Christ’s redeeming death on the Cross took place at a particular place and at a specific time in history, but it is an event with roots in humankind’s beginnings, and with continuing consequences. A crude and brutal Roman cross of wood, yet one that has been described as “casting a shadow that reaches as far … [Read more…]
Many of our rituals, whether of daily living or of worship, have lost much of their original meaning over the years. For example, hot cross buns are now available all year round, instead of being specially baked just for Good Friday. But the ritual used on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, the … [Read more…]
Although less familiar than “We three kings” with its “Star of wonder …” refrain, Die Könige, Richard Kindersley’s choice for a carol that above all he associates with Christmas, has words by Peter Cornelius, a Weimar poet and composer, and was sung by Marc Tempelhoff and the choir at our Sunday@Six carol service. Three Kings from Persian … [Read more…]
In the interest of making things attractive and accessible to children, we can lose the whole point of Advent, the season of the Coming of Christ. Christ came once, in the child and man Jesus, but we look also for a new coming of Christ, and Advent is as much about that ultimate Coming as … [Read more…]
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has a resonance that survives, though nearly all those who fought then have now died. Part of the reason is that the Great War proved not to be the “war to end all wars”, but blood continues to be shed, and the number of … [Read more…]