Gospel Cocktails (2): the layers
The task of mission in our time is to say something true about the nature of God and what it is to be a disciple of Jesus. That’s what I think, anyway, at the moment. Gospel cocktails allow people to…
Who are we becoming
Discernming the people, the communities and the church we are called to be at this time and place
Who are we becoming
Discernming the people, the communities and the church we are called to be at this time and place
Tina
I’m 47, unmarried, with lots of beautiful loyal friends and supportive family. I’m known for my outrageous laughter and unrestrained tears, and love to play, walk, sing, cook and eat in communion with others. Main obsessions: The West Wing and anything written by Aaron Sorkin; sugar in all its forms.
Gospel Cocktails Part 1: inside-out metaphor
I am zinging with the success of our church-run cocktail bar. It’s fair to say cocktails have never been part of church culture. But why not claim them as such? They are, after all, intended as an appetiser… a drink…
Barn-raising
Does it matter how people hear the gospel? Someone asked me recently why I don’t simply come straight out with a presentation of the Christian faith to the people I meet, describing an occasion when he’d done just that. Out…
Sequel to the prequel
Thought I’d better just say a few words about compost! It surprises me how little the church needs to do in fact to soften the soil.Just being nice can be enough. No, really. Friendliness, openness, humility. Being involved in the…
The Parable of the Sower: the prequel
What happened before the sower went out to sow? I could make pots out of the soil in my garden. It’s clay. There’s no other description for it – it just needs to be moulded and fired, and I could…
God leaves the temple?
Kate Tempest has a child-like girl-next-door innocence about her. Fresh-faced and youthful in a sleeveless print cotton top, dark blue jeans and white converse – how can she understand humankind’s inner world so intimately, and describe it with such simple…
The geology of our lives
I’ve lived in many places – thirteen different locations over nearly fifty years. Before now when I’ve thought about my past, I’ve always conceived of it in linear terms – as though it were a timeline posted on a wall. …
Elegy for the light spectrum
Elegy for the light spectrum Equality isn’t the main issue, at least for me. I’m not yearning this morning to be considered equal in status or law with my brother Christians, I’m not yearning for a place at the high…
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
Christmas throws its long glittery shadow back up most of the year. Church leaders really need to start planning in January, specially if they want to change anything signficant. I’d love to see a multi-coloured Christmas offering a colour-coded choice…
Fresher Blessing
My godson has recently negotiated the maelstrom that is the first few days at university. I wish I had written this earlier, but I’m grateful to him that he’s inspired me to write something that I (and if you want,…