jesus.
Our first visiting preacher of the Advent season is Fr Trevor Jones, sometime Vicar of St Peter's London Docks.
In his sermon he gives us four practical ways to draw near to God in this sacred season and be made ready to meet Jesus when he comes in glory.
On this the last Sunday before Advent we hear how the kingly reign of Jesus gives us stability and confidence in a world of political and social turmoil.
Fr Naylor preaches on Remembrance Sunday how we remember the devastation of war and how in Christ we can find real and lasting peace.
In this sermon Fr Naylor helps us understand what happens to those who die in the Lord and what we are doing when we pray for them, and how all of this works together to help make us holy and ready to meet God on the Day of His coming in Glory.
The Rev'd Canon Robert McTeer SSC, Vicar of West Auckland delivered this year's All Saints' Day Sermon. He challenges us to take a closer look at the saints in all their vast diversity and strangeness and to recognise that we too have been given unique gifts by which we will help build up the Kingdom of God today.
The Bishop of Beverley visited us on Sunday to administer the Sacraments of Initiation to several candidates. Listen again to his sermon on how Christ gives us strength by his death and resurrection.
In this homily Fr Naylor explores how our giving is motivated by the goodness of our generous God, overflowing into our generous lives.
Fr Price exhorts us to consider how generous God's invitation to us has been, and how we can generously invite others to find a new life in Christ.
St Paul tells the Philippians (and us) that there is 'no need to worry'. But his teaching isn't just sentimental. He gives us tools to help keep us from anxiety and to find peace in the providence and goodness of God.
Sermon delivered by the Rev'd Canon Andrew Sage at this Evensong and Benediction for St Michael and All Angels in collaboration with the Sheffield branch of the Prayer Book Society.
This week we hear again the challenging parable of the two sons in the vineyard. Which one are we?
In this Sunday's Gospel we hear the parable of the vineyard owner who pays each worker the same, with no regard to when they started working. How do we respond to a God who is so generous?
Bishop Hazlewood reminds us of the wonderful salvation Jesus offers St Matthew, calling him from his tax collecting, away from all his wealth and privilege to become a disciple. May we respond to Christ's call today!
In this week's Gospel we hear how we have been forgiven in Christ a debt we could never repay. How does that change how we live now?
In this sermon Fr Price shows us how we are to help fellow Christians who find themselves far from the ways of God. While we are called to help our sisters and brothers who have lapsed it must be done in love, as St Paul tells us that love fulfils all obligations of the Law.
In this episode Fr interviews Dr Stuart Barfield, Churchwarden at St Matthew’s and Doctor at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital. He speak here about his passion for the outdoors, heritage and church growth.
Fr Price exhorts us to take up our cross and follow Jesus without fear because He has risen from the dead. The Cross can save us when nothing else can.
Caroline’s family have been worshiping at St Matthew’s for over 120 years. She speaks to Fr Naylor in this interview about the importance of faith in times of crisis including when one of her children sadly died.
In this sermon on Romans 11 Fr Naylor explores the character of God in His Omnipotence and His intimacy, how he is known in Jesus Christ and comes to our help.
In this Episode Fr Naylor speaks to Poppy who is one of our welcomers at St Matthew’s. Originally from Argentina Poppy speaks movingly of the importance of service in her life. She also speaks of her time on the road with a Salesian priest and acting group in Latin America.
In this week's challenging Gospel we hear Jesus conversation with a Canaanite woman. What do we make of it, and how should we respond? The time has come now that Jesus has opened the way of salvation to all nations.
In this episode Fr speaks to Dr Richard Dawidek. Richard is the Research and Business Engagement Lead for the Advanced Metals Processing theme in the Henry Royce Institute based out of the University of Sheffield. He is a server at St Matthew’s and speaks in this episode of coming to faith in the pandemic.
When Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the water they are terrified. What does it mean that the wind and waves obey him? What about us who languish in our boats battered by the storms today?
In this podcast Ted speaks of his journey back to faith and how he has found his inner artist.
On Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration. In this sermon we learn what it means that Jesus revealed His glory on the mountain top, and how he continues to reveal His glory today.
In this moving episode Scott talks of his journey from addiction to recovery. Through faith Scott is now using his experience to help others.
As we hear again these mysterious parables of Jesus, we are struck that we are asked to give everything up - to surrender it all for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. How can this be anything other than foolishness?
In this extended interview Fr Naylor interviews his Mam, Marie. She speaks growing up in a household of faith in 1950s Liverpool, faith as strength in times of bereavement, the importance of prayer and how the Blessed Sacrament makes her feel fulfilled.
In this sermon we hear afresh how the Kingdom of God is like the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, and the yeast in bread. But listen carefully, because these parables are riddles that turn the world on its head.
In this episode Fr Naylor speaks to Antonia who returned to church just over a year ago. She speaks movingly of God’s providence and how her late parents example have left a deep impression on her life.
God has sent forth His Word and it does not return to Him empty. God sends forth his Word so that we may come to know ourselves as sinners, and learn to call on Him to help and save.
"Creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God"
In this interview Fr Naylor speaks to Fr Alun Price. Formerly Vicar of Balby who now assists at St Matthew’s in retirement. Fr Alun is a native of Wales and has retired to the city centre. He speaks powerfully in this interview of how Christ overcomes evil.
Jesus Christ invites us who find ourselves weary an burdened with many cares to find rest in Him and learn His way of gentleness. Jesus is especially present to us in the Tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament in our church. Let us come to Him often with our burdens and joys and find life.
In this episode Fr Naylor conducts his interview from Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. He interviews David Moore a young Anglo-Catholic parliamentary staffer and lay minister.
Sermon preached on the joyful occasion of the 50th anniversary of the marriage of Joyce and Patrick Linskill.
Fr Naylor explores our calling in Christ to take up our cross and to find our lives by losing it for the sake of the Gospel.
In this episode Fr interviews Dr Jean Russell from the University of Sheffield. Jean’s family and ecclesial roots spread across the world. Jean has been on a quite a journey and in this episode speaks of her role as a assistant sacristan in the church and how God has lead her into a deeper relationship through an interest in the religious life.
Fr Naylor preaches on Romans 5 and explores what the Scriptures teach about Original Sin and shows us how Jesus has come to take away the curse and make us perfect by His grace.
In this episode Fr Naylor interviews Fr Edward Morrisons SSC, native of Sheffield and Parish Priest of Mexborough
In this Sunday's Gospel we hear how Jesus was moved with pity seeing how lost the people were, and he responded by sending out his Disciples to teach and heal. May we learn how to have that compassion in our own lives, and respond with Christ's life-giving Word.
In this episode Fr Naylor interviews Ian Burgess our development worker. Warning contains controversial views on coffee! Ian discusses his time in the USA, discernment with others, Emo music amongst other things!
"As a Priest I get called to do all sorts of funerals but I can honestly say hand on heart the only ones I can be sure of where their true and eternal destination is are the ones who were communicant Christians - for Jesus says in today's Gospel "those who eat and drink my body and blood have eternal life within them"
Sermon for Corpus Christi 2023
In this first episode of ‘Coffee with Father’ Fr Naylor interviews Mr Stephen Linskill, Churchwarden and Sacristan at St Matthew’s. The interview covers everything from how Stephen was brought up in a church family to loss and bereavement after his late wife Katie died during the Covid lockdown.
Today we are blessed to know God in Three Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let us go deeper into that Trinitarian Life by studying the Scriptures, by deep prayer, and by calling on that Mighty Name into which we have been baptized.
Scripture:
Exodus 34:4-6,8-9
Daniel 3:52-56
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
John 3:16-18
In this trailer hear more about our new weekly podcast to launch next Thursday 8/6/23. In ‘Coffee with Father’ Fr Naylor will be interviewing someone after Mass in order to discover more about their journey of faith and how God is moving in their life. Inspired by 1 Peter 2.6 recalling that the faithful are: ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…’ These interviews might only be 15 minutes long but they contain real nuggets of Gold! For in the words of St Lawrence on the people of God: “These are the true treasures of the Church,”
On the Day of Pentecost we receive the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives just as the Hebrews received the Law of God 50 days after their Passover. And now we are united across generations, nations, ethnicities, and languages in sharing one true faith in the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirt.
Fr Naylor explores how Jesus' prayer in John 17 is a pattern for us and an invitation to be united to God through the discipline of prayer. Let us pray earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we await the great feast of Pentecost!
Scripture:
Acts 1:12-14
Psalm 27:1,4,7-8
1 Peter 4:13-16
John 17:1-11
Fr Anderson preached on the Collect from the Book of Common Prayer for Ascension Day. He shared how our spiritual lives, and especially the Liturgy of the Mass, aims at elevating our humanity into the Divine, following where Christ has led and where we will one day dwell forever.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Fr Price preaches on the power and work of the Holy Spirit to keep us in mind of the great hope we have in Christ, and able to share that hope with a hurting and lost world.
Fr Alun Price has been a joyful addition tot he St Matthew's community since his retirement in 2022 and we are very grateful that he would offer his ministry here.
Scripture: ypodcas
Acts 8:5-8,14-17,
Psalm 66:1-7,16,20,
1 Peter 3:15-18,
John 14:15-21
Three ordinary things were central on the day of the Coronation. Three ordinary things we share as well. God uses these ordinary things to make us heirs of the Kingdom of God. Let us receive God's gifts and become like Charles who we are meant to be.
Scripture:
Acts 2:14,36-41, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:20-25, John 10:1-10
Read them here
Fr Wastie exhorts us to follow our Good Shepherd. As His sheep we turn away from our own lives and we trust that He will take us to the promised land where we will know His joy and abundance.
Scripture:
Acts 2:14,22-33, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Luke 24:13-35
Fr Morrison shares how we have the same hope and the same opportunity at every Mass to meet Jesus Christ personally and intimately as those disciples did who met him on the Emmaus Road.
Scripture:
Acts 2:14,22-33, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Luke 24:13-35
Fr Wasite shows us how Christ makes his discouraged disciples into bold witnesses by the power of the Scriptures and the Sacrament in the Gospel of the Emmaus Road
Fr Naylor preaches on the work of the Holy Spirit in us to restore what was lost and broken by sin, so that we can go out in great power to restore the world to relationship with God in Christ.
Scripture:
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 118
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31
Scripture: John 13:21-33, 36-38
Join us for the Easter Triduum!
Maundy Thursday 6 April 8:00pm
Good Friday 7 April 2:00pm
Holy Saturday 8 April Easter Vigil 8:00pm
Scripture: John 12:1-11
Join us for the Easter Triduum!
Maundy Thursday 6 April 8:00pm
Good Friday 7 April 2:00pm
Holy Saturday 9 April Easter Vigil 8:00pm
Scriptures
Matthew 21:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 27:11-54
Read them here
Scripture:
1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1,6-9,13-17,34-38
Read them here
Scriptures:
Joel 2:12-18
Psalm 51
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18
Read the Scriptures here
Scriptures:
Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
Matthew 5:17-37
Read them here
Sermon from Solemn Mass for The Feast of the Presentation of Christ delivered by Fr Edward Morrison
Find the readings here