Back to work, and back to sermon preparation - the day has flown by between chossing hymns, sorting out the all age bit, doing a bit of exegesis and wondering quite where my mulling will lead me.

Out of curiosity, I decided to do a quick search of my sermons/services ranging back over a deacde or so, to see when else, and on what themes, I have used one of the passages that the lectionary offers for this coming Sunday... it turns out I've used it six times, three of those in the last four years!

Isaiah 42: 1 - 9 has prompted thoughts on...

• resurrection (or more specifically characteristics of 'being a place called resurrection'*)
• mission
• prophets
• active waiting
• Pentecost (action of God's spirit)

None of which is where we are headed this week and each of which still seems to be a justifiable use of the verses.  All of which illustrates, were illustration needed, that there is always more light and truth waiting to be released using words from the Word that speaks of the WORD (assuming your knowledge of Barth is up to that allusion!).

I guess what I like is that whatever theme or scheme we dream up (or assert that God gives us) the same ancient texts still have something to say.  This week... ah, that'd be telling!

* in Leicestershire there is a place called Anstey, a name which derives from anastasis, which in turn means 'resurrection'.  This inspired me to ponder what it might mean to be a place called 'resurrection'.

So, today I am back at work after a lovely week off seeing family and friends.  It has been a late start as I had my annual hospital check-up at the breast clinic to go to first.  I love my team to bits, they are so incredibly switched on, know stuff about their patients (or about me anyway - they always ask how church is going) and instill lots of confidence and hope.  Mr Wilson, Dr McBain, Sr McLeod you are simply the best.

Anyway, the great start to my New Year is that, subject to mammogram results, I am now three years (well 2 yrs 11 months if you want to be pedantic) NED :-)  This is splendid news and always prompts far more delight than I can explain in words.  Celebratory lemon and poppy seed bun and LARGE SFT latte consumed, and now I can begin work with a huge smile on my face.

By the wonders of advance posting ...

Happy New Year

wishing you peace, joy, health and happiness in the coming weeks and months

That's me, as they say in Derby and Glasgow!  All set to head to church and then a whole octave of free time spent travelling around England, catching up with family and friends.  Bags packed, lunch packed, cat organised, car fuelled (seems to have cost less than this time last year...).

Huge thanks to all readers and commenters (especially Perpetua who valiantly continues despite, in spite or to spite the dreadful comment facility on this platform).

I end 2013 having been discharged by the plastic surgeons (reconstructive stuff) and will begin 2014 with my annual check-up with the fantastic breast team at Western Infirmary Glasgow.

I end 2013 happy, hopeful and broadly healthy (even if the number of pre-exisitng health conditions on my travel insurance documents is scary!!) and look forward to many speciual times in 2014 - including New Zealand, Finland and hte Commonwelth Games in Glasgow.

God is faithful and has brought me through another year of growing and experiencing - and I commend myself and my coming year to God.

Wishing you and those you love a peaceful, hope-filled 2014.

Bye for now!

It isn't very often I preach the Sunday after Christmas - usually only when it coincides with Boxing Day - but this year I will be.  My valiant, if not always successful, endeavours only to work sensible numbers of hours (so we'll gloss over a couple of 14 hour days recently) mean that I have worked yesterday and today (and will take my Bank Holiday lieu days next week) but at least I now have a sermon.

And I am delighted by it.  Not necessarily with it.  But by it.

Because I found a new way to read an old text, and a new bit of 'good news' to savour.  It may be old news to anyone else, and it may be dodgy hermeneutics, but it has made me happy!

What is it...?  AH, you'll have to wait and see.  Now it's just the small matter of the craft activity to sort.