Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at God

The title of this book, ‘Solomon’s Song of Song’ (1:1), claims to be written by Solomon, and while his name is mentioned seven times and several verses speak of the ‘king’, the book may be more about Solomon rather than written by him. However, it is reasonable to assume that Song of Songs was written...

You probably know from tales of Greek mythology that gods and goddesses would often appear out of nowhere in ancient Greece to beguile or trick mortals. The word for this in everyday Greek was ‘epiphany’; – the appearance or manifestation of a divine being on earth to humans. For Christians Epiphany is the season after...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka,they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84: 5-7) January can be a grim month!...

The Bible tells the story of Jesus and His disciples in a boat. The wind blows, the waves rise, and the disciples are stressed. Like them, we also get hit by storms in life. Like them, we can’t control what comes our way. But like them, we can know that Jesus is also with us....

Christmas Unwrapped! From the Vicar Micah’s Message – look forward to the child born in Bethlehem The Nicene Creed: Trinitarian Faith What’s the Big Idea? An Introduction to Philippians Enough?  Reflecting Faith: Listening to the Gospel And there were shepherds… ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the Christmas story. Christmas Unwrapped! All of us have...

All of us have received unwanted gifts at Christmas. For Joseph the gift of a child, as recorded in Matthew chapter 1, was not something he really wanted. Although he was engaged to Mary, her pregnancy would be grounds for divorce. Not surprisingly, with the associated social disgrace, Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly (Matthew...

All of us have received unwanted gifts at Christmas. For Joseph the gift of a child, as recorded in Matthew chapter 1, was not something he really wanted. Although he was engaged to Mary, her pregnancy would be grounds for divorce. Not surprisingly, with the associated social disgrace, Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly (Matthew...

Why is the news so full of depressing stories? Why can’t they report some good news for a change? Indeed, our world is always full of troubles, and we may wonder if better times will ever come. Similar comments might have been directed at many of the Old Testament prophets who nearly always said negative...

In the last of our series on the Nicene Creed, we want to ask about its significance today. The original Creed dates from 325 AD, but was expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381. Over the last months we have seen how the Creed provides a ‘big picture’ of who God is and challenges...

This letter was written to Christians in the Macedonian city of Philippi when Paul was in prison, probably in Rome (60-62 AD). His primary purpose in writing was to thank them for the gift they had sent him upon learning of his imprisonment. However, he also uses the letter as an opportunity to report on...

At the opening of Bach’s Cantata No, 82 a solo bass voice begins to sing the aria ‘Ich habe genug’- (I have enough) – a paraphrase of Simeon’s Song ‘Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace… for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.’. Simeon – the bass voice – realises that he is...

One of the highlights of the Christmas services is the reading of the opening passage from John’s Gospel, ‘In the beginning was the Word …’ I love the poetry of the words and sentences, as well as their very meaning. In most churches everyone will stand for that reading, which emphasises its importance. But what...