• Writing
• About
• Editorial Guidelines
• Using Our Materials

• Moments: Grimy Windows

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 17 June 2020

  the winsome charm of Wisdom, Love and Grace
  sustain me for my living in this space
  and make me yearn to join them face to face more»

  
  Poetry

• Homo Emptor

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 29 May 2019

  with sculpted spontaneity, haute couture sincerity,
  synthetic joy, and ads that tickle up our hopes and needs... more»

  

• Ultimately

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 29 December 2018

  when all is said and done
  that might and power... more»

  
  Christmastide

• Holy Spirit

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 13 August 2018

  The gospel story assaults our sense of justice. More subversively, it challenges our conception of God. Isn't God “just”? Isn't God “powerful”? Why didn't God protect his faithful servant John the Baptist, now in the despot Herod's hands because of his faithfulness to God's call? more»

  
  Sermon, 8th Sunday after Pentecost, John the Baptist, Holy Spirit

• The Misfit Messiah and the Awkwardness of Grace

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 30 June 2018

  John's Gospel is a stand-out work of poetic imagination. Not the fanciful imagination of Alice in Wonderland, but the incisive insightful imagination which penetrates more deeply into truth and reality. more»

  
  St. John, St. John's Cathedral, sermon

• Treatment Room Irony

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 11 May 2018

  The picture-perfect vista on the wall
  was captioned in the style of Peter Pan – more»

  
  Poetry

• Sometime

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 10 March 2018

  every living cell in and of its self
  frets and chafes for Life... more»

  
  Poetry

• The Auburn-Haired Virgin

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 18 July 2017

  mortally imperiling herself
  for love of God, her courage
  far surpassing our conceiving... more»

  
  Poetry, Virgin Mary,

• The Ministry of Poets

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 29 May 2016

  Religious poetry can and should sometimes be the prophetic stone in liturgy's comfortable slippers... more»

  
  Homily, Poets, Hymnody

• Any Where and The Beloved Disciple

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 26 September 2015

  John's Gospel is famously unique for its seemingly 'loose' treatment of history.... more»

  
  Poetry, Disciple, Love, Gospel, St. John

• Eclipse

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 4 December 2012

  The Moon
  assails
  the Sun;
  a chill
  deathly more»
  Poetry

• Acuity

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 20 November 2012

  two wonders of
  acuity, a third
  surpassing both:
  in an instant judge more»
  Poetry

• Annunciation

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 6 November 2012

  The profound logic of God's symphony
  requires a new theme come to voice
  so Mary
  totally unsuspecting more»
  Poetry

• The Order Of Things

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 12 October 2012

  I
  Jack, eighteen
  died on his motorbike
  aneurism
  the Ugly Sister
  expert in camouflage
  and ambuscade more»
  Poetry

• Shelling Prawns

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 4 October 2012

  The random scoop of raw prawns
  from the seafood counter all fearfully
  and wonderfully made; wrenching
  off their heads a posthumous violation more»
  Poetry

• Centurion

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 30 September 2012

  They fret and chafe and set us all on edge
  as their religious festivals approach.
  But this week, men, the gods have smiled on us ‑ more»
  Poetry

• Seam Opal

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 13 September 2012

  Entering alone the silent
  otherness of the tunnelled
  world; with close intent more»
  Poetry

• At Bethany

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 13 September 2012

  Jealous of her authority
  bruised by her loss
  the Ugly Sister sat
  unnoticed more»
  Poetry

• Napping

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 7 August 2012

  Easter Day 2012
  stretched out
  full length
  upon the pavers
  breathing her
  relaxed kelpie more»

  
  Poetry

• Mr Wistful

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 11 July 2012

  Mr Wistful? No
  not one of our
  regulars more»
  Poetry

• Sacred Kingfisher

  The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson 3 July 2012

  The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus, fam Halcyonidae) is found in Australia and New Zealand and other areas of the southwest Pacific. more»
  Poetry

Topics

• Poetry [73]
• Reflection [32]
• Meditation [28]
• Advent [16]
• Love [10]
• Church [9]
• Christmastide [8]
• Lent [6]
• Pentecost [6]
• Advent Poetry [5]
• All topics »

Archives

• 2021
  JUN 
• 2020
  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2019
  DEC  NOV  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUN  MAY  APR  FEB  JAN 
• 2018
  DEC  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2017
  DEC  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN 
• 2016
  NOV  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2015
  DEC  NOV  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2014
  DEC  NOV  OCT  SEP  JUL  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2013
  DEC  NOV  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN  MAY  APR  MAR  FEB  JAN 
• 2012
  DEC  NOV  OCT  SEP  AUG  JUL  JUN 

Authors

• The Rev. Dr. Hilary Oxford Smith [48]
• The Rev. John Fairbrother [26]
• The Rev. Canon Dr. James M. McPherson [21]
• Tess Ashton [15]
• The Rev. Maren Tirabassi [12]
• Ana Lisa de Jong [12]
• The Rev. Gayanne Frater [9]
• Susan Smith [8]
• Jan Richardson [5]
• Dr. Julie Thorpe [5]
• All authors »