We tend to speak about “secular” as if it is the human foundational operating system, and that, somehow, religion is superimposed as an application, a program, on top of that (choose from some popular programs, all doing similar things); as if atheists declutter the unnecessary program, getting back to the foundational operating system – secularism.
The Incarnation Changes Everything Read More »
Although this collect may draw from shared traditions (see commentary), the collect I am currently suggesting for the First Sunday in Ordinary Time, celebrating Christ’s baptism, is a reworking of a collect by Cranmer for Christmas. Let us pray (in silence) [that we will be faithful to our baptism] Pause Eternal Father, you have given
Around Christmas time there’s always the old saw that Christmas is essentially a pagan celebration. It’s usually said by a Christmas Grinch, or a Jehovah’s Witness, or someone with a particular agenda. The truth, possibly surprisingly, may be the other way around. The Puritan-dominated Parliament of England in 1644 banned all Christmas activities as being
Pagan Origin of Christmas? Read More »
We can once again this year make use of the ancient tradition of announcing the date of Easter on the Feast of the Epiphany. In the past, when calendars were not common, it clearly had functional value to give the date and feasts dependant on the date of Easter Day. It still has value as
Proclamation of Easter on Epiphany 2016 Read More »
Top most-read 2015 blog posts Other bloggers have encouraged me to list the top 10 most-read blog posts from 2015. Here they are from the 10th to the 1st – the most read: 10th Different models for understanding the Eucharist 9th Epiphany chalk house blessing although originally posted years ago, in its updated form is
My Top 10 Posts from 2015 Read More »
It is our fault that people misunderstand prayer. It is our fault, as Christians, that people are not aware of the deep Christian spiritual tradition, and turn, for example, to Buddhism if they want to go on the inner journey. It is our fault that people’s image of the Christian God is of Super-Santa Claus,
The Incarnation is into the real world – not into a sanitised, perfected world. We do not cleanse our lives in order to have a purified heart to welcome God in Christ. God in Christ comes into the mess of our sinful, ordinary hearts and lives to begin the work of transformation, transfiguration. I am
A Blessed Christmas! Read More »
My Christmas Message Blessings to you and yours for the Christmas Season and for the Year of Our Lord 2016. Thank you for being part of this virtual community. Linus Drops His Security Blanket Here is a short video clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas! NB: at 0:35 seconds, Linus says: “Fear not!” At that
