Out of sight
Ascension, May 8 2016 Acts 1.1-11; Psalm 93 (CH4 57); Ephesians 1.15-23; Luke 24.44-53 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial, Jerusalem The point of Christian faith, like the point of political commitment, is to take us out of ourselves and connect us to a larger purpose. But we are human, creatures of frail flesh and even frailer …
Tikkun olam
A sermon for the planet 1st Sunday after Christmas, December 27 2015 1 Samuel 2.18-26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3.12-17; Luke 2.41-52 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial, Jerusalem Two days ago, Jesus of Nazareth was born. Today, he is 12 – a rapid growth spurt, even for someone who is the saviour of the world. And when …
A world that knows not love
December 16 2015 Carrie Ballenger Smith is a pianist, in between serving as pastor of the English-speaking congregation in the Church of the Redeemer in the Old City. Jonas Schaefer is a guitarist, in between working at the Ecumenical Accompaniment office in Jerusalem. My wife Vivien is a soprano soloist, in between being my wife …
Why are we here?
St Andrew’s Day sermon, November 30 2015 Isaiah 55, Psalm 9.7-11, John 12.20-36 St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem Barbara Trapido’s first novel, published in 1982, was called Brother of the More Famous Jack, a book that redefined the coming-of-age novel.[1] My next St Andrew’s Day sermon will be called Brother of the More Famous …
Happy New Year!
September 15 2015 We don’t get much Bible study in the Guardian or the New York Times. But in this as in so many other ways, Israel is different. Haaretz – the liberal daily that most resembles these two newspapers – is just one of many sources to offer reflections on the portion of the …
A striking thought
September 15 2015 On Tuesday last week, I wrote a letter on behalf of Tabeetha School in Jaffa to Reuven Rivlin, the president of Israel. On Thursday, I helped craft a letter for Angus Morrison, the moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, to send to David Cameron on the same subject. …
God shows no partiality
15th after Pentecost, September 6 2015 Proverbs 22.1-9, 22-23;; James 2.1-17; Mark 7.24-37 Rev Páraic Réamonn, Church of Scotland Last Tuesday, Tabeetha School in Jaffa opened for the first day of the new school year. On Wednesday it closed again. Those of you who’ve been following the Israeli media more closely than most will know …
Come and take a walk with me
June 30 2015 Emma Pritchard was an Ecumenical Accompanier serving with Group 56 in the West Bank. She wrote this song based on her own experiences and those of her team, and she sang it as a solo in the handover service in St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church on Monday, June 15. Come and take …
Come and take a walk with me
June 30 2015 Emma Pritchard was an Ecumenical Accompanier serving with Group 56 in the West Bank. She wrote this song based on her own experiences and those of her team, and she sang it as a solo in the handover service in St Andrew’s Scots Memorial Church on Monday, June 15. Come and Take …
Thank you Jesus
May 28 2015 Driving between Jerusalem and Tiberias through the Jordan valley in my church car – something I’ll be doing more often this summer, now that my colleague Colin Johnston has left St Andrew’s, Galilee – I play CDs to keep me focused. One of these is a praise band album gifted to me …