Here in Glasgow, we are once again shocked, horrifed and saddened by tragedy.  George Square is a hive of activity at this time of year - shoppers, revellers, visitors, children ice-skating, a lovely nativity scene, shops, cafes... and today a scene of carnage as a bin lorry careered out of control and left several people injured or killed.

"People make Glasgow" so the slogan says, and they do.  Not that people don't make other places, or that people here are fundamentally different from people anywhere else, but this tragedy is about people - lives lost and broken, hopes and dreams shattered, Christmases ruined, families grieving and mourning...

Can't really better this prayer, so am sharing it from Glasgow (Episcopal) Cathedral

Yesterday I was sharing with an occasional worshipper at church that her daughter had designed our cut out animals and helped design the angels; she enjoyed our attempts at inclusivity, including one angel with a walking stick.

She observed that her church had a paraplegic angel - one who had, somewhere along the lines, lost her legs.  On their tree, in the interests of fairness, the angels take turns to be at the top of the tree and then, year by year, work their  way down to the bottom, before the cycle begins again! (And you all thought I was a bit OCD!)

I really like this idea... the refusal to discard the "broken" angel, the sharing of honour among the whole set (she didn't say how many they had), that the first becomes last and the last, first.  Somehow it speaks deep theological truths.

BPW 151 is a very short piece of responsive liturgy:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," say the Lord God

"Who is and who was and who is to come, the sovereign Lord of all."

He who gives this testimony speaks: "Yes, I am coming soon!"

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Coming soon is a phrase beloved of the film and TV industries - this or that 'must see' film, series, serial, documentary, drama or whatever it is.  Perhaps, we as Christians have lost sight of the impact of this phrase, as, frankly God's idea of 'soon' is awfully long!

The idea of 'must see' or 'must not miss' is an important one to recapture... this is imply the best news ever, and, on an eternal scale, it's not so far off.

Not a long post today - lots to do (some fun day off stuff and some fun work stuff) but whatever you are doing, remember that 'soon' will become 'now' and, ready or not, the Lord's day will arrive!

No photos this time, but it was a lovely evening.  Lovely mixture of music and readings.  Stealing the show as ever the children's choir from an East Glasgow primary school who treated us to some wonderful, energetic and joyful singing.  Quite a lot of sight-singing for me, but some really good singers made for a worthy adults choir tackling a range of music from Stainer to Spirituals and several point in between.

It's been a long day, and a good one.

Now it's a busy week of fun and festive services.... coffee and carols, familes watchnight, Christmas celebration & lunch... looking forward to it

A lovely morning - a full church, great singing, fabulous readers, interesting material from Christian Aid, a retiring offering that raised £160 (so £320 when doubled by UK government) for Christian Aid appeal, loads of lovely crafts made by the children and nice warm sense of Christmasness.

After some chilling this afternoon, it will be the evening ecumenical lessons and Carols which looks lovely too.

A very lovely Advent 4.