With thanks to the Rev. McAllister, the following: Thicken my love.Widen my heart.Sharpen my analysis.Enliven my praxis.Embolden my voice.Deepen my rest.Lighten my heaviness.Toughen my skin.Soften my spirit.Strengthen my friendships.Lengthen my endurance.Weaken my ego.Awaken my soul.Refreshen my vision.Hearken to my weary voice, O God,as we are co-conspiratorsin the struggle for a new world.Amen -- Terrance Hawkins... Continue Reading →
The library of the Yale law school. Maybe Vance is sitting there somewhere. [Ken Gray] The notes below are reprinted from a post by Fr. Cyril Hovorun shared by Edmonton-based theologian Stephen Martin. I have edited the English translation for accuracy and length, and have added a few links. Before sharing Fr. Cyril’s notes I... Continue Reading →
Defending democracy on Capital Hill, Feb 5, 2025 “The democratic world will have to get along without America. It may even have to defend itself from it.” ~ Andrew Coyne, The Globe and Mail, February 14, 2025 [Andrew Coyne, originally published in the Globe and Mail] I wonder if we have underestimated the gravity of... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the congregation of St. Stephen Anglican Church, Summerland BC / Sunday, February 16, 2025 / The Very Rev. Ken Gray I was recently told that I should include more humour in my sermons. I often do, though my joking around is often unplanned and spontaneous. Today however, I will begin with a... Continue Reading →
We don’t have a flag to fly on our patio today; other Canadians however certainly do. It’s refreshing that many Canadians have recovered their pride in our 60-year-old Maple Leaf Canadian flag, itself recently dishonored by trucker convoys and hootenanny right-wingers. Instead of parading the flag on our south-facing patio, I offer the memes below... Continue Reading →
Brandi Morin, Ricochet Media Indigenous leaders across Canada are responding sternly to President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion that Canada should become “our cherished 51st state,” emphasizing that any such discussion must recognize Indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights. Dr. Wilton Littlechild, a prominent Cree lawyer from Maskwacis, Alberta who helped draft the UN Declaration on the... Continue Reading →
Social Synthesist and author Eileen Workman provides answers to two pressing questions I have about Donald Trump. 1) Has he always been this abusive and cruel in his business and political dealings. And 2) while he is considered by many a laughing stock, serving up daily dose of clown-like horrors atop a vicious bullying narcissism,... Continue Reading →
Celebrating great Americans — A new series of blogs Time for something different here at takenote.ca. Setting aside stories of the dark fascist in the white house and his posse of oligarchal henchmen I want to commence a series celebrating great modern day Americans. Today I feature Henry Louis Gates, Jr., someone I have only... Continue Reading →
Mwigulu, courageously speaking in front of the African Court last September [Ken Gray] Readers of my blog will already know that as an Albino myself I have long supported the work of Under the Same Sun, a charity based in British Columbia but working in Tanzania to support Albinos who live at great risk and... Continue Reading →
James Murray, circa. 1879 in the scriptorium In 1992, a Lutheran Bishop joined a group of us Anglican clergy for a supper meeting at the local golf club in Sooke a short drive from Victoria. While my memory of the discussion is somewhat hazy, at one point during the meeting he simply said, “words matter.”... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 