Merton Evensong

Rev’d Tansley preaching at Merton College Evensong

‘I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you’

- Ephesians 1:17-18

Last Sunday evening I was priviledged to be asked to preach at Merton College, Oxford at their service of Evensong. The readings, falling on the Sunday between Ascension Day and Pentecost were full of expressions of praise of God, King of all the nations and ruler of the world. This was paired with the anthem sung by the choir - Herbert Howell’s setting of the ‘Te Deum’, an ancient song of the church which names and praises all that God has done for us.

As many of the students are about to start exam season, just as all of us face times of anxious waiting, I chose to focus on how, even in difficult times, we can rely on the faithfulness and goodness of God who is sovereign of all, just as generations before us, and just as we heard in the words from scripture.

If you want to listen to the sermon, you are welcome to watch the recording of the service on youtube. (The sermon starts at about 57:00)