Beethoven once said: “Handel was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb.” King George III called Handel “the Shakespeare of Music.” George Bernard Shaw commented that “Handel is not a mere composer in England: he is an institution. What is more, he is a sacred institution.” In North America and England, at the very … [Read more...] about The Messiah of Handel
Christmas
Jimmy Stewart’s Wonderful Life
One of our favourite Christmas movies is It’s a Wonderful Life where Jimmy Stewart plays the part of a generous but discouraged businessman who discovers that he really was making a positive impact. You will remember how the Christmas angel Clarence had to earn his wings by helping out Jimmy Stewart (aka George Bailey). George was so distraught at Christmas that he was about to … [Read more...] about Jimmy Stewart’s Wonderful Life
The year that Jesus went missing
Editor’s note: There have been many articles in Light Magazine over the years, but this one is one of the best and never ceases to remind me that we have a good God who loves us dearly. It is reprinted this Christmas with the knowledge that we have all lost something important in our lives, and with the prayer that you will find healing from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the … [Read more...] about The year that Jesus went missing
Christmas: the richness of presence
It’s now the second Christmas of COVID. Last year, celebrations were curtailed. We saw our daughter and son-in-law only briefly, distanced around a fire-pot in our wide-open garage, eating a Christmas breakfast we’d each cooked separately in our own kitchens. Memorable, but not ideal. From those depths of isolation orders and social distancing, we learned (in an inverted way) … [Read more...] about Christmas: the richness of presence
Katharina Luther: Reformation Firestarter
Martin Luther & his wife Katharina dearly loved Christmas. Tradition even credits them with having the first Christmas tree. On this 502nd anniversary of the Reformation, it is worth remembering that Luther’s marriage revolution allowed pastors to marry for the first time in over 500 years. Marriage and family went from being second-best to something to be celebrated. Many … [Read more...] about Katharina Luther: Reformation Firestarter