Archive for the ‘Salvation Army’ Category
Commitment Sunday 2011
Today is Commitment Sunday in the Salvation Army UK, and in the Christian calendar it’s the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. This gives me an opportunity to share one of my favourite paintings (to be found in the National Gallery, London) and a hymn which brings both events together.
Christ, when for us You were baptized,
God’s Spirit on You came,
as peaceful as a dove and yet
as urgent as a flame.
God called you his belovèd Son,
called you his servant too;
his kingdom you were called to preach,
his holy will to do.
Straightway and steadfast until death
you then obeyed his call
freely as Son of Man to serve
and give your life for all.
Baptize us with your Spirit, Lord,
your cross on us be signed,
that, likewise in God’s service, we
may perfect freedom find.
Christmas 2010
It’s almost impossible to say something new about Christmas, and to speak of the true meaning of Christmas is something of a cliché. So I thought I’d go down a different avenue and allow two pieces of art speak to you, I hope you will find reflecting on them helpful. One is a piece of visual art, the other is a poem (set to music in the Salvation Army Song Book). I’ve always appreciated the artwork of Banksy, and the above piece was pointed out to me by my online friend Alex, @aldakila on Twitter. The poem is by Catherine Baird:
When Jesus looked o’er Galilee,
So blue and calm and fair,
Upon her bosom, could he see
A cross reflected there?
When sunrise dyed the lovely deeps,
And sparkled in his hair,
O did the light rays seem to say:
A crown of thorns he’ll wear?
When in the hush of eventide,
Cool waters touched his feet,
Was it a hymn of Calvary’s road
He heard the waves repeat?
But when the winds triumphantly
Swept from the open plain,
The Master surely heard the song:
The Lord shall live again!
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 NLT
Have a very Happy Christmas as you celebrate the coming of Jesus as the Light of the World.
