Deborah Chan
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 was approximately 14 minutes long. The sermon, which took place in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, focused on the power of love and incorporated references to the Bible, Martin Luther King Jr., and African-American spirituals. Bishop Curry's passionate and animated delivery, punctuated with themes of politics, social justice, and civil rights, was a highlight of the wedding and generated global praise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | May 19, 2018 |
| Speaker | Bishop Michael Curry |
| Location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle |
| Event | Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle |
| Duration | 14 minutes |
| Theme | Love |
| Sub-themes | Power of love, social justice, civil rights, politics |
| Notable mentions | Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus, God |
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What You'll Learn
- Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding was approximately 14 minutes long
- The sermon was centred around the redemptive power of love
- Bishop Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Paul
- The sermon was criticised for including too much Jesus
- The sermon was also criticised for its opening line
Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding was approximately 14 minutes long
Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding between Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and American actress Meghan Markle, was approximately 14 minutes long. The sermon, titled "The Power of Love", was delivered on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England.
Bishop Curry, the first African-American presiding bishop of the American Episcopal Church, preached on the "redemptive power of love." He encouraged his audience to discover the power of love to transform the world. The sermon was impassioned and emotive, punctuated with themes of politics, social justice, civil rights, and quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and the controversial Catholic theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Bishop Curry's message resonated with people from different cultures and countries, as he invoked the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to emphasize the power of love to bring people together and cross divides. The sermon was also shaped by the couple's selection of a passage from the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon, which connects romantic love to a greater love for God, who is the source of all love.
The bishop's sermon received mixed reactions. While some appreciated its uplifting message, others criticized it for having too much Jesus and for being too long. Despite the criticism, the sermon made national headlines and was even featured on Saturday Night Live, showcasing its impact and reach beyond the wedding ceremony.
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The sermon was centred around the redemptive power of love
Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle in 2018 was centred around the redemptive power of love. The sermon, lasting less than 17 minutes, was witnessed by a billion people and made national headlines.
Bishop Curry emphasised that love is not selfish and self-centred. Instead, it is sacrificial and, in being so, becomes redemptive. He quoted the Bible, "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."
Bishop Curry encouraged all receiving his message to discover the power of love to make "this old world a new world". He invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr., who said, "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world, for love is the only way."
Bishop Curry's sermon tackled the stereotype of the Church as self-righteous and holier-than-thou. He emphasised that love is a pragmatic choice, not a magical, frilly fairy-tale. Choosing love is not easy, as it requires putting aside one's ego in service of a greater good. This choice transforms anger into purpose.
The sermon was well-received by many, with some describing it as "fire" and a "highlight of the historic matrimonial ceremony". It was a blessing for all who witnessed it and brought together people, cultures, and countries.
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Bishop Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and St. Paul
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, delivered a powerful and impassioned sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The sermon, which took place on May 19, 2018, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, focused on the "redemptive power of love" and drew on themes of politics, social justice, and civil rights.
Bishop Curry quoted Martin Luther King Jr., the late American civil rights activist, and invoked the spirit of American slaves. He began and ended his sermon with King's words, emphasizing the importance of discovering the power of love to transform the world. The bishop also quoted a stanza from "Balm in Gilead," a traditional African-American spiritual, which says, "If you cannot preach like Peter and you cannot pray like Paul, you just tell the love of Jesus, how he died to save us all."
In his sermon, Bishop Curry shared his thoughts on the power of love, stating that it has the ability to change not only individual lives but also the very life of the world itself. He compared love to fire, noting that just as fire has been one of the greatest discoveries in human history, harnessing the energy of love can create a new world. The bishop's animated and engaging style, which was more reminiscent of Black churches in America than the Church of England, resonated with viewers and stood out as a highlight of the ceremony.
While some criticized Bishop Curry's sermon for its length and content, with some considering it inappropriate for a royal wedding, many others found it uplifting and inspiring. The bishop's message of love and his ability to bring people from different backgrounds together, even if just for a moment, left a lasting impression on those who watched.
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The sermon was criticised for including too much Jesus
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding of Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle received criticism for including "too much Jesus". The sermon, which took place in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, was themed around the
Curry's sermon was punctuated with themes of politics, social justice, and civil rights. He quoted Martin Luther King Jr. and the controversial Catholic theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Curry's message was well-received by many, but some criticised it for including too much Jesus. One source questioned whether a billion people needed to be reminded of who Jesus is and the ways we are called to follow him. The source also questioned whether the audience needed to be reminded to love God and love their neighbour, as instructed by Jesus.
Another source provided a satirical take on the sermon, claiming that there are some things that one cannot write satire about. Despite the criticism, the sermon was also praised by many. One source stated that it was a blessing for all, not just the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and that it was amazing that so many people watched it. The source also highlighted the impact of the wedding, suggesting that the love between Harry and Meghan brought together people, cultures, and countries.
Curry himself reflected on the process of writing the sermon, noting that it was ultimately about love, which came straight from the couple. He explained that the sermon was based on a passage of scripture selected by the couple to be read at the wedding, a passage from the eighth chapter of the Song of Solomon. Curry shared that he prayed over this passage and realised that the couple had already preached the sermon through their choice of scripture.
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The sermon was also criticised for its opening line
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received criticism for its opening line. Curry, the first African-American presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, began his sermon with the "egregiously outdated" Trinitarian formula, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." This was deemed unwelcoming and seen as a misstep, considering there were more creative ways to introduce the various workplace roles of the Godhead and the sustaining work of the Redeemer.
The sermon, which took place on May 19, 2018, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, was also criticised for having "too much Jesus." Some questioned the relevance of reminding a global audience of a billion people about Jesus and the ways we are called to follow him, such as loving God and loving our neighbours.
However, it's worth noting that the sermon also received global praise and was described as "powerful and emotive." It focused on the redemptive power of love, quoting African-American spirituals and equating love with fire. Bishop Curry's passionate and animated delivery, described as "wholly American," stood out in the context of the royal wedding and British reserve.
Despite the criticism, the sermon's message of love and its ability to transform seemed to resonate with many. Bishop Curry himself hoped that his message would extend beyond the walls of St. George's Chapel and inspire people of all political and social backgrounds to find ways to better the human condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Bishop Curry's sermon at the royal wedding was 14 minutes long.
Bishop Curry's sermon was centered around the power of love.
Bishop Curry said, "Imagine our governments and nations when love is the way. When love is the way, then no child would go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When love is the way, poverty would become history. When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more."
Bishop Curry's sermon received mixed reactions. While some criticized it as having "too much Jesus", others described it as "a shot of adrenaline" and "a call to action". The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called Curry a "brilliant pastor", and the royal family's reaction to the sermon was reportedly overwhelmingly positive.
