Friday, December 08, 2017

Advent

We are in the season of Advent: this is derived from the Latin word meaning "coming" and is the season for celebrating the coming of Jesus into our world. 

Those who would insist that we “make Christmas great again” have missed the point of Christmas – it was never about the coming of greatness! Jesus did not come in majesty and power, but instead came as a baby into a poor family who existed on the edges of society. 

Let us use this Advent season to care for the poor, the neglected and those people who give birth to their children in stables. 

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

A Lenten Discipline

We are in the period of our Christian calendar known as Lent. This is a time of spiritual preparation for Easter, and many Christians use some form of “fasting“as a reminder of this 40 day journey. Some people choose to abstain from a beloved addiction (such as chocolates or coffee or Facebook) as their spiritual discipline. Others choose to begin something new as an aid to their journey, such as a particular daily prayer, or a specific spiritual practice.

For many years it has been my custom to mark Lent by choosing a spiritual practice. This year I have been convicted that being called to be a Methodist Minister does not mean more privilege than those who follow the call of Jesus in other ways. We all serve in the Lord’s Vineyard at the pleasure of the Owner of the Vineyard. (Matthew 20: 1-16). In order to keep this reminder alive, I am choosing to wear overalls for the period of Lent. Clothing can often become ways of demonstrating power and privilege – and so I will be taking off the clothing of privilege and dressing in the clothes of a worker. This is my reminder that I am a labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.


When you see me wearing overalls during lent, please do not see this as disrespect for you. Instead, please see this as part of my journey in being a faithful servant of God.