Christmas is one of the more evocative words in the English language. I don’t want to suggest that everyone’s immediate response to the word is warm and fuzzy but I’m pretty sure there aren’t too many people who don’t feel something when they hear it. For me, the word is a very pleasant one with…
This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Joy. Joy is another one of those words that can be kind of tricky. As I mention in at least one of the sermons, it is one of those words that we understand at at trivial level “joy = happiness; happiness = joy” until…
The juxtaposition of this Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent’s theme is Peace, with the death of Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a few days ago was almost painful. I found the outpouring of grief and the sense of loss mixed with triumph absolutely extraordinary. I am pretty sure this is unprecedented for a,…