How Great A Cloud of Witnesses

I hope you appreciate the Ascension hymn I’ve posted. I’ll have time to give a fuller post regarding the Lord’s Ascension and our share therein pretty soon. I think I’ll be using William Milligan who wrote in the 19th century thus this will be part of the occasional “Sons of the Fathers” series. So often it is swept aside but I think it is vital that we consider Ascension as a monumental aspect of the reality of faith. I hope you’ll tune in.

See you soon, and many blessings,

Meg

Note: Obviously this constitutes a bit of a diversion from Church Fatherly stuff but this is the prayer I find myself saying as we approach Holy Saturday and I just wanted to share it with all of you. It is Sinead O’ Connor’s song, “Something Beautiful.” It is such a beautiful song, especially for listening. You might look it up. Well, in fact here is a link for you! Simply click on “Music” when you arrive on the website. All the blessings of Christ’s resurrection for you–Meg

“Something Beautiful”

I wanna make
Something beautiful
For you and from you
To show you
To show you
I adore you
Oh you

And your journey
Toward me
Which I see
And I see
All you push through
Mad for you
And because of you

I couldn’t thank you in ten thousand years
If I cried ten thousand rivers of tears
Ah but you know the soul and you know what makes it gold
You who give life through blood

Oh I wanna make something
So lovely for you
‘Cus I promised that’s what I’d do for you
With the bible I stole
I know you forgave my soul
Because such was my need on a chronic Christmas Eve
And I think we’re agreed that it should have been free
And you sang to me

They dress the wounds of my poor people
As though they’re nothing
Saying “peace, peace”
When there’s no peace (2x)

Now can a bride forget her jewels?
Or a maid her ornaments?
Yet my people forgotten me
Days without number
Days without number
And in their want
Oh in their want
And in their want
Who’ll dress their wounds?
Who’ll dress their wounds?

Amen
Amen
and Amen.

Dear Friends,
Here is just a word of fair warning, or hopefully rather a happy promise (!) that I am putting together an unusually long post to kick off Holy Week. I hope you will take the time to read it and I hope you appreciate it a lot. The post will include a sermon of John Wesley as part of this blog’s occasional “Sons of the Fathers” series. You’ll just have to check back to find out which sermon but I really love this one with which I worked while in seminary and I think you’ll be blessed in the reading too. Will post soon.
Christ’s peace for you,
Meg

I haven’t posted here in about two months’ time. Sorry, but things have been and still are very busy around here. I just don’t have time to post regularly but I will post as I am able and may return to regular posting eventually. Christ’s peace to you and many blessings for a Holy Lent!
Warmly,
Meg

Again, lots of busyness, a little tiredness and a need to catch up. Besides, with stormy weather here I didn’t have net service last night. Will post Wednesday or Thursday. Until then enjoy the Christmas hymn selection from Hymns of the Early Church as translated by John Brownlie.
Many Advent time blessings,
Meg

Dear friends,
I’m very tired and need to catch up a bit. A new post should appear soon.
Peace and joy,
Meg Shoeman

During the second week in Advent I will share an extract from the work of the really brilliant Roman Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. If you’ve not read any of Balthasar prior to this you might scratch your head just a little, but I think not too much. There is not so much special language in this extract that it should detract from the thrust of Balthasar’s point: that we have been blessed to really see the Lord in his glory, or beauty. When you have a chance please spend some time with Balthasar’s masterful and beautiful statement of a theological aesthetics. Also note that Balthasar falls into the occasional Sons of the Fathers series within this blog.
Blessings and peace for you in this Season of Wonder,
Meg Shoeman

Dear friends,
Although I promised a week of reflection with Athanasius, I will now focus at least Tuesday on an extract from the work of Thomas F. Torrance. This is to honor Tom’s life, as word of his death came today. His brother, David was right to observe the fitting date on which Tom went to be with his Lord–the first Sunday in Advent. Let us give thanks for the beautiful witness of Tom’s life and work and let us pray for his family as well.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.
Sincerely,
Meg Shoeman

I think I will interrupt the relative variety of this blog by reading from Athanasius for a while. His treatise on the Incarnation is beautiful and appropriate for this season of Advent. I may post material from others but mostly, I would like to follow Athanasius for at least the week. I hope you find this helpful and pray God’s richest blessings for you as you await the coming of the Lord of life!
Meg

You’ll note that not all entries are based upon the work of early fathers such as those from the first century onward. Some will draw from later figures. For example the entry for Friday 23 November is drawn from the work of Francis of Sales whose dates are 1567-1622. In the interest of avoiding confusion, such late figures will be tagged as “Sons of the Fathers.”