The Wonder of Christmas

The Wonder of Christmas

This week I was chatting with a young mum watching her two-year-old mesmerised by a small revolving Christmas tree. She was sadly anticipating the day when her child would grow up and lose her sense of ‘wonder’. This conversation has made me think about the concept of...
What Mary do you know?

What Mary do you know?

Mary, she is either adored or avoided, sainted or airbrushed from history. We often view her as a demure and dainty woman, her eyes coyly bowed in saintly meekness. This Mary points to a Christmas and a kingdom of quiet, passive submission. That’s hardly the Mary Luke...
Advent

Advent

Advent is a season in which we journey together towards Christmas. With one eye we look back to the first coming of Jesus, the long years of preparation and promise, hope and disappointment, and the arrival of God’s Son, our saviour. With the other eye, we set our...
We begin beloved

We begin beloved

Mr Chippy Mr Chippy was his name. He was a central figure in my boyhood, and for good reason. For Mr Chippy was the purveyor of a vast emporium of delights. Mr Chippy ran our local fish and chip van, brimful of an endless menu of fried pleasure. My father was well...
Remember

Remember

People of remembrance “Remember, remember the 5th of November”. November is a month for recollection. From fireworks to poppies and the silence of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This week we will stop and recall the effects of war and the devastation...
I notice, I wonder, I realise

I notice, I wonder, I realise

Last Friday I went to an event where the facilitator introduced the group to the three levels of seeing. Like me, many of you would recognise this, given Andrew Bennett introduced us to this back in February during the Saturday morning session he did with us on...
Act & Pray

Act & Pray

All Eyes on Glasgow All eyes will be on Glasgow these next two weeks. COP26 has finally arrived in town and with it the hopes of nations for brave decisions to be made that will help our world tackle the climate emergency that is appearing all around us. Christians,...
Beautiful feet

Beautiful feet

How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news (Romans 10:15 NLT)A fantastic number of us are engaging with the Immerse Bible Reading Experience and this Sunday we will pick up another theme we’ve noticed as we engage with and read the New Testament....
Thinking about Paul

Thinking about Paul

Seeing Paul with fresh eyes Forget Jane Austen and John Grisham, the most read writer in the world is a small Jewish revolutionary who wrote a handful of letters to a ragtag bunch of Jews and pagans in the 1st century. Yes, Paul. He is dissected by academics, preached...
Immerse Yourself!

Immerse Yourself!

Immerse Yourself! Many of us are discovering the bible afresh with the Immerse Bible reading experience. Reading through the New Testament together in a new format without the familiar chapters and verses is refreshing. So many of us are spotting things we have never...