Not a Reindeer Story
I became a believer in Christ with what Craig Larson calls the “Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer syndrome.”
christmas
But What if Christmas Really is True?
While the days and weeks and months of a normal, busy year pass like snowflakes blowing by a window, the mystery and significance of God’s love-invasion of Earth starts to fade in my mind.
The Foreigners
Many months we swayed over sand and scrub. The camels got ticks; our bodies got blisters. Twice, bandits robbed us of coin and food, but the treasure under our saddles was well hidden, destined for the One we sought.
Faith & Life
Not many who knew Art Van Seters would have known that he wrote poetry, but few, I imagine, would be surprised.
Who Will Lead Us to Bethlehem?
Who will lead us to Bethlehem? Luke offers us some wonderful possibilities. Characters whose saintliness and ordinariness are so tightly braided we can’t turn away from them.
Planning ahead
I think it’s safe to say that most of us plan ahead. Some of you reading this will already have a summer vacation planned. Some […]
Called to Wonder – December 2011
Called to Wonder December 2011
Christmas Got Run Over by a Reindeer
This will be my 40th Christmas in Canada. Our first was spent in the Leaside home of friends from Lahore. It was a modest celebration, […]
Wait For It
[/caption] Lynne Hill – St Andrews, Bolsover, Ont. Linda looked out the window and smiled. “I guess I’ve kept ‘em waiting long enough. Addy and […]
Building a Culture of Song
The well-documented and sad state of community singing is thrown into sharp relief during this most musical of seasons. Building a singing culture is the same as building a hockey culture, but without the gaps in the front teeth.
Gifts
When we think of Christmas, we think of gifts. There are many kinds of gifts. Most common is the exchange gift. Someone gives you a […]
A Gift for Gretje
The wind, howling from the heights of the Rockies, lashed tiny snow tornados across the moon-silvered Depression-era prairie. Half a lifetime later, the young man staring into the night would be short and plump, with a fringe of snow-white hair crowning twinkling eyes and a merry smile seeking the next excuse to laugh; but in that frozen hell, laughter seemed ashes of some spiteful dream.
Holy Nights and Christmas Joys
The choir of Atwood, Ont. offers us two choral delights.
Bring on the Bells
The five-member Quintessence Handbell Ensemble grew out of the handbell program at St. Andrew’s, Scarborough, Ont.
A Carol for Canadian Soldiers
The Linda Silver Trio, a jazz and blues band, was born at St. John’s, Kingston, Ont. when its three members met at a church-hosted talent night. This song was recorded in Kingston, Ont. in 2007, and was bound for Afghanistan to put the Christmas spirit in the hearts of soldiers who couldn’t be home for the holidays.
Homemade Drama and Musical Ministry
Knox, Dundas, Ont. is home to some talented singers, songwriters and actors—many of them pint-sized. They have performed four dramatized pop oratorios written by then-music director David Buckley. Here are several selections.