A sermon for the United and Anglican congregations in Summerland BC on Good Friday, 2026 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray We need a new name for today, for what is โgoodโ about Good Friday? By definition, โGood Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord, is... Continue Reading →
LAST SUPPER – The art of Maundy Thursday
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton, Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2025 by the Very Rev. Ken Gray โI donโt think itโs appropriate at all! Please donโt use this image,โ snapped a member of one of my former parishes. (Not Summerland I might add.) My critic referred to a setup photograph created at... Continue Reading →
Such excellent sermon feedback
From Andrew DeCourt on Facebook who writes: I usually script my sermons. I do this to be precise, respect time, and keep a record of what Iโve said. But yesterday morning, I felt nudged to call an audible. I switched my sermon text an hour before church and preached directly from my heart without any... Continue Reading →
Resurrecting the obvious
A sermon for he congregation of St. Saviour Anglican church, Penticton BC - Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 โ The Fifth Sunday in Lent - The Very Rev. Ken Gray Those of us who officiate at funerals get to say some wonderful words. For instance, right at the beginning of the service: "I am the resurrection... Continue Reading →
What Costco, Ikea, and Walmart can teach the church
No questions asked This is what I hear when I return something to my local big box stores. For whatever reason the item I purchased does not work out for my needs or wants. I would like my money back please. Almost always, the money is immediately refunded, with a smile. No questions asked. I... Continue Reading →
The deafening bells of justice
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour Anglican Church, Penticton BC Sunday, February 1st, 2026 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - The Very Rev. Ken Gray Based on MATTHEW 5:1-12 I have never seen the streets of Minneapolis so full of people, and on such a cold, wintry day; temperatures of 12O F... Continue Reading →
How to Follow the Right Star โ Directions for Epiphany
Photo credit: Michael Shapcott A sermon for the congregation of St. Stephen, Summerland, Epiphany 2025 โ The Very Rev. Ken Gray Before one sets off on an Epiphany journey itโs important to know which star to follow. There must have been dozens of bright lights in the Middle Eastern sky, many visible to the ancient... Continue Reading →
Truth amongst the tinsel – Making sense of it all
Originally published by the New York Times as The Kingdom of God Is Ruled by the Humblest of Men, an essay by Peter Wehner While long for a blog post, I commend to readers Peter Wehner's exploration of the significance of Jesus' incarnation as a babe at the biblical Bethlehem. We typically hear such explanations... Continue Reading →
The Little Towns of Bethlehem
My favourite poetic Christmas tradition it to read this very Canadian piece written by John Terpstra, the Little Towns of Bethlehem. If God arrived in Christ in Bethlehem Christ arrives in the places and spaces of our nation, places familiar and unknown to us, though I am privileged to have lived in, or passed through... Continue Reading →
โI say YESโ โ a Song for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Itโs Carol Service at church this morning. Typically the 4th Sunday of Advent focuses specially on Mary, the โMary of the Annunciation.โ Church today will pay homage mostly to โMary of the Nativity,โ including her pondering of what happened on Christmas Day and afterward. In this space today, I return to Mary of the Annunciation,... Continue Reading →