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Author:Malcolm Gordon

One Voice / Articles posted by Malcolm Gordon (Page 2)
29 Nov 2018
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New song for Advent: This isn’t the End

Malcolm Gordon

I've been wrestling with Luke 21:25-36, which is the lectionary reading for this week - the first week in Advent. It's an easy passage to avoid. But as I've stayed with it, I've noticed some things worth paying attention to. This song grew out of that.[caption id="attachment_3711" align="alignright" width="300"] Leon Thomas' 'Apocalypse' from MARK: The Illustrated Gospel[/caption]Lyrics: We strain our ears for hope's whisper is rising We train our eyes on the farthest horizonFor the clarion call...

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28 Nov 2018
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Saving Advent from Christmas

Malcolm Gordon

I once heard William Willimon lecture at Otago University. He told a story of some students he had taken on a mission trip to Haiti during their summer break. During one of the final evenings of the trip, the students sat around a camp fire and shared their favourite passages of scripture with one another: John 10:10, “I come that you shall have life in the full” was one; Romans 8:28, “Nothing can separates us from...

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27 Nov 2018
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A Tribute to Eugene Peterson

Malcolm Gordon

Eugene Peterson represents something of a conundrum in our world. When you hear him speak, he is gentle. But when you read his works, he brings a prophetic edge. His words have been provocative and fearless, often wounding in the moment, in the hope of healing in the long run. But those words are hard to marry up with this soft spoken introvert. He is a mystery in that he displayed humility and audacity side by...

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01 Nov 2018
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Armistice Day Confession

Malcolm Gordon

Here's a drama/prayer of confession you might like to use on November 11, when the world marks the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War One. You'll need two readers: one who can act with some bluster and ignorance, and another who can handle some tricky place names. Reader 1: Loving God, we come to you this day to give you thanks that it is exactly 100 years since the end of the Great...

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18 Oct 2018
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Some Favourite Prayer Resource: Part 3

Malcolm Gordon

Here is the final (and eagerly awaited) installment of my trilogy of posts about helpful prayer and liturgy resources. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth by Brueggemann (USA) I wish there were more works like these, where our biblical scholars and theologians let their work reach its proper end - the task of prayer. Surely the place where a depth of understanding of the biblical narrative and Christian theology is most needed and fruitful is in addressing and...

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17 Oct 2018
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Some Favourite Prayer Resources: Part 2

Malcolm Gordon

Here's part two of my list of most influential and useful resources around prayer and liturgy.  Grant us your Peace by David Grant (Aotearoa) I leaned heavily on this book during my time in parish ministry. Because I decided to introduce and follow the lectionary to my parish, and because the Presbyterian heritage has a rich history of engagement with the Psalms (a history that is largely lost) I needed to find alternative ways to engage with the...

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16 Oct 2018
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Some favourite Prayer resources: Part 1

Malcolm Gordon

Someone recently asked me for a list of my favourite resources for prayer and liturgy. As I compiled them, I started to write little descriptions, or quote passages to demonstrate what I liked so much. In many cases I just wrote out the prayer where the bookmark was left. Here is the first part of what I wrote.Body Prayer by Pagitt and Prill (USA) This is an interesting one. Its about moving prayer beyond words and intellect,...

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22 Aug 2018
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Remembering Margaret Reid Martin

Malcolm Gordon

A few years back, I was asked to write a song to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women's ordination within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. As a result, 'Mothers of Faith' emerged.The story behind the song can be  read more fully here.On Monday, the Very Rev Margaret Reid Martin, the first woman ordained into ministry in the PCANZ in 1965 passed away. She was a pioneer. You can read something of her story...

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10 Jul 2018
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‘The Grace’ in Te Reo Maori.

Malcolm Gordon

I had a message from a friend asking if I had 'The Grace' in Te Reo Maori. I was sure I did. I'd used it before. But it actually proved more difficult to find that I expected. In the effort of making it easier for you (and me) next time, here it is.Kia tau ki a tatou katoa    Descend upon us Te atawhai o tatou Ariki    The grace of our Lordo Ihu Karaiti    of Jesus ChristMe...

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09 Jul 2018
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Finding my way back to gratitude.

Malcolm Gordon

Until a little more than a week ago,I was involved in a production of Les Miserables. It has been a bit of a life goal. Without a doubt it is my favourite musical, for its gritty story of grace and its anthemic music. Over the last four months I have immersed myself in the character of Marius, the young man who falls in love, loses his love, risks his life for a revolution, and then...

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