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 →
Enough politics (for now). No more Juno dog blogs (until the new year). It’s time for some Christmas music, in particular, The 2024 St. Olaf Christmas Festival, "Our Hope for Years to Come." A compilation of this year’s three performances is now available for on-demand viewing throughout the holiday season here. A tradition since 1912,... 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 →
Amidst the seasonal flurry of activity, and given much anxiety of global and national geopolitics, here is a refreshing story, word, and song. Enjoy. “There Will Come Soft Rains” is a lyric poem by Sara Teasdale published in the July 18 issue of “Harper’s” magazine, just after the start of the 1918 German Spring Offensive... 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 →
“Something magical happens when Michael Kaeshammer sits at the piano. Sure, like all pianists, he plays 12 notes across 88 keys. But the musician and songwriter coaxes dazzling, kaleidoscopic sounds from his instrument in a way few can rival.” Thursday night’s performance at Oliver’s Frank Venables Theatre (no bad seat in the house BTW) showed... 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 →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 