Rescuing God from our attempts at belief

A great reflection from Simon Barrow at Ekklesia on the way the Christmas story challenges the false idol many have instead of God, the ‘god’ who is “a person like us, only much bigger and able to do anything at all”. 
As each year passes, I am struck more and more by the strangeness of the Christmas [...]

Read Full Post »

“I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” All. means. all.

The Pope has ignited a row just before Christmas. The BBC says, 
Speaking on Monday, Pope Benedict XVI warned that gender theory blurred the distinction between male and female and could thus lead to the “self-destruction” of the human race.
Giles Fraser, an Anglican priest, reflects on this in a forthright way, and one that highlights a [...]

Read Full Post »

Getting there this Christmas?

I find every year that I am fine at getting ready ‘professionally’ for Christmas—services prepared etc—but not personally. I have written a few Christmas cards for relatives in the UK, which I sent last month. But not even a Christmas letter to bore my friends with this year. When I think of writing one, I [...]

Read Full Post »

A simple ‘Yes’

Sermon for Advent 3 (14 December 2008 )
Luke 1.46b-55
Luke 1.26-38 
 
My soul magnifies the Lord,
 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…
So begins the Song of Mary, a outpouring of ecstatic joy which we usually call the Magnificat, after the first word of the Latin translation.
We’re going to look at an aspect of the Magnificat, but [...]

Read Full Post »

More Christmas messages

Firstly, from the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches:
Reconciliation is a glorious message. It offers the promise that some wrongs of the past may be set right, the truth may be discovered in all cases, forgiveness may be sought and even ancient enemies may come to live together in mutual respect. It is [...]

Read Full Post »

Gabriel’s muse—a meditation for Advent 4

It was a very interesting mission, a very interesting mission indeed. Yes, it was…
I knew I was in for something really important when the Almighty called for me. It was something in the tone, a sense of urgency, yes, but also a sense of excitement. And it takes a lot to get the Almighty excited!
Of [...]

Read Full Post »

Government refuses to face the heat

UnitingJustice Australia has today criticised as “woefully inadequate” the Australian Government’s target for a 5-15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
“The Australian Government has failed to put forward a credible target for greenhouse gas reduction by 2020,” said Rev Elenie Poulos, UnitingJustice National Director.
“The Government’s refusal to face the heat of climate change is [...]

Read Full Post »

Time is fleeting

It’s astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely, not for very much longer
I’ve got to keep control
Time is fleeting, but this isn’t another Advent reflection. This time last week, my blog received 662 visits in one day (normal average just over 20 visits a day). For a brief—fleeting—time, I had the fastest-growing English-speaking [...]

Read Full Post »

Christmas Messages from Australian Church Leaders

On this page, you can read Christmas messages from the leaders of the churches that are members of the National Council of Churches in Australia. Here is the Uniting Church message, from our President, Rev Gregor Henderson:
How different Christmas feels this year!  Twelve months ago the economy was steaming along, it felt like the new [...]

Read Full Post »

Whatever is Christ’s, is ours

Sermon for Advent 3 (14 December 2008)
Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11
John 1.6-8, 19-28
 
Today, we will celebrate. Brent and Chloe are being baptised—there’s just a few years between them, but that doesn’t matter. And Felicity and Jared are being confirmed—we are confirming their baptism, and rejoicing with them that they are taking on the promises of baptism for [...]

Read Full Post »