Since 1982 I have read T.S. Eliot’s poem Journey of the Magi in Christmas worship every year. I could not imagine an Advent season without Eliot’s words and questions. Early on in my many years of serving a most caring congregation in Kansas City I mentioned my love of this poem and from that momentContinue reading “Journey of the Magi”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
White Christmas
As I prepare to post this poem the snow has begun here in St. Louis. We are expecting a possible 2-4 inches as the storm moves west to east. As always weather proves somewhat unpredictable We are prepared, though we hope the snow will pass quickly. So today I invite you to take time, don’tContinue reading “White Christmas”
Then and Now!
We had hoped that the lesson of the Christmas truce in 1914 would serve us all. Alas! We had hoped that WWI might have been the war that ended all wars. Alas! Today, just days before Christmas we have another war raging in Europe. Alas! Although this outrageous war is confined for now within theContinue reading “Then and Now!”
Inside the Miracle!
“Rise Up,” a stained glass window bank by Cbabi Bayoc at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City, Missouri. Photo source: Episcopal Church of the Holy Communio In this the second week of Advent, we move ever closer to the celebration of Christmas and the retelling of the story of Christ’s birth.Continue reading “Inside the Miracle!”
Lo! faithful Virgin
Madonna and Child possibly 1230s Of solemnly hieratic beauty, this is one of only two works that can be confidently assigned to Berlinghiero, the leading painter in the Tuscan city of Lucca. It follows the Byzantine type known as the Hodegetria (“She who shows the way”), familiar from icons that arrived in Italy following theContinue reading “Lo! faithful Virgin”
Kyrie eleison
Suddenly we have arrived in month of December. In the Christian church we are in the season of Advent – the period of waiting and preparing to herald the Good News of Christ’s birth. This season presents us with such a wonderful choice when it comes to poems. Like me, you no doubt have yourContinue reading “Kyrie eleison”
Toy Factory
Today is “Black Friday” and so shopping for Christmas is now in earnest! Stores are crammed full with both goods and people and many will make their way back to their cars with arms laden with gifts which will soon be wrapped and then unwrapped. Toys played with until they are broken or the batteryContinue reading “Toy Factory”
Sleeping Dogs!
I recall fondly the encouragement I was given by a parishioner when I shared with her the desire of one of my sons to have a dog. Perhaps I was foolish to mention this to her, knowing her love of dogs and of how she had several round her at all times. Her comments wereContinue reading “Sleeping Dogs!”
Everything is going to be alright!
This month marks two years since the death of Northern Irish poet, Derek Mahon. Although his life of poetry is well celebrated I have not really come across his writing and for that I am deeply disappointed. Therefore, in the coming months I am looking forward to reading and studying his poetry which spans soContinue reading “Everything is going to be alright!”
Is the soul solid like iron?
In my previous post I shared D.H. Lawrence’s poem Humming-bird when the poet was pondering “some otherworld Primeval-dumb, far back” “Before anything had a soul” As I read his poem I recalled the poem by Mary Oliver in which she asks in the opening line “Is the soul solid, like iron? Somewhere between Lawrence’s imaginationContinue reading “Is the soul solid like iron?”
Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings 