O key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no o­ne shuts, who shuts and no o­ne opens: come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.When Jesus comes, he comes as one who opens doors and who…

O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen.Getting to the root of things is what counts. Getting to the root of things is the first step towards putting them…

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O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law o­n Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen. We have lost sight of the fact that ruling is a holy responsibility. For those who have decisions to make…

O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence. O Wisdom, poor Wisdom, what a year you have had. How many times have you been snubbed this year? When prisoners are mistreated by…

1    Bringing an unloved altar from a dank room in Perthshire to Bridge of Allan.2    Photocopying (as though it were an Olympic event).3    Young Church Party.

Helen Percy has won her legal case, gaining the right, as a former Church of Scotland minister to challenge the way she left her post on the grounds of sex discrimination. As it happens I was at college with Helen, when she was famous in those days merely for keeping a pig and wearing the…

Funniest Advent Calendar in the whole world ever is Dave Walker’s cartoon version, over at http://www.cartoonchurch.com/advent/Meanwhile, Ruth captures what it is like to be a cleric preparing for Christmas over on her blog. Freda has decorated her tree. (To great effect) Bishop David is musing on hell in response to Eric Stoddart’s work. It is a pity…