Collared!

Today was the first day of a six month experiment in wearing my clergy collar every day. In the United Church of Canada the collar is entirely optional, many of my colleagues don’t even own one. I have been wearing it more and more over the past few years, for a few different reasons: it…

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…

Advent Word – Focus

I parked further away from the front door today than I usually do. I didn’t arrive until late morning and so there were other cars already parked. Tonight, when I was getting in my car to go home shortly after 5 pm, I noticed the shadow the wreath in the window was making on the…

Advent Word – Watch

I love that I live close enough to my grandchildren to watch them grow up. This is Lucy, my youngest, I took her shopping a Christmas concert dress tonight. 7 stores, 23 dresses and came home empty-handed. I forgot I should have taken her a month ago.

Advent Word – Journey

It’s only the second day of Advent and already I have failed at my photography practice! Yesterday’s word was journey; not all journeys are physical, although the one I took to Victoria to visit my friend Liz was. Her journey with ALS took her to places that she hadn’t anticipated. She touched so many lives…

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…