Category: Christmas

Listening to the music of the soul: Walk among them, I’ll go with you

A collage of screenshots showing people engaged in reflective and worshipful activities: lighting candles at home and in a church, reading or praying at a table, walking barefoot on a beach, standing outdoors with arms raised, tending a fire, walking a garden labyrinth in winter, and quiet domestic scenes with books, icons, and candles. The overall mood is contemplative and spiritual, with varied indoor and outdoor settings.

Inspired by eight pieces of music, Listening to the Music of the Soul by Guli Francis-Dehqani is divided into eight chapters. The author also invites us to ‘have a go at creating your own Desert Island Discs… to help you better understand yourself and the things that are important to you’. Here’s my first.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2025/12/17/listening-to-the-music-of-the-soul-walk-among-them-ill-go-with-you/

Good news of great joy – for whom? A Christmas reflection

LAST SUNDAY, as part of my training as a Methodist minister, I shared this short reflection during a carol service at Wesley Church Centre in Chester: ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.’ Hello, my name’s Kieran and I’m a minister in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2024/12/24/good-news-of-great-joy-for-whom-a-christmas-reflection/

Hush the noise – and hear these angels sing!

CHRISTMAS is loud, isn’t it? So much expectation. So many voices. Telling us how to celebrate, what to wear, what to eat and drink, what to watch and what to buy.
Instead, the Methodist Church in Britain invites us to ‘Hush The Noise’ and listen to THREE new Christmas singles!

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2024/12/17/hush-the-noise-and-hear-these-angels-sing/

The work of Christmas begins – An Epiphany reflection

A REFLECTION on the story of the magi travelling to find Jesus in Bethlehem [Matthew 2:1-12] and the poem The Work Of Christmas by Howard Thurman.

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2024/01/07/the-work-of-christmas-begins-an-epiphany-reflection/

John the Baptist: Opening an Advent window on the bigger picture of the Christmas story

THE CHRISTMAS STORY is a jigsaw, which we have pieced together from the four gospels. The pieces include: a star, a manger, shepherds, and wise people from the east. But the story of a man in the desert baptizing people doesn’t seem to fit the puzzle. Does it even belong in our picture of Christmas?

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2023/12/14/john-the-baptist-opening-an-advent-window-on-the-bigger-picture-of-the-christmas-story/

God in solidarity – A Christmas reflection

‘God takes on flesh
and joins life in the struggle –
this is what radical solidarity feels like.’

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2020/12/25/god-in-solidarity-a-christmas-reflection/

A prayer for Christmas morning

AT A carol service this month, hosted by the Open Table inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the prayers, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. It’s a prayer for Christmas morning produced by enfleshed.com, a website which provides resources ‘that matter most. that addresses honestly, tenderly, and directly, the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/12/24/a-prayer-for-christmas-morning/

Will you welcome #HomelessJesus this Christmas?

TODAY the YMCAs in the Liverpool City Region gathered for a carol service in the city’s Parish Church, opposite the world famous Liver Building. As the chaplain for YMCA Liverpool and YMCA St Helens, I gave a reflection on the Christmas story and what it means for the people the YMCA supports

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2019/12/13/will-you-welcome-homelessjesus-this-christmas/

Live fully, love wastefully, be all you can be – A reflection for #Christmas by John Shelby Spong

AT A carol service this month, hosted by the Open Table inclusive Christian community in Liverpool, I read one of the readings, which I found moving, inspiring and too good not to share. It’s an extract from a lecture called ‘Jesus for the non-religious’ by John Shelby Spong, a retired US Episcopalian Bishop: Suppose we change our …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/12/24/live-fully-love-wastefully-be-all-you-can-be-a-reflection-for-christmas-by-john-shelby-spong/

Welcome into the story! A reflection for the YMCA Christmas carol service

LAST WEEK the YMCAs in the Liverpool City Region gathered for a carol service in the city’s Parish Church, opposite the world famous Liver Building. As the chaplain for YMCA Liverpool, and just starting as chaplain for the YMCA in the neighbouring town of St Helens, I gave a reflection on the Christmas story and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://abravefaith.com/2018/12/11/welcome-into-the-story-a-reflection-for-the-ymca-christmas-carol-service/

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