Category Archives: sermon preparation

Advent I

It is not as simple as the poet makes it sound to transform the form of metal, a sword into farm equipment. Just hit it with a hammer, the prophecy implies, and all will fall, seeds into their furrows and … Continue reading

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Seven

And then, imagine it from her point of view: seven lifetimes of love, regret, loss, laughter. Seven lifetimes of abuse – pray not. Seven lifetimes of blessing, despite the woes, hope despite it all. Seven lifetimes and here, in eternity, … Continue reading

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To count them

A meditation on verses from Psalm 139

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Who is my neighbour?

Unseen in the shadow of the story, a young cub of the mountain watching the value of love lavished like oil, profligate pity; following at a distance to see if kindness was really worth the weight of stolen gold

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Anna in the sanctuary

Widowed, but not alone, shrouded in the living stone of temple prayers woven as a garment of grace haunting the holy place, sanctified and sanctifying the very air with praise. She would not follow them to Egypt, return with them … Continue reading

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Solstice

Through darkest day and longest nightshines the terrifying angel’s light,illuminating more than we can bear: the reversal of gravity proclaimed by a magnificat, revolution of earth and heaven on earth borne by the bodies intertwined of mother and child, full … Continue reading

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Signs

Though the sun fail, I will look for your light. The scarred and subtle moon draws tides high above our understanding of the depths of your mercy or our judgement. The fig tree, survivor, of your kindness growing peace offerings … Continue reading

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All she had to live on

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. … Continue reading

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Jesus wept

To suffer the indignity of grief, that utter exhaustion of the spirit that has sucked hope from the air too long after the dew has dried; the kind of defeat that drives you to your knees and elbows, heaving with the ground, troubling the very earth upon … Continue reading

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For the hardness of your heart

For the times you turned your face to reflect in the silver of idols, the glittering teeth of that which dreams but which is not God; for the sake of forgiving, I let you go, so that upon awakening you … Continue reading

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