Why were shepherds the first people that the good news was announced to? There has been a long standing explanation that goes like this. Shepherds were amongst the poorest and were often despised having a reputation for dishonesty. Therefore, the appearance to them fits with a theme of Jesus being there for the poor and… Continue reading Why Shepherds?
Author: faithrootsdw
Between scaremongering and complacency
Reading newspaper articles and social media comments this morning, once again I am torn between panic and complacency. Panic induced by continuing reports and discussion about a super new, fast spreading mutant variant of the COVID-19 virus. Complacency risked by those insisting this is all some conspiracy. Some even claiming that the mutation has bene… Continue reading Between scaremongering and complacency
Winding back the hyperbole
Between the 4th and 6th Century AD a controversy boke out particularly among the churches in North Africa concerning a group called the Donatists. They believed that priests in the church had to be perfect in order to serve effectively. The root cause of this was to do with persecution. Some Christians had found ways… Continue reading Winding back the hyperbole
A son out of Egypt Hosea 11:1
For Starters What is it that you are eagerly awaiting as we come into Christmas. I expect that if you are a 5 year old then it is the promise of a present 3x the size of you! Maybe some of us are looking forward to the promise of a few days off, food, music,… Continue reading A son out of Egypt Hosea 11:1
Christmas is not cancelled
Many people are frustrated and upset at the sudden U-Turn on Christmas arrangements. Those measures had offered some small reprieve but arrangements for festivities were still going to be minimal and restricted. Now, however, the hashtag #ChristmasIsCancelled is gaining currency. So, it is important to say that Christmas is not cancelled. Now, by this I… Continue reading Christmas is not cancelled
Pantomime Farce
Yesterday I wrote defending the Christmas easing of lockdown. I demonstrated awful timing. By the end of the day, the 5 day period for seeing family was reduced down to Christmas Day itself and only for those who could travel locally Meanwhile, in the south of England a new tier 4 was introduced banning family… Continue reading Pantomime Farce
“I think I’ve just shipwrecked the Church”
It was September 2012, we were a week or two away from moving from one Sunday morning service to two congregations and I was sat to the side in our main hall looking across the assembled church family. Since we had confirmed the decision to make the move I had noticed a drop off in… Continue reading “I think I’ve just shipwrecked the Church”
In defence of the government’s Christmas COVID measures
The UK government has come in for a lot of criticism for its response to COVID-19. Some of it has been spot on, some of it less so and some of it I would suggest completely unfairly. The reality is that a Global pandemic hitting on the back of a decade of austerity was always… Continue reading In defence of the government’s Christmas COVID measures
“Who are these people?” … “These are our neighbours”
It was meant to be the year of street parties and festival. We were celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee year. However as is often the case, plans were disrupted by a summer wash out as the heavens opened. Some events were scaled back others cancelled. But we persisted in our organisation of a “Chapel Street Party”… Continue reading “Who are these people?” … “These are our neighbours”
We are literally broken by our hyperbole
Every year, my wife and I have a kind of traditional conversation. I ask her what she is working on and she tells me that she is preparing the “persuasive writing” class for her students where they will learn about a number of rhetorical devises. I then respond with a grumble about how that is… Continue reading We are literally broken by our hyperbole
