Jazz Vespers returns to the South Okanagan, in Penticton on Sunday March 2 @ 4 p.m. at St. Saviour Anglican Church, 150 Orchard Ave. in Penticton. Church or no church, newcomer or longtime jazz enthusiast, friends of the band, whatever gets you off your couch, come on out. As for the band, Justin Glibbery is... Continue Reading →
Senior, yes; Elder, no — Chief Clarence Louie on life after 65
Thanks Victoria Laine for sharing a record of this talk. I knew about it; got lazy; and didn’t go. Shame on me. Limlempt Clarence Louie, one of Canada’s most respected First Nations chiefs, recently told a Penticton audience made up of mostly of seniors that growing old is admired and worshiped in his culture. A... Continue Reading →
Are you saved?
A sermon for the parish of St. Saviour, Penticton BCSunday, February 9th 2025 / Fifth Sunday after the EpiphanyThe Very Rev. Ken Gray “Are you saved brother?” I used to hear this question a lot some years ago. It was spiritual lingua franca when I was coming into adulthood in the 1970s. Christians, especially evangelicals,... Continue Reading →
Mothers, Fathers, and Prophets — Hopes, dreams, and expectations
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC — Sunday, February 2, 2025 — Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple — The Very Rev. Ken Gray Mitzy J Smith, J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA sets the stage for our... Continue Reading →
Keeping the flame alive
Cónal Creedon is a critically acclaimed novelist, playwright and documentary filmmaker. Many readers will already be familiar with him. I was not, until a writer friend, Norma, shared with me a CBC Radio Ideas special event from McGill University in Montreal. Writing in USA Review Of Books, Kate Robinson describes Creedon’s work this way: “Creedon’s... Continue Reading →
A promise is a promise
A sermon for the First Sunday of Advent -- Sunday, December 1st, 2024For the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church in Penticton, BC CanadaThe Very Rev. Ken Gray Sometimes you’ve just gotta sing. A United Church minister friend from many years ago used to say, “they’ll listen when you talk, but they’ll remember when you... Continue Reading →
“Bah, humbug.” A Donald Trump Christmas
As I prepare incidental music for the Summerland Singers and Players next Christmas Production, A Christmas Carol, A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry I cannot resist the temptation to substitute Donald Trump for the infamous Ebeneezer Scrooge. I have presented my idea to both cast and director. They have yet to seriously respond to... Continue Reading →
Nothing is impossible, I hope
A Sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton BCSunday, October 13th, 2024 (Canadian Thanksgiving)The Very Rev. Ken Gray JOB 23:1-9, 16-17; PSALM 22:1-15; HEBREWS 4:12-16; MARK 10:17-31 I can say with confidence that I have never been accused or convicted of a crime. I have been in court a number of times to watch... Continue Reading →
The show must go on – But how?
Sitting with a group of elder(ly) actors the other day was eye-opening for me. The workshop—part of Summerland’s amazing little Ryga Arts Festival—titled “Aging in the Arts” sought to brainstorm ways to assist and mitigate issues for actors and others in their older years. To a person, participants have been active in the craft or... Continue Reading →