Another in my series “Larger Than Life Characters in our little town of Summerland” Dick Spencer and I met shortly after Kathie and I moved to Summerland in the fall of 1994. With his wife, Lois, he was a member of the Anglican congregation I served as priest from 1994-2004. A talented woodworker and carpenter... Continue Reading →
On Sundays when I do not preach or preside locally I try to include something relevant to “future-church” themes. While my typical Sunday morning worship experience occurs in traditionally built and appointed historic buildings, utilizing a familiar liturgy with mostly traditional music, I gotta say that I often don’t feel nourished. For many reasons, I... Continue Reading →
[Ken Gray] As an ordained Canadian settler-descended Anglican who initially welcomed the First Nations version of the New Testament. The language seemed fresh, dynamic, and, well, different than other translations I have always used for preaching and proclamation. In using it sparingly in public worship I thought I was helping the process of healing and... Continue Reading →
Call it a stroll through a forest; a walk along curvy pathways; a resting place between colourful flowerbeds. Whatever you call it, you are invited to join together for the second annual Celebration of Creation at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens on Sunday afternoon, September 14 gathering at the Gazebo at 2 p.m. It’s a great... Continue Reading →
From Don Binder on Facebook - The Revd Donald Binder is Chaplain to the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Canon Pastor of the English-Speaking Congregation of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha (Bethesda) which has five porticoes. In these lay many... Continue Reading →
John Longhurst is likely the only journalist covering matters of faith in a Canadian Daily, the Winnipeg Free Press. In 2006, John received the Distinguished Contribution to Religious Communications from the Association of Roman Catholic Communicators of Canada. In 2021 he received the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding. In 2024,... Continue Reading →
A sermon for the congregation of St. Saviour, Penticton on the 1st week of the 2025 Season of Creation, September 7, 2025 — The Very Rev. Ken Gray On this the first Sunday in the 2025 Season of Creation, let’s go somewhere unusual. As the Monopoly board says, “Go to Jail - Go directly to... Continue Reading →
Creator, from the depth and breadth of creation, we thank you. The message below is from Tomás Insua, Laudato Si' Research Institute (Oxford University) on behalf of Bishop Bedford-Strohm (chair of Feast of Creation process) and fellow conveners. Additional context added by KJG. For months now many global ecumenical partners including Anglicans have participated in... Continue Reading →
I have long lasting ties with Scotland’s Iona Community. During the 1990s while ministering at Sooke on Vancouver Island I discovered their music and liturgies. Initially created by John Bell, Graham Maule, and the Wild Goose Worship Group the liturgies were scripturally based, socially relevant, and justice-centred. The music was very well crafted, easy to... Continue Reading →
A few days ago I published a blog describing Pope Leo’s citation of the faithful witness of the Algerian Martyrs during the Algerian civil war between 1994-1996. Mission, the pope insisted, is never “a form of self-display, in opposition of identities, but the gift of self, even to the point of martyrdom, by those who... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 