by gordon | Feb 28, 2020 | Reflections
We are now well and truly into Lent. Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent, is behind us. Why Ash Wednesday? Ashes, often linked to the wearing of sackcloth in the Old Testament of the Bible, are traditionally a sign of repentance, a sign that we intend to change our...
by gordon | Feb 21, 2020 | Reflections
What is Lent? The word comes from an old English word Lengten meaning ‘lengthen’. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer (cf. modern German Lenz = springtime). We celebrated the birth of Jesus at the darkest period of the...
by gordon | Dec 26, 2019 | Reflections
Jesus is shown to the world! The first visitors we hear of are the shepherds. Here is Luke’s familiar telling of the powerful message of joy and praise: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of...
by gordon | Dec 19, 2019 | Reflections
Nearly there! All is ready. Mary and Joseph have arrived in Bethlehem. Our presents have been wrapped; cards have been sent and received. Just a final push… The actual birth was a very ordinary affair. Most families at the time lived very simply, often sharing their...
by gordon | Dec 12, 2019 | Reflections
We think of Christmas as a time of peace and good will, and indeed that is what is promised. But it is not always an easy or comfortable message. God coming to earth shatters all expectations, challenges us, disturbs the accepted order, just as it did for those...
