From Don Binder on Facebook - The Revd Donald Binder is Chaplain to the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Canon Pastor of the English-Speaking Congregation of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha (Bethesda) which has five porticoes. In these lay many... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton on the 1st week of the 2025 Season of Creation, September 7, 2025 — The Very Rev. Ken Gray On this the first Sunday in the 2025 Season of Creation, let’s go somewhere unusual. As the Monopoly board says, “Go to Jail - Go directly to... Continue Reading →
How one of Canada’s richest women transformed the island of her birth Highlights from Deirdre McQuillan in The Irish Times Sun Aug 24 2025 Having made a fortune in fibre optics, the ‘culturally responsible’ entrepreneur Zita Cobb helped reverse the fortunes of Fogo island, Newfoundland At the age of 13, in 1971, Zita Cobb, an... Continue Reading →
Arlene Dickenson on Facebook Anaïs Nin said life shrinks or grows in proportion to one’s courage. I think about this a lot when I see adults, at any age, settling into smaller and smaller worlds. The same coffee order, the same daily routines. The same conversations with the same people about the same safe topics.... Continue Reading →
With thanks to June Maffin I am pleased to share an insightful poem by Brian Bilston. June writes: “I believe that living in the US these days is 'Freedom with a Trigger.' ... 'Justice in a Holster' ... 'The Pulled Vote, Not the Cast Vote.' Thank you, Brian Bilston. Your words in your "America is... Continue Reading →
Creator, from the depth and breadth of creation, we thank you. The message below is from Tomás Insua, Laudato Si' Research Institute (Oxford University) on behalf of Bishop Bedford-Strohm (chair of Feast of Creation process) and fellow conveners. Additional context added by KJG. For months now many global ecumenical partners including Anglicans have participated in... Continue Reading →
I have long lasting ties with Scotland’s Iona Community. During the 1990s while ministering at Sooke on Vancouver Island I discovered their music and liturgies. Initially created by John Bell, Graham Maule, and the Wild Goose Worship Group the liturgies were scripturally based, socially relevant, and justice-centred. The music was very well crafted, easy to... Continue Reading →
A few days ago I published a blog describing Pope Leo’s citation of the faithful witness of the Algerian Martyrs during the Algerian civil war between 1994-1996. Mission, the pope insisted, is never “a form of self-display, in opposition of identities, but the gift of self, even to the point of martyrdom, by those who... Continue Reading →
Taking a rest today from some of the horrible news from down south, and elsewhere. Please find below a truly good news story. Enjoy. Back to the awfuls (new word) tomorrow. Promise. As a child growing up in Victoria through the 1960s I remember the “Chinese grocery stores.” I especially remember one on the corner... Continue Reading →
Thanks to Gary Schmidt for this lovely little piece. My father is in his eighties, and every morning he insists on walking to the little grocery store at the end of the street. I’ve told him a hundred times, “Dad, you don’t need to do that. I can order everything online. One click, and it’s... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 