A sermon by Paul Oestreicher - from Coventry Cathedral

I've just posted a sermon preached by Paul Oestreicher to the documents section. He preached it on becoming a Companion of the Cross of Nails in Coventry Cathedral but only sent it on to us yesterday. (Paul is on the right in the picture from Coventry above.)
In it he ranges over the healing of memories, peace, homosexuality, war, unity, the church. Only someone with Paul's unique history, spirituality and political engagement can preach the word in quite this way and also incarnate a powerful gospel of love and meaning.
Paul ends the sermon with an invitation to the eucharist which he precedes by reading a poem by the secular Jew Erich Fried. Paul has been able to hold together being an Anglican priest with being Quaker chaplain to the University of Sussex and is a passionate campaigner for peace and justice.

IT IS WHAT IT IS ~ Erich Fried

it is nonsense, says reason
it is what it is, says love

it is unhappiness, says reflection
it is nothing but pain, says fear

it is hopeless, says insight
it is what it is, says love

it is ridiculous, says pride
it is frivolous, says caution

it is impossible, says experience
it is what it is, says love