As you know, the past few weeks, I’ve been using sermons from other United Church ministers in order to free up some time for Interim Ministry tasks that were taking priority. I have to say that it felt a bit weird to be preaching other people’s words. And while I had planned to do that…
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.…
I came in from the back with a shawl draped around me. I was so excited when I heard that my son Jesus was coming home for a visit. I had missed him since he started traveling around the countryside. His brothers and sisters were excited as well… after all, they hadn’t travelled much further…
The art of memoir writing, in particular spiritual memoir writing, has been gaining in popularity over the last number of years, at least in the circles that I move in. I suppose one way we could understand at least some of the Biblical writings is to think of them as spiritual memoirs. Listen to the…
What sounds in the natural world capture our attention? The peepers in spring? Waves, murmuring or roaring? Children let out of school? What music/news/podcasts do we listen to? Does the music of your teen years instantly bring you back to a dance in a gym? What makes us pay attention? What captures our interest? What…
The time has come… for all the students who walked out of school to protest easy access to guns…The time has come that Stephen Hawking is once again stardust… The time has come…. winter is loosening its hold on the earth. Some very hardy gardeners are outside again, helping to prepare the way for the…
Sometimes I wonder how I ever wrote a sermon without Google. I have often wondered why people at football games held up signs that said John 3:16. Then I suddenly realized, “Google probably knows!” And sure enough, this is what I found out on Wikipedia: It started with a man by the name of Rollen Stewart,…
Were some of you confused by my reflection title? It’s a quote by Dr. Brené Brown. Dr. Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston; she has spent the past sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, empathy, and shame. She is the author of four books: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, and Braving the…
Last week we heard about Mary and her encounter with the angel Gabriel, and her saying yes to God. This week we hear about Joseph having a similar experience and saying yes to God. When have you said yes to God? Some people, no matter what is offered, their initial response is no. Are you…
Well, good morning everyone. My, what a fine gathering! Do you recognize me without my blue shawl? You know me as Mary, although I was more commonly called by my Jewish name, Miriam. And this is the kind of thing I wore most days, not the blue of royalty, although I am honored that I…
Ecumenical Continuing Education for Clergy and Lay People
The greatest WordPress.com site in all the land!
Looking beneath the obvious!
Connect | Create | Capture
Processing with God: Narrative Lectionary, Liturgy, Prayers
Welcome to Larry Hodgson’s world
Law. Language. Culture.
Your source of fresh ideas for youth ministry
Where the fire and the rose are one
RCL and Narrative Lectionary Based Children Sermons
A Blog for a Pentecost Year
Art in the Sanctuary: It's not decoration
Towards a Toronto Co-housing Community
Thinking Faith in Today's World
When Arguments Cease Making Sense
Stuff That Needs To Be Said
Adventures in Ministry
Fueling your mind....
My Window on God's World 