Written by Patch Davies Joy feels hard to find this year. All of the usual advent markers seem absent, or so heavily modified that they barely resemble what we’re used to. From carol services (or any service for that matter), Christingles, nativities, to the light switch-on in town and present-wrapping on the High Street. From … Continue reading Joy is Coming
God
Joy
Written by Sonia Grandison And just like that, we’re in the month of December when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It goes without saying, this Christmas will be different from any other in recent memory but still I am grateful and brimming with joy. So, what does joy mean … Continue reading Joy
Rending the heavens: on hope, judgement and justice
Written by Molly Boot O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,so that the mountains would quake at your presence…Isaiah 64:1 ‘Get up, God, from your heaven, and do something! Show yourself! Prove you’re there!’ Those of us who follow the lectionarywill have begun advent with a bang,with this passage from Isaiah … Continue reading Rending the heavens: on hope, judgement and justice
Find Love at Christmas
Written by Hetty Lalleman At the time of Advent and Christmas there are many special ‘Christmassy’ movies on television. Usually they are rather sentimental, and all is ending well! One of the themes that seems to appeal to people, is someone lost coming home, just in time for Christmas. A kind of ‘prodigal son’ theme. … Continue reading Find Love at Christmas
Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!
Written by Jack Shepherd In a lonely and spiritually dry time in my life, I was catching up with a friend and he gave me some surprising and insightful advice. It was simply words from a familiar song. “Don’t forget - you’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in your heart.” This reminded me … Continue reading Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy!
Joy
Written by Luci Counago Joy in English means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. What is the spiritual meaning of joy? Spiritual meaning of expressing God’s goodness, involves more. It is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness. The Holy Bible says, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’. We can find fullness of joy only … Continue reading Joy
What Is Hope That We Should Be Mindful of It?
Written by Tony Ashley Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, … Continue reading What Is Hope That We Should Be Mindful of It?
Big Hope
Written by Karen Golder Oh, it’s so easy to have hope while the sun is shining and all is good with the world, but what about when the chips are down, it’s all going wrong and we aren’t sure which way is up? As I write this, I am sitting in Birmingham Children’s Hospital next … Continue reading Big Hope
Hope Ink
Written by Mike Sherburn Hope deferred is disease.Fleas, biting on the flesh of the future.For there's nothing neutral about hope.Hope is so many things.A coping mechanism, a promise,The longed-for light and the end of the tunnel.A funnel through which fresh water of renewaland justice might flow.To say no to hope is to drop the bruised … Continue reading Hope Ink
Hope
Written by Wendy Bray This post first appeared in All Saints, Clifton News 2020, used with permission of the author. This morning I planted my tulip bulbs. I lovingly pushed them deep into the compost in three layers in enormous pots. Covered as they are with a layer of gravel for drainage on top, it’s … Continue reading Hope
The Broken Church 