We have now lit the final advent candle, and I believe we can say “we are now enlightened!” This final candle is the one for Mary. So who can remember the meaning of the first candle? First candle for the Patriarchs – people like Abraham who heard the call of God and followed him, not knowing where God would lead them or…
One more week to go! And so we have the third Sunday in Advent, when we remember John the Baptist by lighting the third candle. John the Baptist does three things: he puts himself down to raise Jesus up. He gives us evidence. He cautions us to not get lazy. He raises Jesus up. He gives us evidence. He cautions us to…
One of my favourite memories of Christmas Eve when I was a child, was polishing silver. It may seem an implausible pleasure but it is true. My mother had about six silver bowls, some small and others medium-sized which were carefully stored away during the year. On Christmas Eve, they would be ceremoniously brought out of the cupboard, wrapped in last year’s…
Ready, Steady, Wait! Today marks a new beginning in many ways. It’s Advent Sunday – the first day of the Church’s new liturgical year. You’ll have noticed that the colours of the vestments that Glen and I are wearing have changed – they are now purple as is the altar frontal for the season of Advent. In our Lectionary (Bible) readings in…