Encountering the Sacred
I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the
pearl of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realise now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.
Taking RS Thomas’ poem “The Bright Field” as their starting point each of our speakers will be speaking about their own encounter with the sacred.
The Church of England and BBC’s Richard Coles chairs the evening and is joined by Neil MacGregor, Nicola Green and Ben Okri
You may also like
Bread for the World (04.01)
A service of Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist, led by Revd Richard Carter.
Parish Eucharist (01.01)
Service of Eucharist for First Sunday of Christmas
Contemplative Prayer (31.12)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer from The Southbank on New Year’s Eve.
Great Sacred Music: The Gate of the Year (29.12)
Led by Andrew Earis with music from St Martin’s Voices directed by Andrew Earis and accompanied by Phoebe Tak Man Chow.
Bread for the World (28.12)
A service of Bread for the World, an informal Eucharist, led by Revd Richard Carter.
Sermon (25.12)
A sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Christmas Day 2022 by Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Christmas Day Eucharist (25.12)
Service of Eucharist for Christmas Day with preacher Revd Sally Hitchiner.
Contemplative Prayer (24.12)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer with Revd Richard Carter from The Crib at St Martin-in-the-Fields of Christmas Eve 2022.
Parish Carol Service (24.12)
All are welcome to join us for an uplifting service of carols, scripture and poetry as we come together to anticipate the birth of Jesus.
No Room at the Inn: A Dramatised Nativity and Blessing of the Crib (24.12)
A service for All the Family with drama, carols, a baby and a donkey – the Christmas story for today.
Great Sacred Music: Five Lessons & Carols (22.12)
Led by Revd Dr Sam Wells with music from St Martin’s Voices directed by Jennifer Sterling and accompanied by Polina Sosnina.
Contemplative Prayer (17.12)
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer with Revd Angela Sheard on Saturday 17th December.
Autumn Lecture Series 2022: A New Heaven and a New Earth (14.11)
Rowan Williams, one of the greatest spiritual leaders, theologians and teachers of our time, returns to St Martin’s to share his wisdom about the human search for meaning.
Autumn Lecture Series 2022: Life, Death and Friendship (31.10)
Timothy Radcliffe looks at life and mortality and the way that the gift and grace of friendship brings meaning to all we have lived through, hope for our future and upholds who we are now.
Autumn Lecture Series 2022: Telling Our Story (21.10)
What Am I Living For? Telling Our Story In this lecture we bring together leading novelists to share with us the importance of the novel and the power of story in our search for meaning, understanding and identity.
Autumn Lecture Series 2022: Human Rights (17.10)
What Am I Living For? Human Rights In this lecture we bring together three people who have confronted prejudice and oppression.
Autumn Lecture Series 2022: Searching for Light, Shade & Truth (03.10)
What Am I Living For? Searching for Light, Shade and Truth In this lecture four leading journalists come together to discuss their search for meaning in all they have witnessed as journalists.
Autumn Lecture Series: What am I Living For? God (26.09)
What Am I Living For? God Are the words God and meaning identical? In our opening lecture we reflect upon God as the object of our search for meaning.
Parish Eucharist (18.12)
Service of Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Great Sacred Music: Go tell it on the mountain (15.12)
Led by Revd Dr Sam Wells with music from St Martin’s Voices directed by Polina Sosnina and accompanied by Andrew Earis.














