First Sunday of Advent

I have been unwell these past two weeks and unable to raise much interest in blogging. I was back at church yesterday, but didn’t take the services; I left that to my colleague, Rev Dr David Rankin.
In the morning, we had a great time starting to build up a Jesse Tree with the children. David [...]

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A horizon of hope

Sermon for All Saints’ Day
As we listen for the word of God, let us pray:

God, almighty in love,
you have come among us in Christ,
whose word brings life to the dead;
keep us looking for that day
when tears will be no more,
and all suffering and loss will pass away;
when with all your saints,we shall see your [...]

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Two short sermons for Trinity Sunday

Ok Gary & Lynn, two sermons!
Isaiah 6.1-8
John 3.1-17
MORNING SERMON
God is Love
O Father, our hope;
O Son, our refuge;
O Holy Spirit, our protection;
O Holy Trinity, glory to you. Amen.
Adapted from the Prayer of St Ioannikios, c. 762-846
Soon, we’ll baptise D and L. It’s a great day!
In our baptism service, we’ll hear these words:
God is love;
we love, because [...]

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Which way is up?

Sermon for the Ascension of Jesus (24 May 2009)
Eternal God,
the heavens are split asunder
and Christ once crucified is at your side.
As Jesus has opened the way to you for all people,
so may we declare the hope of eternal life
with the energy of the Holy Spirit,
and in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 1.15-23
Some years [...]

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Seven Words: A Good Friday Meditation

The First Word
Luke 23.26, 32-34
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus… Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they [...]

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Mother and Child

For Holy Week…

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Jephthah’s story

Sermon for Passion/Palm Sunday (5 April 2009)
Mark 11.1-11
Good morning! I’m Jephthah, a businessman here in Jerusalem. I import spices and perfumes like frankincense and nard from the east, and ceramics and jewellery from the west. Business is very good—and it’s largely because of the Romans. They’ve built straight roads, good roads, easy to travel roads, [...]

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Rowan Williams on Lent

I found this on Scott Gunn’s Seven Whole Days; Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, gives a lucid introduction to Lent (some would say unusually lucid!). A good reminder halfway through the season:

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Reading for Lent—CC Blogs

Here’s a list of CC Blogs which have reflections for Lent (including this one). Why not read one a day:

Don’t Eat Alone — The Connection — Pastor’s Post

Faith at Ease — Holy Vignettes — I-YOUniverse
Where the Wind — As the Deer — The Other Jesus
Mark Powell — Getting There — Ellen Haroutunian
Theolog — Welcoming Spirit — Living Word by Word
Where the Wind — Faith in Community [...]

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A little Lent levity

From a Baptist!—at Cake or Death:

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