St John's and Kiltermon

What Do You See? What do you see? This small piece of wood spends much of its time tucked away in a cupboard. I have the same routine every year.  About a week before Christmas I lift it from its hiding place and put it on display, usually on a small table in the main hall at home. For me, that’s about enough Christmas decoration; a small reminder of the Holy Family, to help me think about ‘The Nativity Of Our Lord.’ It’s a piece I bought some years ago in Bethlehem. I was very moved to meet Christians there who trace their ancestry to the times of Jesus. They are very much Palestinians, and as such are today a very tiny minority within a minority, themselves a minority within Israel. The visit involved armed guard checks, passing through 40 or 50 feet high concrete security walls, stories of families separated from each other because of the regulations of the governing authorities. In some ways their situation is pitiful. One guide, a Christian, would only speak ab...

  Bits and Pieces ' and those whom  we have forgotten, do Thou, O Lord, remember…’   Bits and Pieces. This and That. Frayed Edges. It would be good to believe that Wednesdays were calm and seamless days. Especially around 11 o’clock. That’s the time set aside in the parish mid-week to pray for all of the things that are to be prayed for. It’s supposed to be a setting time. Lists are sent to a few others of those asking for support in prayer; there are those who also have quietly committed to settle on a Wednesday into their prayers too. And when we are able to physically meet, it’s often the day for a mid-week celebration of the Holy Communion, and the week-day set aside during Lent and Advent when we gather for worship.   I had great plans for Wednesdays. 11am would be the time. Perhaps I would even go to church and say the prayers there. Perhaps toll the bell as a reminder of ongoing prayer.   Not on this Wednesday. No. ...

  ‘We Have   Not Even Heard That There Is  A Holy Spirit.’ I baptise you with water,  but he will baptise you  with the Holy Spirit.’   John the Baptist   The Acts of the Apostles,  chapter nineteen, beginning at verse one: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.  There he found some disciples  2  and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when [ a ]  you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3  So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied. 4  Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’  5  On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.  6  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongu...