Category Archives: story

Do not give your heart to the ashes

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

The landscape within which we live is littered with sin, from the scars we inflict upon the earth on up through the twisted veins of hearts that would burn down a church built in the image of God’s mercy. And it is impossible to stand here in an attitude of repentance tonight without acknowledging the complicity of our common life in the deaths of 17 students, children, at a high school in Florida this afternoon. Our participation in systems of sin, as its priests and as its victims, is as inevitable as the ice of winter. Continue reading →

Posted in holy days, poetry, sermon, story | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A fleeting vision of glory

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

If Epiphany is about its revealing, then Lent is about our looking for it; but we have the assurance, as we enter the search, the forty days of wilderness wandering, that it has already been found, and that God, the God of Abraham and Hagar, of Ismael, Moses, and Elijah, the God revealed to us in Jesus Christ will not let us wander alone, nor fail if we falter. Continue reading →

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon, story | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is not Sunday’s sermon

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

On Sunday, I may speak of mountaintop miracles, the art of the divine fuller, bleaching all blemishes out of our vision of God Incarnate, revealing glory. But today is Friday. The week was long and the mountain high and hard. … Continue reading →

Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, prayer, sermon preparation, story | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Transfigured

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

I saw the sun glow white, clothed in winter’s glory, the cold light of distance, diffidence; for once it shone so pale that my eyes could look upon it and live.

Posted in holy days, story | 1 Comment

Good news!

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

A sermon for Annual Meeting Sunday at the Church of the Epiphany, and the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.   “Have you not known? Have you not heard?” The good news of the gospel is bursting out of today’s readings. … Continue reading →

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon, story | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Feast of the Presentation

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Simeon has been dismissed. Anna shed her widow’s weeds, went dancing with the turtle doves, snowing feathers; all that remains is dust and the rubble of a memory, the echo of a prayer, and a child, caught by his woven … Continue reading →

Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer, story | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Marking time

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

The action of turning the calendar page is a challenge to understand how each day anchors us in that moment between the gravity of time and the weightlessness of eternity. Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, story | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Holy innocents

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Their wisdom was not wanted by the powers that be, in case it would unseat their certainty of their own anointed state. Warned in a dream, they went home another way, pursued by rumours of mothers kneeling in the ashes of … Continue reading →

Posted in current events, holy days, poetry, story | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nazareth, Norway, Nathaneal

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

“What do you know of me?” Nathaneal demanded.
“I know enough,” answered Jesus.
“Oh, Christ,” Nathaneal swore.
“You have no idea,” replied the Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, story | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Consider hibernation

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

a sabbatical of sorts… Continue reading →

Posted in poetry, prayer, story | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments