Faith on the Mountain Top

Image: Augustin Kolawole Olayinka: The Transfiguration of Jesus (1997). From: missio-Kunstkalender 2002 no. 5 © missio Aachen.

SMR family,

I want to focus this week on the gospel reading which is Luke's account of the Transfiguration of Christ (Luke 9.28-36).

If you're anything like me, the transfiguration is one of those accounts that when you take a minute to consider and reflect, the harder it is to understand. It just seems so... crazy (for want of a better word!) Jesus goes up a mountain with some of his friends to pray when this miraculous experience happens. Luke is descriptive in his account; Jesus' face changes, flashing lights, a kind of angelic conversation between Moses, Elijah and Jesus and Jesus' clothes become bright. It sounds like a dream rather than reality, but then, we are encouraged this week to consider the miraculous power of God.

To be clear, I do believe this happened- but that doesn't mean I can't question it or even doubt it. However, the more I have reflected, the more I can identify moments in my own life that have been hard to explain. I've found things that I swore were lost forever, in times of need family or friends have given money when I hadn't asked, something has fallen into place when I didn't think it could and just when I have felt all hope was lost, I've heard something or seen something that allowed me to keep going. So maybe I do know God's miraculous power in my life?!

These moments, although smaller, are similar to what Peter, John and James experienced on the mountain with Jesus. Miraculous, powerful, encouraging and hard to explain or understand. But then, if we could explain everything about God and how God works- God wouldn't be God and faith would be a little pointless. There are moments in life and faith where are on the mountaintop, lost in wonder, awe and majesty - and we do well to stop and savour these moments.

I've not done lots of big mountain climbs in my life, but I have done a few. And anyone who has also done a climb will know that feeling when you get to the top and look out at an incredible vista in front of you- reminding you of just how beautiful and big our world is and pausing to drink in as much creation as you can. It's an incredible feeling.

Jesus' transfiguration was important for many reasons- it is the moment he shows his friends who He is, the Son of God, the Saviour. That He is both fully human and fully God. And for three of Jesus' friends to witness this- I can only imagine how special and awe-inspiring it was.

However, we know all too well that mountain-top experiences don't last forever- we have to come down at some point. We can desperately try and hold on to these experiences, trying to make them last longer. It's nice to be on the mountain top- right? Peter demonstrates this beautifully and I find it so relatable. He asks Jesus 'Can I build three shelters for you, Moses and Elijah, here on this mountain?' In other words, can I try and capture this moment and hold on to it and box it, so I don't have to go down the mountain?

But the disciples don't go back down the mountain alone, Jesus is with them. Even when we are coming back down from a high, in the everyday mundane life and even in the hard times, the good news is that Jesus is with us. As scholar Debie Thomas warns, “Desperate for the mountain, we miss the God of the valley, the conference room, the pharmacy, the school yard. The story of the transfiguration of Jesus loses its power if [the transfiguration] does not include that moment when Jesus and the disciples come down from the mountain.”

So, let's enjoy those amazing mountain top moments of faith but let's also try and notice God's glimmer of hope and love in the everyday.

Laura Verrall-Kelly

August 2023

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Sermon on Sunday,10th August 2025

By matthew.buckmaster • August 10, 2025

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Interregnum Information

By Laura.Verrall-Kelly • August 7, 2025

Keeping You Updated During the Interregnum As I prepare to go on maternity leave at the end of August, I want to share some important updates regarding our Sunday Services and communication during the Interregnum period. We’ve taken time to consider what is sustainable and meaningful in this season of transition, and while some of the changes have been difficult, they are intended to ensure we can continue to worship together well. Service Changes 8am BCP Eucharist We’ve made the difficult decision to pause this service during the vacancy, following a PCC vote (with 3 votes against). This is due to the limited availability of clergy to cover two Eucharist services on a Sunday. We’re grateful that this decision has allowed us to secure strong cover for the other services. If you’re looking for an early service, the Cathedral offers Morning Prayer at 7.40am and BCP Eucharist at 8am. This change to the 8am will happen from the beginning of October. Mattins & Evensong These will continue with support from a growing team of Lay Leaders. If you're interested in helping lead, please speak to Simon Goodman. Please note: bespoke online orders of service will no longer be produced weekly. Instead, we will use a standard booklet and hymn book in church. Online viewers will receive a standard order of service plus a document with Bible readings and hymns. 10.30am Sung Eucharist Some small changes are being made to simplify things for visiting clergy: Notices will be read by a Church Warden, Duty Warden or Church Representative Communion distribution will return to queue formation A Gradual Hymn will replace the Responsorial Psalm - there is simply not the resource to produce a weekly or termly Psalm hand out in church. We’ll use a standard “Eucharist during the Vacancy” order of service (in booklet form), with hymn books provided in church. As with other services, online resources will mirror this setup. These changes to the 10.30am will happen from the 17th August. Christingle Service Due to the scale of this service and the planning it requires, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause it this year. Without full-time clergy to oversee preparations and lead the service, we don’t believe we can deliver it safely or well. We know this will be disappointing, but this service will be back. Ongoing Communication Thanks to Chris Duncan and Sam Love, we will continue to send out a weekly email during the Interregnum. I’m very grateful to both of them for stepping up to support in this way. We know some of these decisions may not affect everyone, while others may feel them more deeply. We don’t expect universal agreement, and that’s okay — your questions and thoughts are welcome and valued. All we ask is that feedback is offered with kindness and respect for those who have worked hard to make these plans in a short space of time. Thank you for being part of this community and for your ongoing support as we navigate this together.