Dear All Saints and St Mary's This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, or as the 1662 Prayer Book puts it, the Manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. This name is used to emphasise that, right from the start, the the gospel tells us that Jesus is for all people. Many artists took up  this theme by depicting Jesus' visitors coming from the three extremes of the known world. One was from Europe, one from Asia or Arabia and one was from Sub-Saharan Africa. Although t

I would like to share with you a poem I am fond of at this time of year from Malcolm Guite - O Emmanuel -  I have always found it helpfully reflective on why we celebrate with Joy, Love and Hope this Christmas.

John the Baptist becomes the focus of our thoughts and attention this week. His ministry was a courageous one of pointing towards a new way. He is perhaps one of the most challenging people we encounter in the Bible.

What is it that this Advent we are willing to ask, brave enough to pray to change in us so that we might be ready?

But what of Christmas? What are we actually encouraged to engage with over the next 4 weeks is the season of Advent?

Many of us carry precious memories passed through generations—stories of those who stood up for what was right, who fought in wars, or who served in quiet, often unseen ways.

Saints are all those who listen attentively for God’s word, who know they won’t get everything right, but who trust in the continuing inexhaustible kindness of God. 

It’s easy to think that we as ordinary citizens have no power, no influence, but we do, and we can enable others to do so. It just needs the spark of one person to start a fire that changes everything.

Is Jesus a god, a human or somehow both? If Jesus is in some way a god, are there two gods or one? If there is one God, how is Jesus connected with God the Father? And what do we think about the Holy Spirit, the church, baptism, and resurrection?

The world Welcome comes from two words - "Wil" which means "desired" and "Cuma" which means "Guest". Its a rather lovely way to think about the word - to desire a guest. To wish for company. 

How do we live well in a world that marks many different life defining moments, almost simultaneously?

What strikes me within the diversity are the contrasts. Perhaps the starkest is between those who can afford to use the artisan and independent cafes and shops and those who sit on the streets begging.  These are the visible ones.

This Sunday 21st September happens to also be what was traditionally called a "Red Letter Day". It's a way of describing a special feast day that occurs in the calendar,

The Magnificat.  It expresses not only Mary’s pride in her God, but also names why – God is the one who raises the lowly, and who feeds the hungry. 

Yet, possibly because of that very specific context, it speaks out clearly about the Christian values of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The letter then goes on to encourage its readers to follow the example of all those heroes that they had heard about.

It is a word that is not just based on "no knowledge" but of some knowledge of the world matched with the humility that we perhaps don't have as yet the full picture.

Prayers for places to be filled, for people to come and be part of something special, for everyone to be safe and blessed by others. 

It is at this time when we think about the ministry of the church today. Not many of us are given a new name, but many of us are called to new and exciting ministries.

‘God anointed Jesus with power’: yes, God’s power was evident, as he taught and as he fed people in amazing ways.