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What a wonderful foretaste of the life that emerges in the midst of death – the hope that is stronger than fear and despair. (Lent Five. John 11:1-45;  Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; and Romans 8:6-11.) But these readings do not deny the depths of grief and loss that we endure. Rather resurrection emerges in the very midst of suffering. Sentence: “The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him

This week we are invited to explore how God sees us; how well or blindly we see; and how this process of being seen, of being exposed to the light, can transform us. (Lent Four. John 9:1-41; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; and Ephesians 5:8-14.) Sentence: “ … for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.” Ephesians 5:8-9   Collect: Gracious God, Long ago your Son

In the busyness of our world, especially in the long journey of Lent and Easter, it can be very hard to find the time, frame of mind, and openness of heart to enter into the spacious uncertainty, challenging encounters, and the harrowing story of our Lord’s passion for us.   This year I am exploring with you a contemporary version of Novena – the discipline of praying for nine days the same prayer as a way of opening our hearts more fully to the Divine and to seek greater cla

We are a thirsty hungry people, hard to satisfy for long, and so many of us are prone to restless searching. One of the gifts of Lent is the invitation to sit, even in the midday sun, by a well and meet the one who offers more than we knew we needed or was possible. (Lent Three. John 4:5-42.)  Sentence: “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I wi

There are many stories about Jesus physically healing those who are blind and there are also many teaching moments about spiritual blindness – often aimed at the disciples or in this case the learned Pharisee, Nicodemus. (Lent Two. John 3:1-17) Sentence: “Jesus answered him. ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ ” John 3:3   Collect: You who made everything and everyone and saw that it was good. Your beloved Son knew our fl

At this precarious moment in history it is comforting and challenging to be reminded that we are called into partnership with Christ. (Second Sunday after Epiphany. John 1:29-42; Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; and 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.) So often we hear the story of being called as about beginnings, the moment we first hear our name called. Which for many of us was an exciting moment – and may generations to come also feel the excitement and respond – but now we find ourselves

To talk about God as Trinity is to accept an impossible challenge. And yet one worth doing for it reminds us how mysterious, beyond...

We tend to celebrate Pentecost as the birthday of the church and it is as good a day as any to do so. Many of us also reflect at this...

And Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be...

We have some incredibly encouraging and challenging readings this week (Easter Five. Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; and John...

“I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto me and rest’ ...” This is one of my favourite hymns and it has been in my mind all week as I...

Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love me?” Not “Let’s work on your theology and right understanding” or “right moral code”. But the...