Written by Steve Tinning Every Christmas we celebrate that cosmic movement of love. “Love came down at Christmas” we sing (or used to). Acts of love are so stunningly precious – but acts of love for those who all too often don’t reciprocate or even acknowledge that love are quite extraordinary. It’s for this reason, … Continue reading Love Your Enemies
God
Love
Written by Dave Griffiths Love Love is possibly both an overused and underused word at the same time! In the English language we have one clumsy word for Love and one clumsy word for God. Well, most of the time. Let’s try and be a bit more expressive, shall we? Another way to explain Love... … Continue reading Love
Joy
By Chris Duffett Chris Duffett is a Baptist Minister, an Artist, and Founder of The Light College & Collective This post is part of an advent series. Twenty-Four diverse voices have been invited to share some thoughts on one of four themes (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love) each day during the season of Advent. Each contributor has … Continue reading Joy
A Handful of Poems
Written by Deborah Fielding Love We hold glanceswhen we cannot presshands. The weight lifts for atime.~ 23/11/2020 #BeKindKindness is not justa superficial absenceof hatred. It’s L O V E.~ 15/10/2020 My White SkinMy white skin means thatI have never had to thinkabout my white skin. ~ 27/6/2020 InclusivityWe thought an openinvitation was enough.It was not … Continue reading A Handful of Poems
Love Came Down at Christmas
Written by Geoff Colmer In November 2019, I had the privilege of taking the funeral of a friend, Keith Roberts, who was one of those formative influences upon my life over thirty years earlier. He introduced me to a book which has shaped how I understand love: Love’s Endeavour, Love’s Expense, by W.H. Vanstone. On … Continue reading Love Came Down at Christmas
Joy is Coming
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
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!
The Broken Church 