Virginia Theological Seminary awarded the Deanโs Cross for Servant Leadership to comedian Stephen Colbert and his wife, film producer Evelyn McGee-Colbert, on Feb. 6 at General Theological Seminary in New York. Left to right: Evelyn McGee-Colbert, David Charlton, the Very Rev. Ian Markham and Stephen Colbert. Photo: Virginia Theological Seminary Episcopal News Service staff [Episcopal... Continue Reading →
What Costco, Ikea, and Walmart can teach the church
No questions asked This is what I hear when I return something to my local big box stores. For whatever reason the item I purchased does not work out for my needs or wants. I would like my money back please. Almost always, the money is immediately refunded, with a smile. No questions asked. I... Continue Reading →
I need to join this vigil – Every Friday – Until the horror ends?
VIGIL IN A SMALL TOWN, by Betty-Ann Xenis, Summerland, BC The second time we met, it was windy and our candles kept blowing out. It seemed symbolic somehow. Candles, a light in the darkness, being blown out by a force beyond our control. We finally stopped trying to relight them but just stood in the... Continue Reading →
Consent
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 11, 2026 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray Letโs start with three questions. Last week we had the Three Kings; this week, Three Questions: 1) Since the new year, how many times have you written... Continue Reading →
The Little Towns of Bethlehem
My favourite poetic Christmas tradition it to read this very Canadian piece written by John Terpstra, the Little Towns of Bethlehem. If God arrived in Christ in Bethlehem Christ arrives in the places and spaces of our nation, places familiar and unknown to us, though I am privileged to have lived in, or passed through... Continue Reading →
Essential “night before” listening for all ages
It is indeed ages since I have read or heard this poem. A marvellous presentation by Louis Armstrong (Sachmo). Not sure of the piano accompanist but might have been Marian McPartland. Brilliant and sensitive playing. Other great seasonal links in the Youtube comments and description. Happy Christmas to all. https://youtu.be/cmt2TZWGoO8
No cats under my Christmas Tree this year โ Seasonal gift suggestions, by Juno
Internationally known dog-blogger, Juno, a six year-old Labradoodle, lives with her humans in Summerland in the BC interior. Meet Sesame (pictured above), a cherished former member of the Gray family household who left them years before my arrival. I am told that in those days, one returned home to two dogs and two cats, a... Continue Reading →
โI say YESโ โ a Song for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Itโs Carol Service at church this morning. Typically the 4th Sunday of Advent focuses specially on Mary, the โMary of the Annunciation.โ Church today will pay homage mostly to โMary of the Nativity,โ including her pondering of what happened on Christmas Day and afterward. In this space today, I return to Mary of the Annunciation,... Continue Reading →
Christmas politics
From SALT, an Emmy Award winning, not-for-profit production company dedicated to the craft of visual storytelling. The article below was first published here. There can be a gauzy, candlelit coziness to Christmas Eve and Day โ and thatโs all well and good, as far as it goes. Coziness in the midst of December is a fine... Continue Reading →
Come and get it
Christmas Day lunch at Colwood's Anglican Church of the Advent Reprinted from Victoria News It all started in 2023 when Reverend Sr. Ingrid Andersen was โfeeling a bit sadโ because her son and daughter-in-law were unable to join her at Christmas. โI was thinking nobody should be alone at Christmas,โ she said. โAnd I went... Continue Reading →