I love Palm Sunday waving palm branches about, singing “Hosanna!” This is an opportunity for celebration that Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour of our lives is present and that it is right and good that we honour God, show our gratitude, our indebtedness to Christ in the form of public praise and worship. But if […]
I’m looking at the Rembrandt painting entitled Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah is the prophet that has been given the nickname the “Weeping Prophet.” In the painting Rembrandt has captured the sorrowful, despondent Jeremiah. While a light shines upon him he sits in the darkness propping his head up with his hand. This […]
A common dialogue that you hear in my house is “Don’t whinge!” followed by “I’m not whinging!” Whinging is one of those things that really pushes my buttons and irritates me. In the numbers reading set out in the lectionary this week we read about the Israelites whinging against Moses and God. This was not […]
The third week in Lent and our third story of God making a covenant. Week one we had the Noahic covenant which was really made with Noah and all living creatures, last week the Abrahamic covenant which was really a covenant with Abraham and Sarah and included all the nations being blessed. This week we […]
Last week we looked at the covenant God made with Noah and all of creation. The sign of the covenant was the rainbow. On Sunday I spoke about how we can use signs and symbols to remember God’s promises and God’s love. I encouraged you to create a space in your home and to display […]
Over the next 3 weeks, the first 3 weeks of Lent, the lectionary provides us readings of God’s covenants; covenants with Noah, Abraham and with Moses. While each covenant is distinct from the others, taken together they testify to God’s ongoing desire to be in relationship with humanity. This desire is eventually expressed in Jesus, […]
This Sunday, 14 February is Transfiguration Sunday and St. Valentine’s day. So… Saint Valentine, officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, is a third-century Roman saint. His feast day which we celebrate on February 14 first started in 496 AD. There is actually very little that we know for sure about St. Valentine. One of […]
Luke 1:26-38, 46b-55 This week’s gospel reading is The Annunciation or the announcement that Mary will have a child. The angel or messenger from God said: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him […]
Mark Since the Gospel according to Mark is what we will be hearing from most this coming year I thought it would be good to give an overview of this Gospel. The Gospel according to Mark is the shortest of the 4 Gospels. Historically it has been seen as having little significance as it was […]
Mark 1:1-8 Last week during our service we looked at the way the church year is arranged and the different seasons. We are in our second week of the season of Advent. Advent is the preparation for the season of Christmas and is also beginning of the church year. Last church year we were focused […]