The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster. We, like the Wise Men, in St Paul’s words from this morning’s second lesson, must come to see ‘what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.' Read the sermon.

The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster. ‘But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.' That is God’s gift to us, if only we will receive it. May the assurance of the prayers and best wishes of the whole Abbey community be to you and yours for a very happy Christmas. Read the sermon.

The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster. The Bible Society recently conducted a survey. You may have seen a report in some of the newspapers. The survey wanted to find out how well the British public knew the story we celebrate tonight, the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The researchers ICM asked more than 1,000 children under 12 and 1,000 parents ten questions about their knowledge of the Christmas story. Most scored six out of ten; almost a quarter got eight or more answers right. Read the sermon.

How can morality best be shaped in a plural society which is constantly under pressure from multiple strands of opinion and a variety of social forces?  What shared historic and contemporary moral and religious resources can be brought to bear on issues such as the quest for wealth, fame, competition, self-esteem? Can faith and secular work together to renew our moral resources?  An agnostic professor of philosophy and a radical orthodox professor of theology debated the issues.

Professor Keith Ward. This lecture argued for the irrationality of a purely science-based belief system, and for the importance of cultivating a spirituality which can unite scientific, moral, liberal, and humane attitudes, and in which faith and critical enquiry overlap and complement one another.