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Hump Day Hymns: Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
Approach, my soul, the mercy seat, Where Jesus answers prayer; There humbly fall before His feet, For none can perish there. Thy promise is my only plea, With this I venture nigh; Thou callest burdened souls to Thee, And such, O Lord, am I. Bowed down beneath a load of sin, By Satan sorely pressed,…
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Why I Write
I write because words are wonderful and have a life unto their own which I wish to explore and participate. I write because it is they way in which I attempt to make sense of the world around me, and I have a sneaking suspicion that there are others who share this trait. I write…
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Hump Day Hymns: Sometimes a Light Surprises
Sometimes a light surprises The Christian while he sings; It is the Lord, who rises With healing in his wings; When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again A season of clear shining, To cheer it after rain. In holy contemplation We sweetly then pursue The theme of God’s salvation, And find it ever…
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Looking Back and Looking Forward
Today is January 1st, New Year’s Day. The first day of 2013. My travels for the holidays are over, and I have been able to settle back into my home and to some sense of normalcy (if such a thing can exist for pastors). Although the end-of-year retrospectives are typically over, I am doing so…
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Christmas in a train station
One of the crosses that those in pastoral ministry bear, is that we are never able to be with family for the holidays. Holidays are spent with church, with parishioners, with the community of faith. We can certainly celebrate holidays with family, but it is always “Christmas, observed.” For me, Christmas Day is a day…
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The light shines
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light…
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On not being afraid
This time of year, Advent transitioning into Christmastide, is a time in which we frequently hear the words, “Do not be afraid.” Depending on what Gospel you are reading, an angel shows up to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph, and begins with the same words, “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid. Some conclude that…
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Hump Day Hymns {Advent Edition}: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to…
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Hurry as an Enemy of Faith
I’m back! It has been a busy week, pastorally speaking. We had a sudden death in our congregation and the pastoral tasks that go along with something of the like are great. My days (and nights) have been so consumed with work that I have not been able to even think about my blog which…
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Advent in Tension
Many of my parishioners walk to church, as most of my congregation does not own a car for financial reasons. One of these was walking the two blocks from her home to church. In that short distance she was struck by a car and died as a result of the impact. All of this while…
Matthew van Maastricht
Shepherd of Souls | Spiritual Director | Psychotherapist
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