Hills of the North, Rejoice Charles Ernest Oakley (1832-1865) Hills of the North, rejoice,river and mountain-spring,hark to the advent voice;valley and lowland, sing.Christ comes in righteousness and love,he brings salvation from above. Isles of the Southern seas,sing to the listening earth,carry on every breezehope of a world's new birth:In Christ shall all be made anew,his … Continue reading Calling the quarters for Advent
Let’s talk about power
Christians, I think we need to have a talk about power, and in particular, the important distinction between domination and empowerment. Domination is power-taking, it works by crushing others down. The image that comes to mind is a black hole sun, that sucks up everything in its orbit. The second type is power-giving, especially to … Continue reading Let’s talk about power
A prayer for living the gospel
From the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council God of yesterday, today and tomorrow, we call to mind your presence within us and around us. Open our ears that we may hear your Word.Open our hearts that we may understand your Word.Open our mouths that we may speak your World. Inspire us with the Gospel message,that … Continue reading A prayer for living the gospel
Divinity and Gender in Christianity
I'd just like to float a few thoughts here related to divinity and gender in Christianity. Whilst I would affirm that God transcends gender, and assert such a view is completely biblical, based on texts like Genesis 1:27 and others, there's no denying that the bible uses masculine metaphors for God more often than feminine … Continue reading Divinity and Gender in Christianity
Sick of Political Correctness?
I find myself disturbed when my efforts to exercise discipline over how I speak to others, and about others, is casually dismissed as "political correctness". The brother of Jesus did after all urge us to tame our tongues. He wrote, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human … Continue reading Sick of Political Correctness?
In Gun We Trust
I often wonder what god is actually being worshipped in conservative America. But I am far from alone in that. Here are a score of satirical depictions of American gun worship.
Prayer to the Sacred Three
This prayer was sourced from a Forest Church liturgy at Brigid's Mantle by Gelli Ma Prayer to the Sacred Three Sacred Three, whose love spirals the Universe I ask you to guide my footsteps To open my eyes, to reveal your presence in the world that is your gift to me. May the blessing of … Continue reading Prayer to the Sacred Three
Christian Art: visions of Pentecost
With today being Pentecost Sunday I thought I'd share some of the Christian art I've collected featuring the coming of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost.
When did Christians start meeting on a Sunday?
When did Christians start meeting on a Sunday? Many assume that it’s a tradition that arose centuries after the apostles. And yet evidence survives within the Bible itself that churches began meeting on the first day of the week soon after the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week. For instance, in … Continue reading When did Christians start meeting on a Sunday?
A blessing for a fine harvest
A blessing from the book of Genesis: May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.
In the Fading Summer Sun
In the Fading Summer Sun In the fading of the summer sun, the shortening of days, cooling breeze, swallows' flight and moonlight rays we see the Creator’s hand In the browning of leaves once green, morning mists, autumn chill, fruit that falls frost's first kiss we see the Creator’s hand - Author Unknown
