Welcome!

Hello – I’m Fr Grahame Bowland, an Anglican Priest in Perth, Western Australia. This is my theology blog. In my spare time I also dabble in software development; you can check out the things that I have made over at grahame.dev.

Easter Sunday, 2024

This sermon was preached on the 31st of March 2024, Easter Sunday, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: John 20.1-18 Let’s taken a moment to reflect. Reflect upon your experience of Holy Week, and of the great Paschal Triduum, the height of the Christian year. We have journeyed from the gates of Jerusalem, to Calvary, to the garden and the empty tomb. We have journeyed from false triumph, to tragedy, and now we find ourselves gathered in wonder and joy....

March 31, 2024

Holy Saturday, 2024

This sermon was preached on the 30th of March 2024, Holy Saturday, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: Mark 14-15 Today, Holy Saturday, the body of Jesus of Nazareth has been taken down from the Cross, and placed in a tomb. Saint Matthew tells us: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who also was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him....

March 31, 2024

Good Friday, 2024

This sermon was preached on the 29th of March 2024, Good Friday, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: John 18.1-19.42 Good Friday. How can this day possibly be called Good? Today, the Son of God is tried, tried, and sentenced to death. Today, the Son of God is abandoned by his disciples, his friends, even by Peter, his rock. Today, the Son of God is rejected by his people....

March 31, 2024

Maundy Thursday, 2024

This sermon was preached on the 28th of March 2024, Maundy Thursday, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: Mark 11.1-11; Mark 14.1-15.27 Would you have let Jesus wash your feet that night? Would you have allowed Jesus to humble himself for you? Would you have allowed Jesus to be your servant? Take a moment to picture yourself in that room, amongst the disciples, gathered together for a meal. Suddenly, Jesus jumps up from the table....

March 31, 2024

Palm Sunday 2024

This sermon was preached on the 24th of March 2024, Palm Sunday, the Sixth Sunday in Lent, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: Mark 11.1-11; Mark 14.1-15.27 Beware of crowds. Look to your safety when large numbers of people are gathered together, especially when emotions are high. Especially when honour and shame are involved. Especially when right and wrong are involved. Especially when religion is involved. The truth of these assertions is self-evident, given our readings today from Saint Mark’s Gospel....

March 24, 2024

Lent 5 2024

This sermon was preached on the 17th of March 2024, the fifth Sunday in Lent, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: John 12.20-33 I’m going to begin this sermon with a reading from the Confessions of Saint Augustine: “Anxiety was making my heart palpitate and perspire with the destructive fever of worry, when I passed through a Milan street and noticed a destitute beggar. Already drunk, I think, he was joking and laughing....

March 19, 2024

Anglican Board of Mission - Long Table Lunch

This address was originally given at St Barnabas Church, Kalamunda at a long table lunch held in support of the Anglican Board of Mission Lenten Appeal. It draws upon the scholarship of The Reverend Doctor Lesley J. Borowitzka, and of The Reverend Doctor Bill Leadbetter. We’re gathered here today to support the Anglican Board of Mission’s Lent Appeal. I’m going to begin by sharing something of the complicated journey I’ve had with the idea of Christian mission....

March 10, 2024

Lent 4 2024

This sermon was preached on the 10th of March 2024, the fourth Sunday in Lent, in the Anglican Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie Text: John 3.14-21 I’m going to begin this sermon by quoting two of the first verses of Saint John’s Gospel. In him was life: and the light was the life of all people. The light shines in the darkness: and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5) The light shines in the darkness....

March 10, 2024

Lent 2 2024

This sermon was preached on the 25th of February 2024, the second Sunday in Lent. Text: Mark 8:31-38 “Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed…” Perhaps that’s all that Saint Peter and the other disciples heard that day, of what Jesus had said to them. Jesus told them that he would be killed, and then I imagine a feeling of visceral shock came upon them, leaving them stunned, dazed, grieved, uncomprehending....

February 25, 2024

Lent 1 2024

This sermon was preached on the 18th of February 2024, the first Sunday in Lent. Text: Genesis 9.8-17 I’m going to start today’s sermon by telling a story. So let’s take a moment to imagine. Imagine that you live in a village on a plain. You share your occupation with that of most of your friends and neighbours. You farm. Your life is tied to the seasons. You sow, you tend, you reap....

February 18, 2024