by Michael Shapcott
I wonder…
I wonder why God has so many names and nick-names.
Today, we read God is:
- a sheep and a lamb;
- a silent one;
- Yahweh;
- the One;
- El Shaddai;
- love – oh yes, God is love.
Tag Archives: reflection
Sour Grapes
By James Harbeck
I’m going to tell a little story today. I don’t know whether I’d call it a parable. It’s not quite a literal history. But it’s close enough.
There was, once, a place that was very nice. Lush. Great for growing grapes and things like that. There was a family living there, and they were pretty happy with it. We’ll call them the Ones. Nothing’s perfect, but, you know, the Ones had food, family, all the things that people do with their time when nothing and no one is forcing them to do something else. Life was good enough.
And then another family showed up from another place. We’ll call them the Twos. They liked where the Ones were living. They wanted to live there. They didn’t say, “Hey, do you mind if we fit in here somehow?” or “What can we give you in exchange for some of what you have so we can live here?” They said, “Hi. We’re the Twos. These are guns. Look what they can do: [BANG BANG BANG]. Get the idea? We want this land. Oh, you? You can get out and live somewhere else, or you can stay and work for us.” Some of the Ones left. Some were killed. Some decided to stay and work for the Twos, because at least they’d still be in this nice place getting the benefit of the land. Continue reading Sour Grapes
Gleanings from the We Make the Road by Walking Bible Study
Each Sunday as we gather at 9:00 AM for the We Make the Road by Walking Bible Study, we begin with this prayer: Creator, we give you thanks for all you are and all you bring to us for our visit within your creation. In Jesus, you place the Gospel in the centre of this sacred circle through which all creation is related. You show us the way to live a generous and compassionate life. Give us your strength to live together with respect and commitment as we grow in your spirit, for you are God, now and forever. Amen.
This past Sunday we engaged with some difficult scriptures. The session title was “From Ugliness, a Beauty Emerges.” The first passage we read was from Deuteronomy 7: Continue reading Gleanings from the We Make the Road by Walking Bible Study
Meditate with Music every Thursday
On Thursday, July 4, we held our first weekly Meditate with Music session in the church at 12:30 p.m. These 20-minute breaks from the bustle and stress of a big city downtown offer visitors the option of emptying their minds or directing their thoughts towards spiritual reflection — two of many ways to quietly recharge for the rest of the day and the close of a week.
Music Director John Terauds provides slow, quiet instrumental music as well as a Psalm sung in plainchant, interspersed by silence. We have arranged some pews in an accessible location at the foot of the chancel steps to provide as much focus on meditation as possible. There is also a printed sheet with a spiritual reflection available each week.
If you’re in the area, come and give this respite a try, every Thursday at 12:30 p.m., until August 22. You can even bring your lunch, if you wish.