Rodney David Rhys Smith, 1945 – 2023A reflection by Ken Gray I told Rod many times, that when the time comes for his funeral —and if I am invited to officiate—that I get the last word! And so I did, as about seventy-five family and friends gathered at Sequoia Gardens in Victoria recently. They laughed,... Continue Reading →
“This is the best book I have ever read.” These are not my words but those of a Berkley liturgical scholar who reads and publishes on Christian worship. Her unexpected outburst concerned Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future: A Novel (Orbit, 2020). Described on the cover by American novelist Jonathan Lathem as “the... Continue Reading →
Commemoration of St. Thomas of Canterbury, d. 29 December 1170 In a beautiful liturgy at Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Anglican Communion, St. Thomas, Martyr was remembered as an inspiration to those who suffer for their faith in our own day. Historically, Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, served as... Continue Reading →
A version of this material will form my 2023 Christmas Eve Sermon at St. Stephen’s, Summerland. 7 p.m. is you’re in the hood. Everyone likes receiving Christmas cards—at least most people do. See my comments elsewhere. For many, the traditional Christmas card is now replaced by the annual newsletter—my own tend to go on a... Continue Reading →
Prior to returning to Summerland where Kathie and I lived and worked from 1994-2005 we needed to make a decision. Would we have our mail re-directed to our new address? I thought it was a waste of money; Kathie, however, wanted the service. So we now receive correspondence from gutter cleaners and weed removal services;... Continue Reading →
Our “little book”: Partnership as Mission: Essays in Memory of Ellie Johnson is now published and available for sale. Kenneth Gray, Maylanne Maybee, EditorsWipf and Stock Publishers; 288 pagesAvailable in softcover, e-book, and hardcover Now through December 19, on sale at 40%off. Visit our publisher, Wipf and Stock and use the code JOY23 to receive... Continue Reading →
PARTNERSHIP AS MISSIONEssays in Memory of Ellie JohnsonEdited by Kenneth Gray and Maylanne MaybeeForeword by James Boyles Wipf and Stock PUBLISHER LINK My favourite English teacher was John Smallbridge. He taught me with a dozen others in a creative writing seminar at what was then the University of Western Ontario in 1981. During our first... Continue Reading →
Gerard O’Connell November 06, 2023 in America: The Jesuit Review Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam meets Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 29, 2023 (Vatican Media) We can but hope that the Pope’s presence at COP-28 will provide leadership and incentive to move our economy and environmental practices towards sustainable levels. I am further pleased... Continue Reading →
Reprinted from the Winnipeg Free Press; article by Niigaan Sinclair, 2 Nov 2023 "In 1845, after a century long battle over territory between the Anishinaabe and Métis on one side and the Dakota and Lakota on the other, the Dakota leaders sent a letter to Cuthbert Grant in what is now St. James in Winnipeg.... Continue Reading →
Yael Deckelbaum - Prayer Of The Mothers (Official Video) 2016-11-20 As relevant now as it was in 2016 The song "Prayer of the Mothers," was born as a result of an alliance made between singer-songwriter Yael Deckelbaum, and a group of courageous women, leading the movement of “Women Wage Peace.” The movement arose on summer... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 