Whenever my grand-niece come to stay with us we spend lots of time singing songs like: The wheels on the bus, Five little monkeys and Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Whenever we sing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star”, it evokes an intense memory of staring, gazing into the night sky during my travels. I have been mesmerized … Continued
Jesus’ Non-Violent Resistance To love the way Jesus did is strangely difficult for human beings. One of my personal mantras is, “Do not let other people’s behaviour determine your own.” It’s a good rule to live by, and it is often challenging. We are reactive beings. Our emotions take over and we respond to our … Continued
Today’s lesson comes right after what are called the Beatitudes—or the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew tells us that before that, “large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him…” and “when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came … Continued
I am not a fan of John the Baptist. Everything that we read about John the Baptist makes me think of him as Jesus’s annoying cousin. The kind of annoying person I want to avoid, the one we have at the dinner table, trying to steer the conversation clear away from anything remotely political; fearing … Continued
“A voice was heard in Ramah sobbing and lamenting loudly: it was Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, for they were no more.” Matthew 2:18 The day before Christmas I attended two funerals of my dear friends. During our Blue Christmas service, I heard of stories of loss and pain. There were many other … Continued
So here we are. The third Sunday in Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday in Church Latin because it’s all about Joy. We’ve done Hope and Peace. Love is to come. It’s all so neat and tidy. Preparing for Christmas, preparing for Easter … has anyone ever had the feeling that they’re not preparing properly? Preparing … Continued
Welcome to this Sunday, the end of the church’s liturgical year. Next week is the start of a new calendar with the season of advent and its build up to Christmas. For the last 50 years or so, this Sunday has been a celebration of the Feast of Christ the King or, as it is … Continued
We are all familiar with the Sunday school songs “Zacchaeus, was a very little man.” At some point perhaps we have been Zacchaeus.! To be short in stature is not only about one’s physical height. It’s part of the human condition and it’s one of the threads that runs through the Gospel reading. The Psalmist … Continued
In Jesus’ story there was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day and then there was Lazarus. Lazarus should come as no surprise to us at all. We see Lazarus every day. Lazarus was sick, “Covered with sores,” probably from malnutrition. Lazarus longed to eat … Continued
What brings you here? That might be two questions: what brings you to church on a Sunday? and what brings you to Puari Huinga, Aldersgate, Durham Street Methodist Church, however you think of this place? A place to meet God? To meet friends? Somewhere to find calm amidst the storm, or somewhere to be shaken … Continued