Three in One. That’s the message of Trinity Sunday. And many ministers, pastors and preachers have used an array of illustrations to help us understand what God is like. As a child, my Presbyterian minister with an Irish heritage used the example of the shamrock – three leaves united by one stem, one plant; in […]
Building relationships, building community and building a better world for all of our children. That is the quiet, unspoken truth discussed in St. Andrew’s lifelong learning series that focused on healing and reconciliation with our Indigenous neighbours. In the first session in April, we looked back at the relationship and interactions with our Indigenous neighbours […]
There are defining moments in all our lives, and in the life of the Christian church, Pentecost is acknowledged as its birthday. Just step back in time and imagine you’re going to a festival, a cultural and community event that attracted people from far away. In our times, think of perhaps Kempenfest, which celebrates the […]
In the pre-pandemic days, St. Andrew’s choir would, every year, sing Walk Softly in Springtime. A gentle hymn of praise and appreciation for the beauty the Creator gives us each day, the hymn is written by Canadian Edna Grant. Have a listen with this choir at https://youtu.be/TmQ-jlaYha4 or sing it yourself by folllowing the lyrics that […]
This past holiday weekend, as a horrible storm went through Ontario, it snapped and uprooted trees, cut power for thousands of people, and tragically, resulted in some people dying. The first long weekend of the unofficial Canadian summer season began beautifully, with bright blue skies and summer-like temperatures, perfect for enjoying gardening or time outdoors […]
Inclusivity. It matters. Because it matters to Jesus. And to His disciples, including Peter, who shares the good news of Jesus’ saving love and power with the Gentiles, a group that the religious establishment didn’t exactly embrace. Jesus’ commandment is a simple one – or so it might seem upon first reading. Love one another […]
Psalm 23 is so well-known it can be taken for granted, as the words quickly roll off our tongues. Let’s slow down, walk with our Lord through the pastures and be still.
There are rainy days, damp days and sunny days. It’s a whole lot easier to give thanks and praise when the sun is shining and we can feel the warmth of the sun and see the energy encourage flowers to spring up in our parks and in our gardens. But some days are damp and […]
The brass and the trumpets, the triumphant hymns and hand bells were all part of our celebration of our Lord’s resurrection today. There is indeed incredible hope and joy in knowing that after He suffered and died, Jesus rose again. The past week has been one of incredible emotion and some call last Sunday, Passion […]
Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy is actually a translation of the Latin word “mandatum”. In John 13, Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment – in Latin, mandatum novum: Love one another as I have loved you. This is our mandate, as Christians: to love others with a generous, life-sharing, deep affection for others. This […]