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 Wisdom for a Complicated World
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 →
Advent and Christmas in a time of war
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 →
The Muppet Christmas Carol — A Radical Christian Classic
Reprinted from Why ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ Is a Radical Christian ClassicBy Mitchell Atencio - sojo.net - Dec 12, 2022 [Ken Gray] Coming off our recent radio-play production of A Christmas Carol, I decided it was time to watch the Muppet’ 1992 adaptation of the classic Dickens tale. Upon release, the film was variously reviled... Continue Reading →
As We Grow Old — A poem by Murray Sinclair
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 →
Disappointment and fury in the wake of failed climate talks—and hope for the road ahead
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 →
In loving memory
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 →
A different Advent hymn
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 new climate in Washington
Excerpts from Climate Politics by Lisa Friedman at the NYT The expression "first do no harm" is a popular term used to express the underlying ethical rules of modern medicine. Although this is generally thought to have been taken from the ancient Greek Hippocratic oath, no translations of the oath contain this language. It is... Continue Reading →
Empires come and go
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BCSunday, November 24th, 2024Festival of the Reign of Christ First off, happy patronal festival to St. Saviour’s congregants gathered online or here in the room today. I had hoped to say something about your name, prompted in part by a question from a catholic... Continue Reading →