Tag Archives: peace

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

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Yesterday is closer than it seems

Yesterday I walked past a fallout shelter sign in the “historic district” of a run-down part of town, its triune logo sunny against the greying day, repainted, no doubt, as an artefact of interest; but yesterday is closer than it … Continue reading

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Envy is the enemy of the gospel

A sermon for Sunday, September 26 at the Church of the Epiphany, Euclid. In the readings, disciples of Moses and Jesus object to unauthorized deployment of the Spirit. In the news, images of border patrols chasing immigrants with horses, and … Continue reading

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A louder peace

“As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” (Matthew 10:12-13) This is Jesus, instructing his apostles, sending them … Continue reading

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Still

A word of caution: Armistice: broken open by poets of war.

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Ordnance

Digging trenches, sunken defences against flood and farm-fouled run-off, a discovery gives pause. Once the soldiers ran these cliffs, looking for invaders, boats by night, enemies creeping up with the tide. They left behind a hand grenade, souvenir of suspicious … Continue reading

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Jerusalem, Jerusalem

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” The chicks scatter, competing instead of complementing one another, straining to grow despite one … Continue reading

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An anniversary

It is not lost on me that as I board the plane for our nation’s capital Sunday night, it will be on the first anniversary of its becoming “ours.” For me, this nation was “yours,” and I was categorized as … Continue reading

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Epiphany

Epiphany: A lightbulb moment. A parish church. A cake, a tradition. People going down to a snowy river in Russia to renew their baptismal promises in the freezing waters. The other Christmas. Magi, wise men, kings; gold, frankincense, myrrh; Herod … Continue reading

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Please, pray for peace

I am running out of things to say. I am running out of words to pray: God knows, we need some peace, some sanity, some way to curb the violence. I grew up in Britain, where turbans are a commonplace … Continue reading

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