Communities of Reconciliation What I hope for in 2016 is that I might grow more into my ability to offer such space for reconciliation. What I hope for in 2016 is that my own St. Brigids Community Vancouver will continue to offer in Vancouver the profoundly needed ministry of reconciliation, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Meeting The Shepherds I imagine him as one of the shepherds. Street smart and world weary, but ready for a fight if need be. I imagine the angels showing themselves to the shepherd and his pals with good news of great joy.
Refugees in their own backyard A refugee in his own backyard. That’s what Joseph was. Bethlehem became a refugee camp. But these were refugees in their own backyard.
At a Loss For Words: Shutting up in Advent Sometimes there is simply nothing to say. Sometimes words are too easy, too cheap. Sometimes we need to shut up during Advent.
Why Church (Pt. 2) No church's story is a first person narrative. Even if that's what the talking heads on the conference circuit want to tell us.
Scared Shitless – A Christmas Story You ever been that afraid? You ever been totally shaking in terror? You ever been scared shitless?
Jesus, Dylan and the Signs of the Times In the midst of the storm, while the bombs are blowing up all around us, while the thunder rolls over us, caught in the middle of this cataclysm, Dylan has the audacious imagination to hear and see nothing less than the chimes of freedom flashing.
Why Church? (Pt. 1) Every time the Why Church question flares up, it's because I'm in a situation with folks I'm convinced have forgotten why we are Church in the first place.
Coffee Shop Prayer Years ago, it became apparent that I could not pray the way I used to. And so I stopped praying. But this has been death. What I needed was not to give up on prayer, but to learn to pray anew.
Faithfulness and Justice: Reformed Faith in the Face of Empire Luther and Calvin listened deeply to God’s voice in scripture to address the pressing questions of their time. To be faithful to them we must do no less.
Jesus, Authority and Healing: A Post Election Sermon This morning marks the start of the reign of “Mr. Anyone But Harper,” a new white man who now holds majority power.
Nazareth to Ottawa: Election Eve Reflections Good news to the poor. Release to captives. Recovery of sight to the blind.
Return to the Table On those panic-stricken days I wonder if Jesus has up and left, all I have to do is return to the table. It's there that I find him in the wafting, yeasty smell of bread. In the glutenous texture and taste of that broken fragment extended to me by a friend.
Canada’s Election: When Fear is Stronger than Facts and Figures This election campaign has me missing Jack Layton's spirit and presence on the trail. While the Conservatives deal in negative emotions and attacks, the other parties respond with Facts and Figures. The one controlling the emotional battle of this election is the one dealing in fear.
Living in the Tragic Gap Living in in the Spirit means holding the tension of the tragic gap, living in the tension of hope and reality, and allowing that tension to break our hearts open, so that the heartbreak of God, becomes our heartbreak as well.