Rev Shirley Murphy
The thoughts, reflections, faith stories and meanderings of an 
Anglican Priest

Ordinary people, extraordinary stories. The story of my journey from India to Pembrokeshire and my life at the heart of the community....

"You are just slaves. So go back to where you came from..." is what I was told by an elderly British lady when I was working in a travel...

The Rev. Allan Boesak (1946 – ) is a South African theologian (ordained in the Dutch Reformed Church), politician, and anti-apartheid activist. His Advent credo was originally published in  “Gathered for Life:  Official Report, VI Assembly, World Council of Churches” , ed. David Gill (Geneva: WCC Publications, 1983), 228-229. I believe it was also included in his book,  Walking on Thorns: Call to Christian Obedience , published in 1985.

I see the hands of Joseph. Back and forth along bare wood they move. There is worry in those working hands, sorting out confusing thoughts with every stroke. “How can this be, my beautiful Mary now with child?”  Rough with deep splinters, these hands,small, painful splinters like tiny crosses embedded deeply in this choice to stay with her. He could have closed his hands to her,said, “No” and let her go to stoning. But, dear Joseph opened both his heart and hands to this moth