Resources for Pentecost 2012

Sunday May 27th is Pentecost. This is the day when we celebrate:. The coming of the Holy Spirit and the infilling of Jesus’ disciples with the power to go out and change the world The great multi cultural gathering that we catch a glimpse of as we watch the spirit fall and suddenly everyone is [...]

Ascension Day Getting Us Ready for Pentecost

Today is Ascension Day, but like many of us I am already thinking about Pentecost in 10 days time. Then we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, though for many churches it has become a day of prayer for peace. The following prayer came to me this morning as I thought about these two [...]

Is Believing in A Better World Idealism?

Yesterday I posted this prayer on facebook: ‎”Jesus may we see in you the ways of life, May we love justice, show mercy, practice generosity, And love our neighbours as we do ourselves.” Someone called these lofty but admirable goals.  One a similar post several months ago someone else called it admirable idealism and another [...]

Using Icons – a Powerful Tool or Graven Images

Icons are an integral part of orthodox worship and serve a variety of functions: (1) They enhance the beauty of a church. (2) They instruct us in matters pertaining to the Christian faith. (3) They remind us of this faith. (4) They lift us up to the prototypes which they symbolize, to a higher level [...]

Visio Divina – Praying with Art

Praying with Art or Visio Divina as it is increasingly called is a form of prayer that is becoming increasingly popular and in a world that is as visually oriented as ours, an intentional way of praying with images is needed now more than ever.  After reading yesterday’s post, my friend Tom Cashman commented: In [...]

Prayers for the Journey

This is my last day at Overseas Ministries Study Center and though I have had a wonderful week, it will be great to be home with Tom & our dog Bonnie.  Interacting with the students who come from a rich variety of cultures including China, Korea, Myanmar, Kenya, Ghana, the Philippines and Malaysia as well [...]

Light for the Journey Prayers – Enter into the Easter Season

I continue to add prayers to the Light for the Journey facebook page each morning.  Writing these prayers is, I have found, a great way to sit and meditate each morning.  It is obvious that many of you find them valuable too.   It is a few weeks since I last posted these however so [...]

Resurrection Life – Christ or the Easter Bunny?

Easter Sunday is usually my favourite church service of the year.  This year I found myself struggling.  What began with triumphant shouts of Christ is Risen Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah and a beautiful flowering of the cross ended with an easter egg hunt. “It’s great to see the kids so enthusiastic.” someone commented.  But is it [...]

Jesus Has Risen a New Creation Has Begun

On Good Friday I posted a litany entitled When Good Friday and Earth Day Converge. I hated having to finish with the Cross rather than the resurrection so have adapted it here as an Easter season litany – and it does end with the resurrection Hallelujah Christ is risen, he is risen indeed God all of [...]

Palm Sunday Prayer

Palm Sunday draws near and my thoughts are focused on Jesus entry into Jerusalem and the even more amazing entry into our hearts.  I prayers this morning were inspired by these reflections and my growing passion to follow Jesus with all my heart and soul and being. Let us enter the city with God today [...]