Tis the season for books, for my comments and recommendations for you, loyal readers of books I have read in the past year, and my own suggestion of titles for the year to come. Now half way through Who We Are: Four Questions For a Life and a Nation by Murray Sinclair I want to... Continue Reading →
Timely and prescient thoughts from American writer Parker Palmer By accident of birth, the Christmas story has been a staple of my life for 85 years. As a kid, it was all about the glitter and gifts, of course. Today, the story compels me to question my courage and my resolve… It asks me to... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC on Christmas Eve 2024 -- The Very Rev. Ken Gray We all have our Christmas traditions. My own include hauling out Raymond Briggs books and videos including Father Christmas and The Snowman. I often watch the Alistair Sim version of Charles Dickens’ A... Continue Reading →
How can Advent and Christmas be contemplated in a time of war, asks Richard Sewell, Dean of St. George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem [Reprinted from the Church Times UK and St. George’s College, Jerusalem] THE ancient city of Jerusalem is bordered by two valleys: Gehenna and Kidron. The latter is also known as the Jehosophat Valley in... Continue Reading →
From Who We Are: Four Questions For a Life and a Nationby Murray Sinclair , Sara Sinclair, Niigaan SinclairLearn about this very special book here As we grow oldthe ground we walk onrises upso that,as each of those few momentsleft to uspass byand we grow oldand hair turns greyer stillwe move a bit more slowly.... Continue Reading →
By Jim Hodgson on 11th Dec 2024 // Unwrapping Development “I am infuriated to come home to the aftermath of six typhoons that have struck the Philippines in the space of just four weeks with basically zero gains from COP29,” said Patricia Mungcal, a young climate advocate who serves as humanitarian manager with the National... Continue Reading →
I am pleased to share a sermon from a colleague, Fiona Brownlee preached at Montreal’s Christ Church Cathedral on the 20th Anniversary of the Massacre at Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, December 6, 1989. After the event and Fiona’s sermon the sentiments expressed remain potent and deserving of our attention today. Scripture Readings:Judges 11: 30-40Psalm 551 Corinthians... Continue Reading →
Growing up as a boy chorister at St. John the Divine in Victoria I remember well the hymns of Advent. “Come thou redeemer of the earth,” “Lo, He comes with clouds, descending,” “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist cry,” with many others. These well populate my musical memory in a wonderful way, though I must say... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the First Sunday of Advent -- Sunday, December 1st, 2024For the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church in Penticton, BC CanadaThe Very Rev. Ken Gray Sometimes you’ve just gotta sing. A United Church minister friend from many years ago used to say, “they’ll listen when you talk, but they’ll remember when you... Continue Reading →
Here begins the shortest post I have ever written, and likely the shortest ever. (I hear no complaints.) What a pleasure it has been to craft reflections for our Canadian Anglican Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund for Advent 2024. Recently renamed Accompanying Hope, the agency has a long history of supporting relief and development... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 