A church bulletin is far more versatile than anyone intended. It keeps us on the right page, catches forgotten prayer requests, becomes an impromptu fan on warm Sundays, and occasionally serves as an emergency bookmark or note pad. With affectionate humour, this reflection celebrates the humble bulletin, discovering that even the most ordinary liturgical accessory can quietly support the worship, fellowship, and faithful life of the Church.
Tag Archives: Autumn Spirituality
The Broken Become the Body: Rethinking Ministry from the Margins (because sometimes the church’s strongest muscles are its sprained ankles)
The Church is not built upon flawless people but upon those who have discovered God’s grace in the midst of their own brokenness. Again and again, Christ gathers wounded lives into a community of healing, compassion, and hope. This reflection explores how ministry is often strongest at the margins, reminding us that the places we once considered weaknesses can, by God’s grace, become sources of strength, wisdom, and love for others.
When the Pew Feels Like a Lifeboat: Church as Sanctuary for the Suffering
Some Sundays we come to church full of joy. Other Sundays we arrive simply hoping to make it through the hour. In those moments, a familiar pew can feel less like a piece of furniture and more like a lifeboat. This reflection explores the Church as a place of refuge, reminding us that Christ meets the weary, the grieving, and the overwhelmed with a love that holds us safely until hope begins to rise again.
The Parish Front Lawn: Theology of a Noticeboard
A church’s front lawn quietly proclaims the Gospel long before anyone steps through the doors. Its signs, gardens, seasonal displays, and simple welcome tell neighbours that this is a place where grace is meant to be shared. This reflection explores the theology of the parish front lawn, discovering how ordinary spaces become sacred invitations, offering hospitality, hope, and a visible reminder that the Church exists for the sake of the world.
Vestments and Vulnerability: What the Alb Can’t Hide
Vestments may symbolize the sacred calling of ordained ministry, but they cannot conceal the humanity of the person wearing them. Beneath the alb stands someone who knows both joy and weariness, confidence and uncertainty, just like everyone else. This reflection explores the grace of vulnerability in ministry, reminding us that God works not through perfect servants, but through ordinary people willing to be clothed in compassion, humility, and love.
When the Bulletin Doesn’t Match the Service (Laughing and Learning Through the Chaos of Sunday Morning Mishaps)
Every parish has experienced that memorable Sunday when the bulletin and the service part company in spectacular fashion. Pages are turned, gentle laughter spreads through the congregation, and somehow worship carries on. With warmth and self-deprecating humour, this reflection discovers the grace hidden in Sunday morning mishaps, reminding us that God’s presence is never dependent upon flawless planning and that joy often arrives disguised as holy improvisation.
What Would Jesus Do with Email? (A Meditation on Digital Discipleship and the Sanctification of the Inbox)
Every parish has experienced that memorable Sunday when the bulletin and the service part company in spectacular fashion. Pages are turned, gentle laughter spreads through the congregation, and somehow worship carries on. With warmth and self-deprecating humour, this reflection discovers the grace hidden in Sunday morning mishaps, reminding us that God’s presence is never dependent upon flawless planning and that joy often arrives disguised as holy improvisation.
The Theology of the Coffee Queue : Finding grace and patience while waiting in line—and how the Kingdom sneaks up in small talk at Tim Hortons
Whether in the parish hall or the line at Tim Hortons, waiting for coffee can become an unexpected school of grace. Conversations begin, patience is quietly practiced, and strangers sometimes become neighbours over a shared cup. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection explores the theology of the coffee queue, discovering that the Kingdom of God often arrives not in grand moments, but in ordinary conversations while we wait our turn.
Holy Indecision: When God Doesn’t Send a Memo
There are seasons when the next faithful step is anything but obvious. The answers we long for do not arrive with perfect clarity, and God seems content to remain quietly present rather than sending detailed instructions. This reflection explores the grace of holy indecision, discovering that faith is often less about having all the answers than about trusting the One who walks with us through uncertainty.
Preaching with Potholes: Sermons for Imperfect Roads
Life rarely unfolds along smooth, predictable roads. We encounter potholes, detours, and unexpected bumps that challenge both our plans and our faith. With warmth, gentle humour, and pastoral wisdom, this reflection explores how the Gospel speaks into life’s imperfect journeys, reminding us that God’s grace is more than capable of travelling even the roughest roads alongside us.