I am looking forward to visiting with others who graduated from Victoriaโs Oak Bay High School fifty years ago, the Class of 1975. As interest spreads my guess is that around fifty of us will show up at a Victoria hotel in early June, hoping that we are recognizable and we will recognize others. I... Continue Reading →
Pay attention, and fall in love โ Honouring Phil McIntyre-Paul
By Michael Shapcott Phil McIntyre-Paul is practically royalty in the beautiful Shuswap in the central interior of British Columbia. He helped create the Shuswap Trail Alliance more than two decades ago. Over that time, he has helped nurture more than 350 greenway trail projects โ drawing in fifteen Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, three levels of... Continue Reading →
The gift of volunteers
The best of friends โ Ken Gray, photo It was such a lovely dinner. Around sixty members of the Anglican parish of St. Stephen, Summerland (STS), and Summerland United Church (SUC) enjoyed beautifully seasoned schnitzel, mashed potatoes whipped to the texture of icing sugar, tender cabbage rolls and a fluffy bun, all finished off with... Continue Reading →
New yearโs Northern Lights
What a great way to start the new year, every year, but especially this year, early on New Yearโs Day 2025, a walk in the woods enjoying a Northern Lights display. My friend and colleague, Louise, lives in Smithers, the Gem of Northern British Columbia. Despite warmer temperatures than normal this year, snow lay on... Continue Reading →
Winterโs Cloak โ A poem
With thanks to Karen Pidcock for the share. This year I do not wantthe dark to leave me.I need its wrapof silent stillness,its cloakof long lasting embrace.Too much lighthas pulled me awayfrom the chamberof gestation. Let the dawnscome late,let the sunsetsarrive early,let the eveningsextend themselveswhile I lean intothe abyss of my being. Let me lie... Continue Reading →
Looking good โ by Juno
Ken and Kathieโs five-year-old Labradoodle, Juno, is a well known blogger with followers from all over Canada, the US, the United Kingdom, and sometimes Ghana. Here are Junoโs thoughts on canine coiffure along with thoughts on human sartorial elegance. Enjoy. Itโs important to look good. Whether walking around the house or running and prancing about... 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 youโve just gotta sing. A United Church minister friend from many years ago used to say, โtheyโll listen when you talk, but theyโll remember when you... Continue Reading →
Hope and Surprise: Reflections for the Season of Advent
Here begins the shortest post I have ever written, and likely the shortest ever. (I hear no complaints.) What a pleasure it has been to craft reflections for our Canadian Anglican Primateโs World Relief and Development Fund for Advent 2024. Recently renamed Accompanying Hope, the agency has a long history of supporting relief and development... Continue Reading →
Everyone is grumpy right now, except me
More from Juno, your favourite dog-blogger Folks are testy right now, really tense, short-tempered, on edge, anxious at least, frantic at worst. Everywhere I look, strain creases almost every human face in conversations about people, places, and of course, politics. There are so many events and challenges before us as Canadians, Americans, and global citizens... Continue Reading →
God as Lover โ Moving towards a fresh and unexpected future
In a recent post from the Centre for Action and Contemplation (Richard Rohr) Theologian Elizabeth Johnson shows how our understanding of creation has evolved since Genesis: Ancient biblical writers, imbued with faith in Godโs creative power, described poetically how God stretched out the heavens, laid firm the foundations of the land, gave the sea instructions... Continue Reading →