How women (also) built the church In my last blog, I looked at Paul’s female co-workers, and how women also built the church. This month I will examine Andronicus and Junia, likely to be a married couple, ministering together in Rome. “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison withContinue reading “Junia: The Invisible Apostle”
Author Archives: leavingbethany
How women (also) built the church
Paul’s female co-workers When you think of Paul’s journeys around the Mediterranean world, do you have the same image as I do? Paul, with his exciting, Spirit-led, dynamic, all guns blazing mission including the likes of Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and other men walking along a dusty road or preaching to a crowd? I recently googledContinue reading “How women (also) built the church”
Mary Magdalene in Art – Fallen Woman or Redeemed Saint
Mary Magdalene, Jesus’s disciple and follower, called the Apostle to the Apostles and held in high esteem by the early church has for the last fifteen hundred years in the West been remembered with a different reputation. So often reduced to a stereotype of the prostitute and fallen woman, her character defamation is reinforced byContinue reading “Mary Magdalene in Art – Fallen Woman or Redeemed Saint”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 7
The Never-Ending Story A group of friends trudge up the winding path in the dismal light of dawn. Their destination is an opening on the side of the hill. Three days before they saw the dead body of the man they loved laid in this rock-hewn tomb. But now it is empty. Later they seeContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 7”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 6
Change your perspective – Images of the crucifixion What do you imagine when you read about Jesus’s crucifixion? Have you seen films and TV series which portray it and imagine it in a similar way? Jesus may be the centre of our thoughts, but what about those who witnessed it? The gospels tell us ofContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 6”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 5
Betrayal in the courtyard If I were to ask you who betrayed Jesus, who would you say? I’m guessing it would be Judas, the well-known baddie of the Bible. One of Jesus’s inner circle who sold him for thirty pieces of silver. The word “Judas” synonymous with betrayal. Another of Jesus’s inner circle also betrayedContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 5”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 4
Agony in the Garden This is the fourth of my Lent Pilgrimage blogs. Today we look at the time Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is no nice pretty flower garden, but a working olive grove, and it happens in the dark. It is the middle of the night, the darkest hour whenContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 4”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 3
Everyday Stuff This is the third in my Lent Pilgrimage blogs. This week we think about Jesus’s last meal with his closest friends. Last year, I had the privilege of celebrating Pesach also called Passover, in a Jewish home. At the heart of it is the family, where all are included, from the youngest toContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 3”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 2
A King Like No Other Welcome to the second of my Lent blogs. This week we look at the Sunday before Jesus died, often called Palm Sunday because the crowds waved palm branches in front of Jesus. There are some strange stories in the Bible. Please hear me out before you accuse me of heresy,Continue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 2”
Lent Pilgrimage Week 1
Lent Stories This is the first of my Lent Pilgrimage blogs. For the next seven weeks, I will be looking at one aspect of the story of Jesus’s last days, and his death and resurrection. This week I’m looking at what Lent means. Each week I will share an excerpt from my first novel LeavingContinue reading “Lent Pilgrimage Week 1”
Leaving Bethany 