tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:56:58 +0000Occasional reflections or meditations by members of the ministry team of Holy Trinity Anglican church in Tofield, Alberta. Feedback is welcome, indeed encouraged! Just click on "Comments" and have your say.http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/index.htmnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)Blogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-6164113663743128148Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:54:00 +00002008-10-28T13:55:51.345-06:00Reflection on Matthew 20: 1-16 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like this ...”, said Jesus. Then, he would then tell a story. This passage is one of those parables. How do we find the kingdom of heaven in this story? We know the story: A man went out in the morning, to the market, where he hired some casual labourers, to work in his vineyard. They agreed on the standard daily wage; let’s say,http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2008/10/amazing-grace.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-2618224603087047940Mon, 12 May 2008 22:12:00 +00002008-05-12T16:17:28.625-06:00Reflections on 1 Peter 2.2-10 "... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people. ... Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ..." To whom is such high praise being offered? It may come as a surprise that this letter is not addressing members of the emperor’s court, nor the http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2008/05/some-hazards.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-1768158144388754945Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:53:00 +00002007-12-06T12:55:40.088-07:00A Reflection, for Advent, on Isaiah 2.1-5 and Matthew 24.36-44 In Advent, our focus is on time - but not chronological time, rather “kairos” time, in this sense of “significant season” or “propitious” time. Advent, and its wreath, is not simply a “countdown to Christmas”! The original focus of Advent was the future, the "second coming". As Anglicans, we sort of acknowledge that possibility, http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2007/12/advent-reflection.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-1813978807041986670Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:00:00 +00002007-08-17T14:11:16.247-06:00[Reflections on Isaiah 1: 1,10-20] Although Isaiah’s ministry was in Jerusalem, some 2700 years ago, he can still speak to our time. First, he condemns the worship practices of the people of his time: ... What to me (asks the Lord) is the multitude of your sacrifices? ... bringing offerings is futile ... my soul hates your appointed festivals, they have become a burden to me ... http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2007/08/whom-does-worship-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-3330307227374448742Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:04:00 +00002007-08-13T14:08:15.211-06:00Reflection on Luke 10.38-42 Another good story from Luke. This may be the first visit Jesus made to the home of Mary and Martha, a place which was to become a place of refuge for him. We hear of a bit of tension in the household, between the two sisters. But Luke is not just giving us some juicy gossip, about a family squabble. We should hear the story within its context, that section of thehttp://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2007/08/only-one-thing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-115687206526027792Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:19:00 +00002006-08-29T20:22:49.686-06:00A reflection on Ephesians 5:15-20 Some 20 centuries ago, Christians in Ephesus heard these words: "Be careful how you live, not as unwise people, but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine (for that is lacking soberness), but be filled with the Spirit. ... Let's consider some http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2006/08/take-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-115518950168993517Thu, 10 Aug 2006 05:44:00 +00002006-08-29T11:25:43.600-06:00(Thoughts on Luke 9.28-36 ) A mysterious event; we call it the "Transfiguration". Near the end of his teaching ministry, as he is on his way to his suffering, Jesus takes his three closest disciples up a mountain. There the disciples witness two significant things: 1- The face of Jesus is changed, transfigured; his clothes become dazzling; they see his glory; 2- in this glory, they see Moses http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2006/08/reflections-of-glory_115518950168993517.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-114237099694046055Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:12:00 +00002006-03-14T14:16:36.963-07:00(A reflection on Mark 1.9-15) Reflecting on the Sunday readings of Lent gives us a little "short course", on what it means to be Baptized; on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The first Sunday of Lent always presents us with the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This is year B, so we have Mark's version. Unlike the more familiar Matthew and Luke, Mark does NOT http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2006/03/who-am-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-113951372157225707Thu, 09 Feb 2006 19:24:00 +00002006-02-09T12:35:21.583-07:00(Reflections on on Mark 1.29-39) Mark packs a great deal of teaching into these few verses, three scenes from the start of Jesus' ministry. Because this is part of his first chapter, we can expect Mark to be introducing us to some themes which he considers important. Let's look more closely. 1. The first scene (vv 29-31:) On the Sabbath afternoon, Simon and Andrew bring Jesus home with http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2006/02/cured-or-made-whole.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-113692318117697392Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:56:00 +00002006-01-10T12:59:41.256-07:00Reflection on the opening paragraph of Mark (1.1-11) When we notice that this is the first paragraph of the first of the gospels to be written, it may be a bit of a surprise. The "beginning of the Good News of Jesus, the Christ" begins with John the Baptist. Only then does the focus turns to Jesus, who "came from Nazareth in Galilee". What is surprising is that Mark introduces Jesus with NO http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2006/01/where-is-galilee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-113285778330224745Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:39:00 +00002005-11-24T11:43:03.323-07:00a reflection on Matthew 25. This image of the separation of the sheep and the goats is familiar (though I have never understood why it is the goats that get picked on; or, for that matter, why the left hand). This is a favourite passage of many preachers, especially for those who use it for encouraging generous giving to charities, or for justifying a crudely literal understanding of eternal http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/11/go-with-flow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-113165028416825838Thu, 10 Nov 2005 19:20:00 +00002005-11-19T10:19:30.833-07:00(Reflection on Exodus 33.12-23) -- The Rev. Bryson RandallDespite his success as a mediator between God and the people, Moses is running out of patience. Not just with the people, but with God. In fact, Moses even sounds a bit resentful here, resentful about how God is treating him. In the tradition which is long-standing in the Scriptures, Moses does NOT just keep silent and compliant. He http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/11/sometimes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-112222195786582187Sun, 24 Jul 2005 16:17:00 +00002005-11-19T10:10:37.280-07:00-- The Rev. Coleen Lynch Laws we don’t agree with, bombs going off in civilized countries, horrible car accidents, senseless murders, too many people we don’t know doing things that upset us. Where is God in all this seeming chaos? Like all wonderful things about God and his word, we find the reassurance of his presence in Romans 8: 38. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/07/where-is-god-these-days_24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-111734461764835833Sun, 29 May 2005 05:27:00 +00002005-11-19T10:07:56.130-07:00-- The Rev. Coleen Lynch Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. (Matthew 9:13) Surely you’re not talking to us, Lord? In these last weeks the news has been full of human beings most despicable acts upon the helpless and innocent. What are we to do with those whose names have become notorious for the horrors they have http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/05/how-do-we-treat-sinner-among-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-111248995481437555Sun, 03 Apr 2005 00:55:00 +00002005-11-19T10:09:02.856-07:00-- The Rev. Coleen Lynch Easter and Spring resound with sights and sounds of bursting joy and enthusiasm. But what if you don’t feel that way? What if everyone around you is all excited about new seasons, new fashions, new relationships, new jobs, new beginnings of all kinds and you just feel lousy and stuck? Fear not. Help and hope have arrived in the person of Jesus Christ. Before you stop http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/04/when-life-gets-hard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-110982137249675148Thu, 03 Mar 2005 03:39:00 +00002005-11-19T10:09:46.536-07:00-- The Rev. Coleen Lynch For some unknown reason, humans tend to be their own worst enemies. Christians are not exempt from this plight. Lent is a time of conversion, change and transformation. It does not, and need not, be a time of morose navel-gazing and compulsive self-finger pointing. Change is natural to creation. Seasons change without gut wrenching recriminations and desperate pleas to http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/03/what-would-happen-if-i-was-happy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10140163.post-110772728007837318Sun, 06 Feb 2005 21:52:00 +00002005-11-19T10:12:06.486-07:00 -- The Rev. Coleen Lynch s a culture, we suffer from the tyranny of inconvenience. We don't like to be uncomfortable or bothered by anything that gets in the way of doing what we want to do when we want to do it. We might be willing to try a fad diet for awhile if it promises enough results, but don't ask us to change our lives permanently. Lent does just that. Lent invites us to change our http://www.holytrinitytofield.org/blog/2005/02/why-bother-with-lent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bryson Randall)0