Tag: hope
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Optimism vs. Hope, in a Pandemic
My latest in the Christian Courier. _________________ Where would you put yourself on the optimism/pessimism spectrum? I suppose I land just slightly on the optimistic side, though with serious bouts of pessimism thrown in now and again. Among my friends there is at least one eternal pessimist (with an astonishing capacity to see the worst…
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The Missing Cup
My latest column in the Christian Courier. ___________________ TIS THE SEASON OF THE HOLIDAY coffee cup. Whether you prefer to line up at Second Cup or Starbucks, your paper cup will evoke a festive and holiday spirit. It will do so, of course, without reference to any traditional Christian teachings concerning the birth of the…
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Telling the truth about our lives #Bach #Zagajewski
My latest column in the Christian Courier. ______________________ Some years ago, I was introduced to a remarkable piece of music composed by JS Bach—the fifth movement of his Partita in D minor for solo violin (called the Chaconne). As with so many of Bach’s works, the Chaconne easily captures your heart; it has a way…
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The Scar Project
A sermon preached today in the Chapel of The Presbyterian College. _____________ Nadia Myre is an Algonquin and Quebecois artist originally from Maniwaki who now lives and works here in Montreal. She’s not well known across the country, but her work is significant enough that she has a solo show at the Musée des beaux-arts…
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Northern Advent (poem)
Northern Advent Scattered desiccated leaves cling to branches against autumn’s churning winds, resisting deciduous barrenness, new coloured prominence of Red Pine, Juniper, Hemlock. Feathered, long-distant migrants soar, flit, and fly from greyed terrain for southern home and habitat; wintering chickadees cache seeds in creviced bark for hunger’s moment. Poet’s romantic autumnal landscape lost on those…
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forgiveness – beyond the therapeutic
The word forgiveness is a difficult word. It’s a word we come across in novels and in biographies – it’s a word we will hear others using – it’s a word we ourselves will use from time to time. But it’s a slippery word. The meaning of the word often changes from one situation to…
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What have we done, Kensington Church? #renewal #change# #future
This summer will mark 5 years of ministry for me at Knox Crescent Kensington and First Presbyterian Church. And over the past weeks I have been taking a tally of some of the changes the congregation has been through over the past 7-8 years. (My family worshipped here before I was called as minister, so I was able to…
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advent, hope, judgment, hell
My sermon from this past Sunday. I have in many ways followed the interpretation laid out by James Kay, and have quoted him directly toward the end of this sermon. See his article at: http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=677 ————————- In the Gospel of Luke we find the words “good news” on lips of many. The angel Gabriel says…
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the problem of recognition…
It is a peculiar thing that Jesus’ followers don’t recognize him after his resurrection. In the narrative of John’s gospel, think of Mary Magdalene, who comes first to the empty tomb – she turns around and there is Jesus. But she doesn’t recognize him. She mistakes him for the gardener: “Sir, if you have carried…
encrusted words 