Author Archives: Christopher Golding

I’m so grateful to a friend and chaplain colleague who introduced me to Pádraig Ó Tuama in the summer of ’24. Ó Tuama’s “Being Here: Prayers for Curiosity, Justice, and Love” (Eerdmans, 2024) is a companion book, one that can travel with you through the day, the week, the month–being picked up whenever God callsContinue reading “Struggle and Rest”

Today I remember and give thanks for my maternal grandparents, Pearl and Len Crawford, who taught me the gift of a hot cup of tea, a warm biscuit (translation—cookie!), and the importance of Scripture and Prayer at home.   Traditionally, in a liturgical sense at least, Christians focus their attention on ancestors in November onContinue reading “Remembering Our Ancestors this Easter”

Back in 2014, as I prepared to transition out of ministry as an Australian vicar in my hometown of Brisbane, a member of the parish gave me a small book that’s made an indelible mark on life ever since. Saint John of the Cross for Every Day is edited by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD. It containsContinue reading “The Daily Lenten Scandal”

Yesterday’s Gospel featured the first of Jesus’ “signs” or miracles. Jesus turns 120+ gallons of water into wine! Here, Jesus attends a wedding, respects the customs of the day, tries not to get involved, yet in the end does anyway. Yet, Jesus doesn’t want to draw attention to himself (and, perhaps to draw attention toContinue reading “The hospitable one”

Delighting in our gifts and perceiving the beauty in other human beings (and indeed in all creation!) may be just what we need right now as a long 2020 starts to draw to a close. All of this might be easier if we pay heed to our reading from 1 Thessalonians this weekend. This letterContinue reading “Delighting in encouragement”

Thomas H. Schattauer writes about the essential link between mission and worship in the introductory chapter of Inside Out: Worship in an Age of Mission. Schattauer reminds us that the “visible act of assembly” enacts and signifies the “movement of God for the life of the world.” That is, what we do in our beautifulContinue reading “Worship for the life of the world”

Reflecting on last week’s Epistle reading, Philippians 3:4b-14, Paul seems to say to us — we may need to start from the beginning again. We may need to build a whole new identity. Put everything aside. That’s what Paul speaks about doing when talking about moving away from his old life. There’s going to beContinue reading “We may need to start from the beginning again”

In this time of awakening, this time of reflection within our nation and our national church, I believe we do well to listen to the voices which have been given voice throughout the U.S. Two such leaders are Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington and Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of the Diocese ofContinue reading “Listening to our Leaders”

“…I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” Exodus 19.4b There they are, the people of God, camped “in front of the mountain.” We imagine the social and emotional exhaustion of a people who have been journeying in the wilderness. We imagine the disconnection and isolation of being thrust into a newContinue reading “Deliverance On Eagles’ Wings”