Author: stuart

  • Hugs

    A college friend and I were wondering, some time ago, if it was possible to mail a hug.. (I’m talking proper hugs here, not the type where you end up winded by someone trying hard, but not quite getting the knack of it.) Now, short of packing yourself up, hopping along to the postoffice and,…

  • Books

    I guess I failed miserably in today's task, not one book was moved from the bookshelf, although I can actually get to the bookcase now.  Anyway to celebrate I ordered a few choice numbers from the late John O'Donohue, Benedictus: A Book of Blessings and Anam Cara: Spiritual wisdom.  What inspired the choice was simply…

  • Sheep and shepherd

    Finally the day before the next edition comes out, I read the paper!!  (C.T.) Fascinating that such images, sheep and shepherd should feature on early Christian art.  Well not really, if you read the article, it almost suggests it would be strnage if these images did not exist. Prof. Spier suggests that the passage, 'The…

  • On the night before

    On the night before the night before he died, (now read that again!!) Got it?  Good.  now read on. Jesus (might have, but let’s face it probably didn’t) took a cup and a plate.He placed the cup on the plate and poured milk into the cup.He took a large jug and into it he poured…

  • Extreme Pilgrim part two

    Finally I have watched last weeks Extreme Pilgrim episode.  Peter's comments at the end of the program were most pertinent to the church of england's way of life.  Reflecting on them I feel that we are now unapologetically materialist, the economy is more of a bible than our scripture and we are dictated by its…

  • Candles and Coffee Cups

    Not sure who mentioned this phrase, but it has been in my head since Saturday evening perhaps it should become the title of a book on everyday services, coffee lounge Eucharists, coffee bar morning prayer. I imagine a crummy table, not unlike one I experienced in a cafe in France in a small insignificant village…

  • Hem of the Garment

    I came across this phrase again whilst reading an exegesis the other day, it was of course in the Daughter of Jairus and that bleeding woman story, (not even going to attempt to spell the other word for that!!) I suppose the disciples might have called her that, a)if they spoke english, b)if they understood…

  • Extreme Pilgrim

    I’ve just finished watching Extreme Pilgrim on the new BBCi player, v.useful!! Well, I thought I had better watch the program since I preached about it in the context of epiphany!! Revd Peter Owen Jones says that Church of England is intellectual, while one of the religions he is visiting is purely physical in its…

  • The Crimes

    I was half expecting the Crimes  (Church Times) to fall through the letter box this morning, however, the 'Dave Walker Guide to Church' seems to have replaced it.  The paper will begin next week rather than this, I did wonder what they were saying sending this freebie out first, as if I was not ready…

  • Angels Wings

    Well it has taken a while to write this, probably all the worse for that.  It assumes that the Christmas story is played out in heaven (as if it were a different place to earth) every year, just as it is played out in our churches.  (Cue philosophical discussion about heaven.) However, it was inspired…