Once in royal David’s city: the first words of the carol which opens the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Inverness Cathedral tonight at 5.30pm.
I love the emphasis that the one family of God exists in two dimensions, says our columnist about the book Sweet Mercies.
We’re aware of the scandal of sexual abuse in churches, which should be among the safest places on Earth.
‘And God said “Let there be light”,’ the choir intones. ‘And there was light.’ And on the final word, a powerful explosion of rich sound erupts.
For many, the years of ageing are the most difficult of all, as we face frailty and ill-health, says our columnist.
Michelle Ross's words could have come from each student I spoke to recently: "God made the difference for me, and he can for other people as well."
I remember that autumn 50 years ago, its fearful darkness: war in the Middle East; strikes; a three-day week and power cuts to conserve electricity.
Presenter Alex MacQueen says “it’s like a key that unlocks the door to something huge and mysterious,” as her car drives across a remote terrain.
Lorna and I spent a week recently in Inverallochy, a former fishing village in Aberdeenshire.
I was a little concerned that clients, out of gratitude to Christians Against Poverty might feel pressurised to explore the faith, says our columnist.
It is like we are running towards God, but that God’s love is also the wind that is pushing us on, says our columnist.
God helps find healing in brokenness, and that our loveliness becomes increasingly visible, says our columnist.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are our nine a day!
Beyond the material world lies a spiritual dimension realised not through dull prose, but in the poetry of quickened imagination, says our columnist.
Folk come seeking space, silence and meditation, says our columnist.
Not just our fellow-Christians, but God too welcomes us, and is with us as our steps grow both in length and in confidence, says our columnist.
We know that despite multiple conflicts, there is but one human race, says our columnist.
Every Saturday, Sister Cecilia enters the lottery, and prays for a win large enough to guarantee the Order of St Philomena’s financial security.
No matter what happens to us inside of time, we are utterly secure because we are held by a great outside-of-time love, says our columnist.
Besides the climate emergency, so many other issues concern us: personal, national and international, says our columnist.
