Ash Wednesday from Gloucester Cathedral March 5th 2014

[jean]

Very thoughtful homily by the Dean...

Sorry, but for me that sermon was very nearly Beyond the Fringe...

Which was it? And why? Does anyone know?

[jean]

I asked the question because someone had asked it elsewhere. They've now produced this definition from the OED, but I don't think it's current any more:

1883 P. Schaff tr. Herzog Encycl. Relig. Knowl. 1611 In the Western Church the terms ‘sermon’ and ‘homily’ were at first used interchangeably; but in time each came to designate a special kind of discourse. The sermon was a discourse developing a definite theme..The homily pursued the analytical method, and expounded a paragraph or verse of Scripture.

[Magnificat]

I asked the question because someone had asked it elsewhere. They've now produced this definition from the OED, but I don't think it's current any more:

Jean,

In the CofE the sermon is usually based upon one of the readings.

The term homily is rarely used as far as I am aware although I have always regarded it as a meaning a very short sermon and it seemed to fit the bill for the Dean's address at this service which was more a brief discussion on the theme of the symbols and meaning of Ash Wednesday and how the day should be regarded in the context of your personal relationship with God rather than letting it become a public statement of how devout you are.

VCC

[jean]

The term homily is rarely used as far as I am aware...

The Catholics use it.

Usually, it's only the Catholics who include an address of any kind in a broadcast Choral Evensong/Choral Evening Prayer.

Homilies during (unbroadcast) Masses are quite short, and the broadcast ones are too.

Sermons in the Protestant churches of my childhood were at least half an hour long.

Consideration of any or all of these factors may have led to the announcer's choice of term.

Meanwhile, for those who have a special interest in sermons, and in attempts at authentic pronunciation, there's this:

http://vpcp.chass.ncsu.edu/

.

[french frank]

Sermons in the Protestant churches of my childhood were at least half an hour long.

[Since discussion of the service seems to have finished, and with apologies for levity:]

Reminding one of 'the peace of God and the mercy of the Lord ...'

(Really sorry, the opportunity seldom presents to trot that one out)