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Like all letters to the editor everywhere, these letters express the opinions of the writers and not Anglicans Online. We publish letters that we think will be of interest to our readers, whether we agree with them or not. If you'd like to write a letter of your own, click here.

In a recent front-page essay, we asked for comments about or links to sermons readers thought were far better than average.

In Sacramento, California

The preaching at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento is consistently excellent, and many times have I wanted to give a shout-out about one. Dean Brian Baker is the chief homilist, but these links below also show homilies by two lay ministers, and other associate priests, as well as by Bishop Beisner. I have to say I love listening to Dean Baker's sermons.

http://trinitycathedralsacramento.wordpress.com

and

http://blogs.deanbaker.org/

Michelle C Jackson
Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento
Sacramento, California, USA
astraeus@accessbee.com
21 January 2013

In Washington DC via Canada

Any and all the sermons preached by the new dean of Washington National Cathedral, Washington D.C., Dean Gary Hall.

Geraldine Dawson
St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church
Leamington, Ontario, CANADA
gerry.dawson@sympatico.ca
24 January 2013

Do think about circulating that list!

I am relieved to find I am not alone in sometimes feeling let down by the sermon, although I'm not wholly sure I agree that a bad sermon is an improvement on a dull sermon. I can think of many very bad sermons and almost always feel that they could have made the same points, better and more relevant, if only the priest had stopped trying so very hard to be relevant.

The result of this is a very long list, as yet not circulated, of things I do not wish to here in a sermon. Consequently, when the priest decides to stick to the lectionary, I quietly count my blessings and decided to forgive the possibility for dullness, especially if it means I can not only follow the narrative direction but also understand the readings better.

Claire Steep
All Saints' Church
St Andrews, SCOTLAND
26 January 2013

We launched our 'Letters to AO' section on 11 May 2003. All published letters are in our archives.