You’re Invited!
While other churches long for days when pews were full of young families, Rev. Lynne Donovan said St. Andrew’s, Picton, Ont., has learned to embrace its age.
Faith
Being Without
I think of the early church out of Jerusalem with its clarity of message and transformative power. I think of our own church and congregations as we face the realities of a secular Canada.
The “Where” of Renewal
The renewal of the church will not come from human plans or resolutions from General Assembly. Rather, renewal will come from the edge, the outside, the places no one pays attention to.
It’s About Honesty
“All truth” includes the truth that liberates, the truth that enlightens and the truth that comforts. “All truth” also includes the truth that hurts.
God of Justice
We shudder at the expression of such violence against children, against the idea of such deadly revenge.
Walking the Talk
Sometimes we wonder about Simon Peter, Andrew, and the long succession of disciples who also consented to be called away. Did Jesus not care that they may have had families to clothe and feed, mothers and fathers to honour, boats to be maintained and kept seaworthy?
Fear of Religion
Most of the commentary on the Quebec government’s proposed Charter of Values has focused on Quebec, but it has unveiled more about Canada as a whole than just that part of our population in Quebec. And what has been unmasked is disturbing.
The Way to Light
I listened to track six—“Morningside”—on the way to my home church Morningside Presbyterian for worship. While the whole album is evocative, rich in tones and textures, intricately constructed, this one song has stuck with me. Obviously, I was first attracted to it because it is about my church, but for the composer, Rev. Will Ingram, currently senior minister at St. Andrew’s, Toronto, Morningside is a community of friends.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus told a story we often rush through to get to the part about the (Hebrew) Bosom of Abraham and (Greek) Hades. The story isn’t about, as one scholar puts it, the furniture of heaven and the temperature of hell.
Moderator vs. Mountain
Some years I wait for the perfect climbing day: sunny and the wind at no more than five kilometres. This year I waited three days, but took the fourth day because it was “do-able.”
Fun and Family
Have you ever seen people line dancing while using a cane? Come to the senior centre at St. Andrew’s, Orillia, Ont., and that’s the kid of fun thing you’ll find.
The Sacraments – Theology 101 Reflections
In this and last month’s Theology 101 columns – Servants of the Word & Visible Words Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris looked at the sacraments of […]
Visible Words
In the distant days of my first ministry, an elderly woman was transferred into the local seniors’ home. She was bedridden, somewhat deaf, nearly blind… and alone.
Forgive and Forget
In the mid-90s I did an internship in a church north of Toronto. While there, divisive conflict exploded into open warfare. I’ll never forget the outburst of one of the angriest seniors.
Written in Data
The kind of information I’m talking about is not exactly secret, but it does take some work to uncover it.
Non-Denomination
The word “do” and church is just one of the many problems in the church of today. Performance, traditions, rituals, the law and presumption have […]
Embracing the Seasons of Life
I have to admit that I felt my throat tighten when I saw the for sale sign go up in front of the place where countless Christmas dinners, birthdays and anniversaries have been celebrated.
Our Hidden Treasure
Our church stands in danger of being impoverished by our real estate.
Servants of the Word
“Remarkable” is not always the first adjective we connect with preaching. I think I know why.
The Hall of Fame of Faithfulness
Sometimes we speak of faith as if it’s agreeing to accept something that doesn’t make sense unless we see it through “the eyes of faith.” Mark Twain said it through Huck Finn: “Faith is believin’ what you know
ain’t so.”