This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We'd like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there's a part of the story of Jesus' birth that we seldom dwell on, and we'd like to help your community enter into it. If you're willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave rise to the thought that when Herod ordered the mass killing of the boy's under two Mary, Joseph and Jesus wouldn't have been the only family who tried to escape the genocide. They couldn't have been the only … [Read More...]
Luke 1:26-38 : Year B (Advent 4) – Hail Mary
Given the sort of risk and physical crap the bible says Mary had to survive in order to have a baby I’ve always thought that Lara Croft (from the video game Tomb Raider) might be a more appropriate image of the mother of Christ rather than domesticated, insipidly pale faced, blue veiled, watery eyed portraits we’re used to. If you consider that talk of a new Davidic line would have likely been considered seditious in the then occupied Palestine and consider the content of Mary’s Song in … [Read More...]
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Title: Grandpa Green Author: Lane Smith Illustrator: Lane Smith Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 9781596436077 Themes: Family, memory, love, creativity, remembering, story, history Grandpa was a sailor, a husband, a gardener, a soldier and an artist... My favourite book of 2011, Grandpa Green is a whimsical beauty, an awe inspiring treasure, a joyful surprise... you get the drift. I've already purchased 6 copies of this book because I continue to give it out as gifts to friends … [Read More...]
When The World Is Reminded That All We Are Is A Bunch of Munchkins
I can't help but thinking of the scene where Dorothy enters Oz, her house in tatters, (having been picked up and thrown through the air by a tornado) she climbs out of the house to find that she's killed a woman, her house has landed smack dab on the body of someone wearing some remarkably groovy slippers. Initially distraught Dorothy meets some munchkins who explain to her through song that this was a "Wicked Witch" and she ought not be worried, they're so convincing infact that they sing a … [Read More...]
This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We'd like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there's a part of the story of Jesus' birth that we seldom dwell on, and we'd like to help your community enter into it. If you're willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave rise to the thought that when Herod ordered the mass killing of the boy's under two Mary, Joseph and Jesus wouldn't have been the only family who tried to escape the genocide. They couldn't have been the only … [Read More...]
Book Reviews
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Title: Grandpa Green Author: Lane Smith Illustrator: Lane Smith Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 9781596436077 Themes: Family, memory, love, creativity, remembering, story, history Grandpa was a sailor, a husband, a gardener, a soldier and an artist… My favourite book of 2011, Grandpa Green is a whimsical beauty, an awe inspiring treasure, a joyful surprise… you [...]
Button Boy by Rebecca Young & Sue DeGennaro
Title: Button Boy Author: Sue deGennaro Illustrator: Sue deGennaro Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 9781741697971 Themes: collecting, being different, searching, generosity, helping others, being special, finding friends, looking Button boy made me smile, a big grin from ear to ear… Such a beautiful story by Rebecca Young of a boy who always has his eyes open for [...]
The Little Old Man Who Looked Up At The Moon by Pamela Allen
Title: The Little Old Man Who Looked Up At The Moon Author: Pamela Allen Illustrator: Pamela Allen Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 9780670075812 Themes: meaning of life, wisdom, questions, wonder, worry, journey, nonsense Pamela Allen writes what I like to call Australian postmodern parables. It’s not unusual to, upon completing a Pamela Allen story to find a [...]
Youth Ministry
This Advent – Stop The Donkeys
We’d like to invite you to think a bit harder this Christmas. It seems to me that there’s a part of the story of Jesus’ birth that we seldom dwell on, and we’d like to help your community enter into it. If you’re willing. A few weeks ago I participated in a conversation that gave [...]
When The World Is Reminded That All We Are Is A Bunch of Munchkins
I can’t help but thinking of the scene where Dorothy enters Oz, her house in tatters, (having been picked up and thrown through the air by a tornado) she climbs out of the house to find that she’s killed a woman, her house has landed smack dab on the body of someone wearing some remarkably groovy slippers.
If I were a refugee
Adrian re-posted a reflection by Michael Leuinig from this weekend’s Sunday Age It says what no-one in the media or anyone in our political leadership seems to be saying at the moment, and oh how much it needs to be said… If I were a refugee What a nice one I would be. Not in [...]
