This is the title I'm using for a six week preaching series looking at the first couple of chapters of the Gospel of Mark.

When I looked through the lectionary readings for the period from Holy Innocents to Easter, I was struck by how confusing a chronology it portrays (e.g. the innocents are slain before the magi arrive) and how it repeats readings in pretty short order (Baptism and temptation of Jesus) so I decided to side step it for a bit, using the same (or a very similar) division of the text, but running it sequentially and then doing something else (not quite sure what yet, though have an idea) for Lent.

Yesterday I spent a happy couple of hours reading commentaries and finding some ideas for the first sermon, "The Beginning of the Good News".  I hadn't imagined that there would be quite so much written about just this first phrase that would intrigue me, and set my creative juices flowing, but there you go!

After a slightly crazy couple of weeks, life is settling back into a more even pattern and tonight the Cat Inspector calls to see if I am fit to be trusted with rescue kitties... so later on the hoover will come out and the newly washed cat beds put on prominent display!  I am feeling optimisitc about 2015 - even if I know I need to pace myself.