Auld Lang Syne

piper

I suspect the video below will bring a tear to a few people's eyes -- especially if they're Scottish and away from home. Auld Lang Syne on December 31st will do it for my Scottish wife, as will the skirl … [Read more...]

Learning from Depression

learning

In this post from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle, he talks about how we can learn from situations we find ourselves in, even pretty dire ones such as a depression. And if we can learn from something as … [Read more...]

The Fairy on the Christmas Tree

christmas-fairy

This is the story of why we have a fairy on top of the Christmas Tree. There are many variations of it around, but this is one of my favourites. Hope you enjoy it too. The Fairy on the Christmas … [Read more...]

Eternal unity of perfect love

mobius-strip

This phrase, “eternal unity of perfect love”, from the Collect for the First Sunday of Christmas, sums up rather well in its five words just what the God I try to serve is all about. God exists … [Read more...]

Kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

cross

Kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth. Heaven touches earth at the birth of the Christ-child, whenever we celebrate it, and however we celebrate it. Heaven touches earth in dramatic ways. We see … [Read more...]

Missing Children at Christmas

andrew-gosden-banner

As I'm preparing to enjoy a couple of great days with my family around me, I'm mindful of the fact that there are those who can't do that again this year. Andrew Gosden still has not been heard from, for … [Read more...]

Christmas Carols and Political Correctness

musical-notes

Everything falls foul of the "Politically Correct" brigade these days, even Christmas Carols. I really enjoyed this when it landed in my inbox recently. But I'm sure that in this country this sort of advice … [Read more...]

God’s Selection Criteria

Here is my sermon, more or less, from Evensong on Sunday evening, The Fourth Sunday of Advent, at Godmanchester. If you've read my reflection on the Collect from Sunday, you will recognize where some of … [Read more...]

Mary waited for the birth of your Son

nativity

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Just a few more days to go and we'll be celebrating, with Mary, the birth of the Christ-child. I wonder if we're fully prepared: probably not, not here at least. I … [Read more...]

Listening — at Christmas and always

santa

Here is a story that arrived in my inbox recently. I gather it was written someone called Roger Darlington. It is, I think, a salutary reminder to us all about the importance of listening. Listening … [Read more...]