Tag Archives: Christmas

A Christmas Message

Posted on December 25, 2024 by Rosalind C Hughes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was the cry of a newborn infant, swaddled in cloth and laid in a feeding trough. … Christmas. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in holy days, homily, sermon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Emmanuel

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Rosalind C Hughes

I misremembered the title of the children’s story that I cited in the middle of this reflection: I think it still works. In the Advent to Christmas stories we find a lot of fear, and a balancing dose of faith. … Continue reading →

Posted in advent meditations, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Word, words, wordless

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Rosalind C Hughes

In the beginning, says John, and you can tell that he is thinking back to that old story of beginnings, the one in Genesis that begins, In the beginning… And so as God spoke light into creation, and life, so … Continue reading →

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

Not in glory

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Rosalind C Hughes

Not in glory but in the gloom of winter glimmers a light born of love, warmed by love, worshipped by angels; humble beginnings swaddled and held close promise the earth and deliver the heavens.

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

A prayer for Christmas Day

Posted on December 25, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

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 →

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

A perfect angel

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

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 →

Posted in holy days, homily, sermon, story | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nativity

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

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 , , | Leave a comment

The gift

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

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 →

Posted in holy days | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Awaiting glory

Posted on December 22, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

The stars have turned cold awaiting their chance to shine shrouded in clouds watching the child swaddled in hope and fear crossing the desert braving the sea lullabied in a bomb shelter –a mother wearied by the wake father haunted by the absence of a ghost spirit sibling … Continue reading →

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

God’s gift

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Rosalind C Hughes

We do not get to choose whether or not God loves us. Whether we feel worthy or wormy, God loves us, and we cannot make it otherwise. Continue reading →

Posted in advent meditations, homily, sermon | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment