Does Jesus Care If You/We Are Baptized?

To continue with the second week of our Jesus Doesn’t Care series, I spent a long time contemplating baptism and pondering: What does the United Church say about baptism? What does it mean to be baptized? What are the reasons people bring their children for baptism if they don’t intend to participate in the life…

Following the Star

As was mentioned in the promotional material, the idea for this series came from a conversation I had with someone in December when I asked her to serve communion one Sunday morning and was told, “But I have jeans on!” My immediate response was, “Jesus doesn’t care!” It got me to thinking about what else…

Surely Joy Is In This Place, Help Us Notice!

The title of my reflection is an adaptation of the theme of General Council this summer, which was “Surely God is In This Place, Help Me Notice!” But since we are focusing on joy this week, I changed it… I also changed the ‘Help Me Notice’ to ‘Help Us Notice.’ Because we are a community…

Actively Waiting for Peace

The people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined… Those words, from the prophet Isaiah, are the very first words that I spoke as a worship leader, about 25 years ago. It was Christmas Eve, and the confirmation class…

Nothing Lasts Forever

I spent a chunk of yesterday on a video conference call regarding the new region. I am part of the Transition Commission that is working to determine structure, budgets, staffing, vision, mission and volunteer opportunities… and not necessarily in that order. We have been working informally since May and formally since July when General Council…

What’s Under Our Clothes?

Who wears a uniform? What kind of uniform? What are the benefits of wearing a uniform? Uniforms are kind of a shorthand. It’s pretty obvious I have a new ‘uniform’ on today! (New black cassock) When I was an intern in NL, the first few times I went to the nursing home after hours, I was stopped…

Do We Want to Be Close to Jesus?  

Alan Alda, the United Church’s Statement on Ministry, sales training, photosynthesis, responses from people on the question: why I come to church, the reading from Mark… let’s see if they all hang together by the time I am finished. I asked people to share why they come to church and a number of you responded.…