The Parish

Salt of the Earth | Aaron Holbrough

What if God is not trying to heal the world for, us as much as heal the world through us. 

SIGNS of ADVENT | Jan Hux

The message the shepherds were given about a baby in a cattle feed trough was vague and cryptic at best. They may have wished for a more detailed map but in faith they followed the sign they had been given and it brought them to Jesus.

an HONEST ADVENT | LOVE | Aaron Holbrough

Advent will teach us that we need search for the light of the world in these stories, so we know what it looks like in our own lives.

an HONEST ADVENT | JOY | Jan Hux

During the secular holiday season, it can feel as though we're expected to be happy all the time - have a holly, jolly merry Christmas!  But the message the angel brought to the shepherds on that first Christmas didn't offer happiness - it offered joy, which is a very different thing. 

an HONEST ADVENT | PEACE | Aaron Holbrough

The Advent story is showing us that something beautiful can come from the unexpected, even the misunderstood.  The journey might start with hope-but it will take us through surrender before arriving at peace.

an HONEST ADVENT | HOPE | Jan Hux

Hope isn't a way to deny our current pain by envisioning a happier future. Hope is present in the messiness of our lives, giving us the courage for the next step forward.

an HONEST ADVENT | Introduction | Aaron

By the time we begin to sing Christmas songs, and by the time the tree and lights are up, by the time Mary is showing, we are already in the middle of something.  The Magi have already left Persia heading east towards yonder star.  Let's be Honest.

SATISFIED | Jan Hux

The Greek woman with a sick child knew that in the cultural context Jesus and his disciples came from, she was very much an outsider. But she asked, and found that the abundance of Jesus' salvation could reach even her.

GETTING LOST | Aaron Holbrough

Jesus' invitation is to follow not to arrive, the transformation happens on the way.

unHARDENED | Jan Hux

We may think we are keen to learn new things about Jesus. But when those new things conflict with firmly held views, it may be hard to absorb them.

BASKETS | Aaron Holbrough

Sometimes the miracles we consume that look like our daily bread don’t seem as big.  But they desire to nourish us best.

POWER and WEAKNESS | Jan Hux

Herod is an archetype for materialistic political leaders but Jesus is bringing a different kind of kingdom

JUST extraORDINARY | Aaron Holbrough

If people cannot see that God is with us, they aren't going to be able to see God is in us.
 

WITHIN REACH | Jan Hux

Jesus brought transformative change to the lives of those he healed. But they weren't the only ones who were impacted by the healing.

But not my pigs | PART TWO | Steve Kennedy

Jesus doesn't see sinners, he only sees people made in the image of God.  Week two of But not my pigs.

Not my pigs | Aaron Holbrough

What if making the world as it is in heaven requires my pigs?

CHANGE | Aaron Holbrough

If perspective is motivation's silent partner, then let's change our thinking.

HARMONIOUS DIVERSITY | Jan Hux

When our faith is defined by Who we believe rather than what we believe, we can create a community that is diverse and yet harmonious.