During my recent trip to Victoria caught up with my longtime friend, Curt Bergen. Curt and I have known each other for most of our adult lives. We first met while organ students of Ed Norman in the 1970s in Victoria. We met at an organ concert at the downtown St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church though... Continue Reading →
“Knock knock,” someone calls from outside my office door. “Who’s there?” I laugh.. “Actually, Minister, it’s not a joke, sadly. It’s Marie here. May I come in?” 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 →
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 →
Maria J. Stephan speaks with Stephen Colbert about the role faith communities can play as communities across the country look to protect their neighbors from ICE On Facebook, or YouTube As one catholic speaking with another Maria J. Stephan and Stephen Cobert explore how non-violent resistance can work in the present moment; they also explore... Continue Reading →
A few days old but Too good not to share. [Anne Lamott on Facebook] We are not crazy. Things really are catastrophically bad. Jesus lies down daily with a cool compress on His head. My friends and I await the rain of frogs. Of course we experience hopelessness in the face of the murder in... Continue Reading →
Another in the series: Stories from Somewhere by me, Ken GrayAn index to other stories is here “God be with you.” “Oh Lord, not again. ‘God’ is so archaic. Surely ‘source of all being’ is better, more relevant, inclusive, and pleasing to the Divine.” “But you just said ‘Lord.’ There’s a problem there pal. Pate-ree-ark-al.”... Continue Reading →
It is indeed ages since I have read or heard this poem. A marvellous presentation by Louis Armstrong (Sachmo). Not sure of the piano accompanist but might have been Marian McPartland. Brilliant and sensitive playing. Other great seasonal links in the Youtube comments and description. Happy Christmas to all. https://youtu.be/cmt2TZWGoO8
Internationally known dog-blogger, Juno, a six year-old Labradoodle, lives with her humans in Summerland in the BC interior. Meet Sesame (pictured above), a cherished former member of the Gray family household who left them years before my arrival. I am told that in those days, one returned home to two dogs and two cats, a... Continue Reading →
Christmas Day lunch at Colwood's Anglican Church of the Advent Reprinted from Victoria News It all started in 2023 when Reverend Sr. Ingrid Andersen was “feeling a bit sad” because her son and daughter-in-law were unable to join her at Christmas. “I was thinking nobody should be alone at Christmas,” she said. “And I went... Continue Reading →
A short story by Ken Gray From a distance, the amber box on the shelf before me tells no story whatsoever. A beautifully crafted box of coloured strips is no mere bookend. Someone had taken a lot of time to assemble something beautiful for . . . God? Possibly hollow, I have no idea what... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 