Once again, another Jazz Vespers service looms large. Information is on the poster, but allow me to add: Justin Glibbery on pianoStefan Bienz on bassLoni Moger on guitarEric Manuel on drums The announced theme is Joyspring, (I don't expect this to be played as we don't have a trumpeter on this gig), but you never... Continue Reading →
Closing Churches: A response to Mattheew Larkin
Following from my posting of a sermon by Sam Rose, the Anglican Bishop of Central Newfoundland, the very distinguished, brilliant, and thoughtful music Matthew Larkin left a good comment. My response is below: Thanks for your thoughts, Matthew. Allow me to broaden the context somewhat. I am not sure that church leaders celebrate the loss... Continue Reading →
Letโs Save this Organ somehow, somewhere
From Anna Lapwood / Marnie Giesbracht, and others Sadly, plans have been made at the highest levels of the University of Alberta, Canada to remove the 1978 Casavant Memorial Organ from Convocation Hall in the Old Arts Building. These plans were confirmed when Joachim and I (Marnie Giesbrecht) met with Dean of Arts, Robert Wood... Continue Reading →
How to close a church well — A sermon
Sermon Notes at the Closing of St.Andrews Trinity East from the Right Rev. John Watton, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Central Newfoundland My friends, Iโll be honest. Throughout the three dioceses in Newfoundland and across the country, we will face increased Church closings. Itโs hard to talk about, let alone live through it. When... Continue Reading →
On the Road again
A SERMON for the congregation of St. Stephen, Summerland, Sunday, April 19th, 2026, the Third Sunday of Easter by the Very Rev. Ken Gray Willie Nelson said it, and sang it, best: On the road againGoin' places that I've never beenSeein' things that I may never see againI can't wait to get on the road... Continue Reading →
โGod does not listen to the prayers of those who wage warโ Pope Leo XIV
How the first American pope is reclaiming Christian values from the Trump administration By Christopher Lamb at CNN Flying to Algeria at the start of his landmark tour of Africa on Monday, Pope Leo had a choice. He could ignore Donald Trumpโs extraordinary overnight social media tirade against him, or he could tackle it head... Continue Reading →
Claims about Easter, Beauty, and the Institutional Church
Ikonostasis, Orthodox Monastery, Birchdale on Kootenay Lake BC - David Burrows photo Extract from an interview in Sundayโs New York Times between David Bentley Hart and Peter Wehner - The complete interview is worth a careful read David Bentley Hart is one of the worldโs most formidable and provocative theological minds. He is an Eastern... Continue Reading →
Jesus, in the image of Donald Trump? Absolutely not
Published on Facebook by the Anglican Bishop of Edmonton, Stephen London - with many thanks to you bishop Just a year ago, we all probably would have been appalled at the blasphemy of the President of the United States posting on his own website that he is Jesus. Now it seems normal. That is a... Continue Reading →
Jesus is risen โ So what?
Photo Credit: ScottProject Photography/Kamloops Tourism, Kamloops BC A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton on the Second Sunday of Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2026 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray I know itโs not the traditional, formal Easter greeting many of you prefer: โThe Lord is risen / He is risen indeed; Hallelujah.โ... Continue Reading →
Resurrection allows us to see the world with a long view
Re-posted from the Centre for Action and Contemplation (CAC) first published on April 9, 2026 Theologian Paula Gooder describes how Jesusโs resurrection would have been interpreted as a sign that the end timesโof justice, mercy, and loveโhad begun: To a lot of Jews living at the time of Jesus, believing that a resurrection had happened... Continue Reading →