After a Sunday service in March, an extra buzz of excitement could be felt in the hall of St. Andrew’s, Cobourg, Ont. After months of fundraising, volunteering and praying, the congregation was meeting a family of four Syrian refugees they helped bring to the area for the first time.
Summertime is usually a slower time in congregational life. But this summer was very busy for St. Mark’s, Don Mills, Toronto. The congregation initiated and […]
My kids’ days are full of “have-tos.” They have to do their homework. They have to tidy their rooms, to wash their hands, to remember their things for school, and to help with the dishes. But they have plenty of “get-tos” as well.
In the early years when my parents were healthy it was just the pain of parting; but in later years when they were older, when Parkinson’s had robbed my father of an enjoyable life, the fear was always that I wouldn’t see him again.
The fire came up from the south. But if you live in that part of Canada, in northern Alberta, you’ve encountered forest fires before.
FREE MUSIC AND MORE New Release Today is essentially an online Christian bookstore. In fact, it’s the biggest one of its kind. It’s got interviews […]
Ever Since I attended a conference at Presbyterian College, Montreal, in February, I’ve been thinking of how the church can continue to care for the sick and the dying, as it has for hundreds, perhaps 2,000 years. My journey has taken me to three places.
Three parables of modern church from a whirlwind visit to Edmonton.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Dent (seen here with his wife, Lynne) was installed to his new position as national director of the Canadian Bible Society at […]
As numbers continue their downward slide, and congregations begin to feel the shrinking pains, many are being forced to seek out new alternatives to the traditional church model.
When you lose a loved one, someone saying to you, “Well you had him as a husband for over 50 years” does not remove the pain or heartache and seems less than compassionate.
A Presbyterian residential school is about to take centre stage when Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie holds two concerts to raise money and awareness about […]
It strikes me that most every boy needs an old man—someone to take him in hand and mentor him in a way that a parent sometimes won’t or perhaps can’t.
It increasingly appears as though Canadian values can no longer be automatically equated with Christian values. This is hardly breaking news, but for many in the church today, it comes as a nasty surprise.
Reconciliation. A long word with many meanings. A word that leads to many interpretations for many of us. As a residential school survivor that has been scarred by my residential school experience, my interpretation of that word is simple.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Presbyterian Women of Faith Awards. The award recognizes the work of women within the church, celebrating faithful service, a […]
You all don’t always think of yourselves as unique and interesting enough to brag on yourself. But I humbly submit that you’re wrong.
This gospel story is the first choice of many preachers for Thanksgiving Sunday in any year. It’s still a challenging text. We have to try to preach about gratitude without turning the sermon into a guilt trip.
Facing declining circulation and revenue, the board of directors of Presbyterian Record Inc. has decided to cease publication of the magazine with the December 2016 issue.
When friends gave my youngest a kaleidoscope, I didn’t ask if they read this column. It proved to be the perfect gift, regardless.