Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

The original idea was not Handel’s, but his collaborator’s, Charles Jennens, a passionate Christian who wanted to demonstrate that Jesus really was the ‘Christ’, or Messiah.  This was being denied by Deists in the 18th Century, who believed God created the world and then stayed distant from it. Jennens combed the Old Testament for texts...

Thoughts on the Crucifixion accompanied with a painting This is not a nice picture. In fact, it is pretty horrible. But then that 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ was pretty horrible. It was controversial for its goriness and violence. Yet the director Mel Gibson deeply wanted it to be true to life, without...

Last month we began our Lenten journey with ashes on Ash Wednesday, reminding us of our beginning and our ending; and this month we will conclude that time with Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. Such a relatively short time for so great a distance. I’m reminded of this by the opening words used in Church...

“When you die, that’s it. Nothing. Out like a light.” That’s what the man in the pub said, and his mates all nodded, though the one whose mother had died the week before wasn’t really quite so certain. Still, it seemed to make sense. After all, we know what ‘dead’ means: dead leaves, dead batteries,...

Two donkeys were walking the streets of Jerusalem. One said: “Just a few days ago I came down that hill carrying Jesus, and the people were all singing and shouting and throwing down their cloaks and palms for me to walk on. But today they don’t even recognise me.” The other donkey replied: “That is...

Observing Lent From the Vicar Look at you Reflected Faith Series: the Ashing Service Christian Basics No 3: Why the Cross? When the angel came to Mary The story of the yellow ribbons ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the spiritual disciplines Observing Lent This month sees the start of Lent, the 40-day season of...

This month sees the start of Lent, the 40-day season of penitence, self-examination and fasting running up to Easter. Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and taught His disciples to fast: ‘when you fast.’ (Matthew 6:17). The spiritual discipline of fasting involves missing one or two meals during...

This month sees the start of Lent, the 40-day season of penitence, self-examination and fasting running up to Easter. Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and taught His disciples to fast: ‘when you fast.’ (Matthew 6:17). The spiritual discipline of fasting involves missing one or two meals during...

Lent encourages us to examine how we’re getting on.  It’s especially useful for people who have been practising Christians for some time. We’re used to saying prayers, going to church and trying to express our faith in action, but the routine may have become a bit jaded.  We would like to beef it up, but...

Such a strange name for a church service!  Why would anyone be attracted to attend such a thing? This year Ash Wednesday is close to the start of March; on the Second of the month.  As the first day of Lent the service is used to physically place a sign of the cross on each...

The cross is a picture of violence, yet the key to peace; a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing; a picture of death, yet the key to life; a picture of utter weakness, yet the key to power; a picture of capital punishment, yet the key to mercy and forgiveness; a picture of...

‘And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and call his name JESUS…’  Luke 1:31 On 25th March Christians  around the world will celebrate the Annunciation, when the angel came to Mary to tell her that she would bear a child. At this time of year, I often find myself...