Haiti: One Year on

Truly Christian

What a lovely vision for a Christian education (in this case a school). The website is here. 

Getting to the Heart of Parenting

Here is a taster of the 1st Session: 

Does anyone know if this is available in the UK (and workable on a normal DVD player /computer!)?

edgehill 2011: Space Odyssey ...

edgehill 2011: Space Odyssey from edgehill venture on Vimeo.

You can find more information here!

Name and Number

In the Hebrew Bible, the name for the book of Numbers is 'in the wilderness'. This reminds us that the book is about Israel's journey through the wilderness to the land. One of the important contrasts in the Bible is the contrast of wilderness and garden. Wilderness is a place of death and drought and also a place of testing and temptation. In Numbers and the following books, Israel moves through the wilderness to the garden-like land. 

But the English name for this book is a good title too since twice in the book the fighting men of Israel are counted (Numbers 1 and 26), and these two censuses are the 'bookends' that hold the book of Numbers together. The numbers in the first counting show that God has fulfilled His promise to Abraham. God promises Abraham that he will have a seed like the sand on the seashore. When Moses counts, he find that the fighting men are 600,000, and that means that there are perhaps as many as two million if you include women and children. Even though Pharaoh has tried to kill of all the Israelites, Israel has been fruitful in Egypt. God is not only keeping His promise to Abraham. These numbers also show us that Israel is doing what Adam was told to do: being fruitful and multiplying (Genesis 1:26-28) (p102, A House for My Name)

the nativity

We are not sure we want to plug this (having not seen it) ... but then again it could be really good. 

In the end this is how we are handling it. 

the nativity 

(BBC 1, Mon - Thurs, 7.00-7.30 pm)

Carol Services at Grace this Sunday

We have been giving out over 4000 (hoping to make it close to 5000) 'Christmas Card' invitations to our Carol Services along with a fun Christmas leaflet (Naughty or Nice), explaining the message we will be proclaiming.  

Below is our 'Christmas Card' image and my working title for the morning 'Family Christmas Special': 

Click for large image

Merry and Bright!

One of the best ever versions of 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas'? 

Enjoy.

faces

Restoration Work

‘You know what happens when a portrait that has been painted on a panel becomes obliterated through external stains. The artist does not throw away the panel, but the subject of the portrait has to come and sit again, and then the likeness is redrawn on the same material. Even so it was with the All-holy Son of God. He, the image of the Father, came and dwelt in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind after Himself, and seek out His lost sheep, even as He says in the Gospel’ ( On the Incarnation - St Athanasius p41-42)

Extra Harks!

Jane & I sung a version of Charles Wesley's Hark the Herald Angels this morning that had two amazing 'extra' verses. Perhaps everyone knows about them? But they were a wonderful new addition to me.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

Christmas Snaps: Gift Giving

Christmas Snaps: Hope

Christmas Snaps: Peace