Photo credit: Michael Shapcott A sermon for the congregation of St. Stephen, Summerland, Epiphany 2025 – The Very Rev. Ken Gray Before one sets off on an Epiphany journey it’s important to know which star to follow. There must have been dozens of bright lights in the Middle Eastern sky, many visible to the ancient... Continue Reading →
Originally published by the New York Times as The Kingdom of God Is Ruled by the Humblest of Men, an essay by Peter Wehner While long for a blog post, I commend to readers Peter Wehner's exploration of the significance of Jesus' incarnation as a babe at the biblical Bethlehem. We typically hear such explanations... Continue Reading →
"The inevitability of death is what makes us love life"--Dianne Rayson The Rt. Rev. Geoff Woodcroft is the 13th bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ruperts Land in the Anglican Church of Canada having served from 2018-2025. Diagnosed with terminal cancer in October 2024 he went on immediate medical leave then considered palliative. He formally... Continue Reading →
A message from the Sabeel community As we celebrate this Christmas season, we give thanks for your gifts of friendship and solidarity with the people of Palestine. Your support, prayers, and commitment to justice and peace sustain us and encourage our work every day. We especially honor those who are willing to take risks to... Continue Reading →
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
“NOEL” by J.R.R. Tolkien was written in 1936, amidst the gathering gloom of national socialism in Germany. At the time, it provided an antidote to social and political anxiety. May it provide some relief for us now. Grim was the world and grey last night:The moon and stars were fled,The hall was dark without song... Continue Reading →
It’s Carol Service at church this morning. Typically the 4th Sunday of Advent focuses specially on Mary, the “Mary of the Annunciation.” Church today will pay homage mostly to “Mary of the Nativity,” including her pondering of what happened on Christmas Day and afterward. In this space today, I return to Mary of the Annunciation,... Continue Reading →
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 — and that’s all well and good, as far as it goes. Coziness in the midst of December is a fine... Continue Reading →
The politics of humiliation and the God who listened to Mary Many thanks to Betty-Ann Xenis for this suggestion. Derek Penwell on Substack - Dec 12, 2025 Mary asked, “How can this be?” but heaven didn’t call her nasty. Quiet, piggy. Ugly inside and out. Stupid and nasty. Can you hear the beat? Say the... Continue Reading →
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 “feeling a bit sad” because her son and daughter-in-law were unable to join her at Christmas. “I was thinking nobody should be alone at Christmas,” she said. “And I went... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 