The Apostle Paul had a big job on his hands while acting as a consultant to the factionalised Christian community of Corinth. He appeals to theology, rhetoric and personal investment as he attempts to bring healing to human divisions based on status, party allegiance and ambition. It all sounds rather too familiar. Our reflection today leadsContinue reading “Healing a fractured humanity”
Tag Archives: Lent
Ash Wednesday Confessions
Today, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, I respond to the challenge not to give up something, but to take something on – a discipline of some kind. A way forward might be to begin a daily reflection according to my spiritual tradition. This Ash Wednesday, my guide requires me to write a prayer of confessionContinue reading “Ash Wednesday Confessions”
Markathon!
“Let’s do a public community reading of Mark’s gospel!” “Oh yeah!” I thought. “Who’s going to come?” So 40 people aged from 7 to 90 gathered on a hot Sunday evening for our first public community reading of Mark’s gospel. It took 90 minutes, three narrators, and about 12 voices to read various characters. (ForContinue reading “Markathon!”
Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Finale)
We survived the panel! The three of us briefly summarised our previous presentations and then fielded questions, challenges and positions from the 40 or so gathered. These ranged from the philosophical to the pragmatic. 90 minutes later we had to draw a line under the energised and enthusiastic public discussion. If it had an overallContinue reading “Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Finale)”
Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 3)
Neville can be counted on for controversy. Eschewing Augustine for Irenaeus (“The glory of God is every creature fully alive”), Neville’s brief was to explore a projection of “the salvation of the human species.” He proceeded with Frank Fenner, the Australian microbiologist who pioneered the eradication of smallpox who said “The human species is likelyContinue reading “Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 3)”
Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 2)
Does popular culture have its own way of addressing theological constructs? We briefly considered three movies to see how they handled preoccupation with the tension between determinism and free-will – “salvation” being seen in terms of liberation from controlling forces, be they personal or institutional. You can check out for yourself the reviews of Groundhog Day,Continue reading “Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 2)”
Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 1)
This is the subtitle of the “Salvation Today” Lent series cooked up by my local Uniting Church colleagues and myself. I did promise some context for yesterday’s “Saving puppies from a runaway train” conundrum. In the wake of the visit of evolutionary theologian, Bruce Sanguin, we pondered the meaning of “salvation”, a word more oftenContinue reading “Universal truth or ultimate self-indulgence? (Part 1)”
We did Ash Wednesday last night…
About forty of us gathered at the neighbouring church across the valley. We prayed and reflected to a stirring rendition of Psalm 51 by Evelyn Tubb (can’t find the track on the web anywhere!) and watched as our celebrant, Neville Watson, burned gum leaves to form the ashes with which we would be daubed. GumContinue reading “We did Ash Wednesday last night…”
Up the Mountain Down
Glimpses of what is revealed when the curtain is pulled back and “uncreated light” blasts us with awareness of more than our finite minds can comprehend contrasts with the daily grind and the drudge of dealing with the continuous crap of mundane living. Up the mountain down! Peter, James and John weren’t up there longContinue reading “Up the Mountain Down”
That’s worth taking on!
Lent is not a customary observance within the tradition of Christian formation that nurtured me. But I have come to it much in latter years. There is something very powerful about being caught up in the re-enactment of the Christian festivals and fasts that tell our story year after year. Contrary to the popularised ideaContinue reading “That’s worth taking on!”
Wondering Pilgrim 