Speeches
Sunday, 10 November 2024
Officially launch the book 'Preaching for the Planet' by Rev'd Jenny Wilson
I am pleased to join you this evening with Rod for Evensong.
It is also my pleasure to launch Reverend Canon Jenny Wilson’s new book, ‘Preaching for the Planet’.
Some time ago I was given a copy of Jenny’s book ‘Keeping Watch for Kingfishers’, after meeting her here at St Peter’s Cathedral.
A collection of sermons preached in this cathedral, the book was my introduction to Jenny’s writing, although many members of the congregation will be just as familiar, if not more so, with her spoken words.
Beautiful words, generous, inviting, open, wise, faithful, God-given words which touch readers and listeners.
I was impressed with Jenny’s ability to cast a theological lens over the modern world in a way that captured some of the thoughts and questions that no doubt many Christians, myself included, have considered.
I was pleased to find that ‘Preaching for the Planet: Sermons on Creation and Climate’, a further collection of Jenny’s sermons, evoked a similar response.
Jenny’s book shares precious insights into the art of preaching before moving on to her own carefully chosen sermons.
Alongside stories from the scriptures, her sermons reflect on lives affected by climate change and are interwoven with thoughts from theologians and climate activists such as Pope Francis and David Attenborough.
Other sermons are focused on the pandemic, are inspired by poets and artists, and reflect on the life and words of Jesus.
Jenny’s sermons show us clearly how our Christian faith can foster a love of, and care for, the natural environment, as well as provide guidance and comfort during difficult times, such as the pandemic.
In particular I was struck by her discussion of ‘thin places’, a term from Celtic spirituality which references physical places where we feel the boundaries between heaven and earth are not clear.
For Jenny, this place is Encounter Bay, when she sits on the shore and watches the waves roll in.
I have had a perhaps similar experience, not far away, looking towards the horizon from Granite Island, which holds fond childhood memories.
Last year Rod and I undertook an Aboriginal cultural tour of Granite Island with Mark Koolmatrie and were told the story of Kondoli the whale, a creation story of how fire was given to the Ngarrindjeri people and how they must protect it.
This experience provided another perspective on a thin place.
It showed me how faith traditions - including Christianity as well as indigenous creation stories - can be a powerful motivator to care for the natural environment, and preserve it for future generations.
And a powerful motivator, too, to come together to care for country.
Friends,
I thank Jenny for compiling this book and sharing her insights with us through ‘Preaching for the Planet’.
It is obvious from her work that Jenny cares deeply for our natural world, for preserving its beauty and diversity, and for celebrating its important place in God’s creation.
Early in the book, Jenny asks the question (she has a particular talent, as you know, when it comes to asking questions) “How might we inspire faith that God is alongside us in creating, redeeming and sanctifying the planet as we believe that God is alongside us in creating, redeeming and sanctifying humanity?”
Her sermons go a long way to showing us the way through God’s boundless love for us and for our planet.
I thank Jenny for sharing this work with us, and I thank congregation members Di Nicholls and Kathy Teague, who assisted Jenny with selecting the sermons featured in this book.
It is my great pleasure to officially launch ‘Preaching for the Planet’.