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Category Archives: holy days
Fall silent
A short (but true) story for the Sunday Last before Lent: “We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven” (2 Peter 1) _______ Every day, at around about eleven in the morning, the world stood still. Teachers fell quiet mid-lesson, … Continue reading
A Song of Anna
Anna, too, breaks into praises, and she, too, has something to say about what this means, the coming of the Messiah, the birth of the Christ, and his appearance in the Temple. She tells all who will listen – but her words, unlike Simeon’s, are not recorded. Continue reading
(A conversion) not (of St Paul)
No lightning bolt nor sudden fall but the gentle tap-tap of mercy raining like hoofbeats like heartbeats over the umbrella of consciousness – Who are you? You sang, my pied piper;I was powerlessnot to follow; you led my soul astray, … Continue reading
A star that never burns out
Be of good courage. Follow, not the flaming ball of gas, but the light that is Christ: the embodiment of the love of God; the innocence that is wiser than our wiles, the grace that journeys with us, washes our feet when we are weary, feeds us when we are hungry, encourages us where we are faithful; the star that never burns out. Continue reading
Follow the star
But what if I have spent too long staring into space longing for a sign What if the mystery were here all along in the tall grass of childhood the stumbling steps of grief the sudden sharp discovery underfoot that all is not yet seen the … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged Epiphany, Incarnation, Matthew 2:1-12, twelfth night
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Holy Name
His name means saviour, and it has been his name since before his journey into his humanity began. The eighth day marks a new beginning, after the work of creation, after the sabbath rest, the rest of time begins on the eighth day, along with all that is to follow. But he has been our saviour since before time, and will be forever. Continue reading
Posted in holy days, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged atonement, Holy Name, Jesus, salvation, saviour
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A prayer for Christmas Day
Gracious God, We hear of Christmas by candlelight in Kiev; we think on the borrowed cave, rude shelter in which to bear life. We hear of twins reunited – thank God! – with their family before Christmas. We cannot help wonder … Continue reading
A perfect angel
That was when the angel first realized that they might just have made a smidgen of an error, a bit of a mistake.
“Not that way,” the angel cried into the increasingly empty night. “You’re supposed to run towards Bethlehem! A baby has been born this night and, oh, what have I done?” Continue reading
Nativity
Not by might the almighty shoulders a way into the world, but on borrowed strength, the muscles of his mother conspiring to bring him to birth; Not by right does he claim his throne but humbles himself to the stable stall and is fed by … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation
Tagged Christmas, nativity, peace
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The gift
Wrapped in flesh and tenderness – the fragile feet, the faltering hands – a hunger was born, squalling for a landscape flowing with milk and kindness. Little did the wise know, still less kings that this small and helpless this … Continue reading
over the water 