A sermon for the congregation of St. Stephen, SummerlandSunday, July 12, 2026 -- The Very Rev. Ken Gray Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it:thou makest it very plenteousThou crownest the year with thy goodness:and thy clouds drop fatness-- Anthem by Maurice Greene (1696-1755) I used to sing this anthem by Maurice Greene as a... Continue Reading →
When Trees Receive Rights — What Can Churches Learn?
By Prof. Dr. Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, Kerala, India This post is edited for length. The full post with additional context is here A centuries-old assumption was dramatically challenged on 9 June 2026, when the municipal council of Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a small town west of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Universal... Continue Reading →
Thanks Moravians – So much Good News here
The Rev. John Jackman, a man with a white beard and hair, and a boy of about 9 in a Scout uniform are shown at the altar of a church, with colorful confetti floating around them. Heard on US National Public Radio, June 28, 2026Noam Levey for KFF Health News WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Some issues,... Continue Reading →
Grace: Beauty out of ugly things
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton, Sunday, July 5th, 2026 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray Did you know that the Bible was written for the benefit of psychotherapists? Probably not; but given St. Paul’s confessional language in Romans chapter 7 such a case can be made. For example: I do not... Continue Reading →
Ecojustice Pilgrimage — An invitation to pilgrims
The third in a series of Pilgrimages sponsored by the Ecclesiastical Province of BC/Yukon in collaboration with the Parish of Kokanee in the Anglican Diocese of Kootenay From September 14th to 18th 2026 St. Mark’s in Kaslo will host a week-long gathering of pilgrims from across the province for prayer and worship, shared meals, fellowship,... Continue Reading →
Where do I fit around here? – An Anglican clergy retirement experience
A retired bishop told me recently that “when you retire, the church forgets you.” While blunt, I think they may have a point. Writing in UK Church Times: “Retirement: The Church of England depends on retired clergy, 19 June 2026, Bishop Colin Fletcher argues that “much more needs to be done to nurture clergy retirees.”... Continue Reading →
“On Eagle’s Wings”: The composer; the song; the story, blessing us all for 50 years and counting
Author, composer and professor Fr. Michael Joncas holding a June 2024 letter from former U.S. president Joe Biden by the bookcase where he framed and displayed the original 1976 score of "On Eagle's Wings," in his apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota, May 2026. (NCR photo/Camillo Barone) by Camillo Barone, NCR staff reporter By the mid-1970s, Fr.... Continue Reading →
Finally, PRIDE in Summerland
On Saturday, June 13, 2026 Summerland United Church with St. Stephen Anglican Church hosted the first ever PRIDE parade in our little town. Sure, such events have been a regular feature on the coast since the 1990s. They have also become a staple event in larger centres in the BC interior such as Kamloops and... Continue Reading →
Bishop of Amazonia and Primate of Brazil appointed as Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN)
Posted on: June 4, 2026 2:12 PM by The Anglican Communion [Ken Gray notes: This is the global network I have served one way or another since 2005. The appointment of Archbishop Marinez marks an important new chapter in the history and influence of this timely and important network.] [Anglican Communion] The purpose of ACEN... Continue Reading →
Okanagan Gleaners — An Okanagan miracle story
Gleaner: Noun; a person who gathers small amounts of grain or other produce left behind by regular harvesters—Miriam Webster There is a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted—Ecclesiastes You may not have heard about the Gleaners, but you need to know about them, and if possible you should join... Continue Reading →