โKnock knock,โ someone calls from outside my office door. โWhoโs there?โ I laugh.. โActually, Minister, itโs not a joke, sadly. Itโs Marie here. May I come in?โ Marie oversees our little community cemetery. Our church is too small to maintain its own burial ground, so following funeral services we bury caskets and urns in the... Continue Reading →
Empathy or Cruelty? — The choice is yours — J B Pritzger, Governor of Illinois
Previously published on Substack by Heather Cox Richardson on Feb 18, 2026 Long, but worth a careful read โIโve been thinking a lot lately about loveโabout loving people and loving your country and the power involved in both,โ the governor said. โI know, right now, there are a lot of people out there who love... Continue Reading →
Every home needs a Phodographer
Heartography: Nikon once turned a dog into a photographer using a compact camera and a heart rate monitor (Image credit: Nikon Thailand / YouTube) By Hillary K. Grigonis published February 11, 2026 DigitalCameraWorld As a former Nikon shooter, Juno's PaPaw endorses this article with both interest and appreciation. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITH YOUR LATEST... Continue Reading →
Virginia Theological Seminary awards Stephen Colbert, Evelyn McGee-Colbert Deanโs Cross for Servant Leadership
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 →
Waxing elegant
What to do with leftover stubs from altar candles? While some churches have abandoned beeswax or other real wax candles, some parishes continue to use them in worship. They look and smell lovely; better than any battery or oil fueled substitute for my money. The only problem is what to do with the stubs, a... Continue Reading →
Violence is always the act of an individual – Safety is always the work of everyone
From Trans Army on Facebook Trans Army is building a supportive community for trans individuals, providing a safe and welcoming space to connect, share, and find support. Updated reporting confirms that the person responsible for the Tumbler Ridge shooting was a 18-year-old who was transgender. That detail will draw attention. Yet attention alone does not... Continue Reading →
Love your neighbour — ICE out
Josephine Walker on AXIOS Christian clergy are deploying spiritual infrastructure โ from organizing prayer circles to acting as human shields โ to resist the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Why it matters: The clergy members who spoke with Axios argue that Trump's immigration crackdown contradicts core biblical teachings about protecting the vulnerable, putting them at odds... Continue Reading →
Good hearts and troubled minds and sore feetย โ More from Anne Lamott
[Ken Gray] So hereโs an idea. Letโs invite Anne Lamott up to Vancouver to visit with supportive and faithful Canadians. What a great event that would be. My secret agenda would be to welcome her here for an extended period of time; maybe sheโd stay . . . So often I find myself drawn to... Continue Reading →
Songs in Season โ Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen
The music says it all. Enjoy, and please share. https://youtu.be/GDaPdpwA4Iw https://youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84 Visit the takenote.ca HOME page for a colourful display of hundreds of other blogs which may interest or inspire you
First date
Love is blind? Or is it blue? โAnonymous proverb I want to make a good impression; to get our first date right. We had met in other ways โ by happenstance, at church events, at choir practice, and at community meetings. I had noticed Ronni from a distance. Sheโs attractive, and I sensed interesting. I... Continue Reading →