โNOELโ by J.R.R. Tolkien was written in 1936, amidst the gathering gloom of national socialism in Germany. At the time, it provided an antidote to social and political anxiety. May it provide some relief for us now. Grim was the world and grey last night:The moon and stars were fled,The hall was dark without song... Continue Reading →
โTyranny, like hell, is not easily conqueredโ HEATHER COX RICHARDSON - December 18, 2025 NOTE: Exclusive language retained โThese are the times that try menโs souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and... Continue Reading →
By Tim Snyder Tim Snyder in for Sojourners, Mar 13, 2025 As a theologian, I get nervous when reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer becomes all too relevant. Iโm the kind of theologian who would rather not find myself in what some scholars refer to as a Bonhoeffer moment. Let me explain. In the lead up to the... Continue Reading →
Originally published on Facebook A great friend was visiting from the East Coast last week and we took a walk in rain jackets under a pitiless blue sky. There was not a cloud in sight, although the weather app said there would be soon be rain. You really didnโt know whom to trust these days,... Continue Reading →
From Following Jesus: A life of faith in a postmodern world - on Facebook from where these images also appear. With thanks to Imelda Kedge for the link From Kurt at followingJesus.org I wrote this for US Thanksgiving in 2013 when our table included those born in the USA, Iraq, Korea, and Ethiopia. With Christians,... Continue Reading →
A short story by Ken Gray From a distance, the amber box on the shelf before me tells no story whatsoever. A beautifully crafted box of coloured strips is no mere bookend. Someone had taken a lot of time to assemble something beautiful for . . . God? Possibly hollow, I have no idea what... Continue Reading →
From author and artist Jan Richardson It grows only deeper, this sense of how closely light and dark live together, and how grace imbues the places that are most laden with shadows and unfathomable mystery. The season of Advent impresses this upon us with such intention, with its exquisite weave of stories and images that... Continue Reading →
From This Day in Historyโs Post Gary Burghoff stood on the M*A*S*H (henceforth MAS*H) set in October 1979, holding a teddy bear that had become as famous as he was, and told the producers he was done. Not for more money. Not for better storylines. He was leaving because playing Radar O'Reillyโthe role that made... Continue Reading →
Pianist-composer Fazฤฑl Say premieres his 'Mother Earth' Piano Concerto with the Philharmonic Orchestra this weekend Days before itโs London premiere, Turkish pianist-composer Fazฤฑl Say talks about his powerful Piano Concerto 'Mother Earth' - a work inspired by the climate crisis and the urgent need to protect our planet. The work premieres Sunday 30 November with... Continue Reading →
Feel free to complete the phrase above with the response: โHere followeth the anthem.โ Since the Anglican Book of Common Prayer of 1549 the rubric welcomes and encourages musical creativity and ability in the public services of Morning and Evening Prayer. Visitors to Anglican cathedrals and larger parish churches throughout the Anglican Communion may find... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 