The Lord is here
Palm SundayMarch 25 2018Union of St Andrew’s Jerusalem and St Andrew’s Tiberias;Ordination and introduction of Rev John McCullochIsaiah 50.4-8a; Psalm 43; Philippians 2.5-8; Mark 11.1-11 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem “The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple… behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” On the first Palm …
We want to see Jesus. But how?
5th Sunday in Lent March 18 2018 Jeremiah 31.31-34; Psalm 51.1-12; Hebrews 5.5-10; John 12.20-33 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem How do we see Jesus? We see him clearly when he looks upon us with the eyes of love and pours into our hearts the Holy Spirit, so that with the same eyes we …
While we are yet sinners
1st Sunday in Lent February 18 2018 Genesis 9.8-17; Psalm 25.1-10; 1 Peter 3.18-22; Mark 1.9-15 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem Human history is a history of human wickedness and divine grace, and this history is reflected in the story that our Bibles tell. Some Sundays it is reflected better than others. * The …
Chosen people, promised land
1st in Lent February 18 2018 Genesis 15.1-6, 18-19; Psalm 25.1-10; 1 Peter 2.4-10; Mark 1.9-15 Rev Páraic Réamonn, Church of Scotland: St Andrew’s Galilee “The God of Abraham praise.”[1] But how, exactly, are we to do that? * It was probably in 1770 that Thomas Olivers wrote The God of Abraham Praise, immediately after he heard …
It’s uncanny. It’s meant to be
The Transfiguration of our Lord February 11 2018 2 Kings 2.1-12; Psalm 50.1-6; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6; Mark 9.2-10 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem We’re in California. Bill S Preston, Esquire and Ted “Theodore” Logan are outside a store in downtown San Dimas, looking desperately for help. Ted asks a woman going into the store, …
What on earth possesses us?
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany January 28 2018 Deuteronomy 18.15-22; Psalm 111.1-10; 1 Corinthians 8.1-6; Mark 1.21-28 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem Those of us who have come to Jerusalem from elsewhere, and even those who were born here, may find food for thought in this exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, taken …
God with us. And we with God?
Christmas Day December 25 2017 Isaiah 52.7-10; Hebrews 1.1-5; John 1.1-14 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem The trouble with Christmas Day is it comes immediately after Christmas Eve. I said everything I had to say last night, and John even said some of it yesterday morning. So I propose to do today what preachers …
The hope of a gift
Christmas Eve December 24 2017 Genesis 18.1-21; Isaiah 9.2-7a;Luke 1.26-38; Luke 2.1-14; Matthew 2.1-12; John 1.1-14 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem As they near the end of a long journey, the young man and young woman are invited by an aged shepherd abiding in the field to stop, just for a moment, and warm …
Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom
December 15 2017 Last month saw the publication of Naim Ateek’s latest book, A Palestinian Theology of Liberation.[1] On November 3, I was at the Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem to launch the book, along with Cedar Duaybis and Omar Haramy of Sabeel, Ann-Sofie Lasell of the Swedish Christian Study Centre, Russ McDougall of the …
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City of hope
Advent Sunday December 3 2017 Isaiah 64.1-9; Psalm 80.1-7, 17-19; Mark 13.24-37 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem Today marks the beginning of Advent – Lent’s shabby second cousin. Like Lent, it is a time of preparation. Just as Lent prepares us to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, so Advent encourages …