Thanksgiving is about more than what we place on the table. It is about the people in the chairs, the memories held in the empty ones, and the grace that keeps making room for us all. On Thanksgiving Sunday, perhaps the simplest prayer is still the best: for this bread, these people, this imperfect life—thanks be to God.
Tag Archives: Hospitality
The Gospel According to the Shade Tree
When summer’s heat drives us beneath the cool shelter of a shade tree, we discover more than relief—we discover a glimpse of God’s grace. In this light-hearted reflection, The Gospel According to the Shade Tree, Rev. Don Davidson explores how God’s mercy welcomes everyone, why spiritual growth is more like an oak than a weed, and how some of life’s holiest moments are found simply by slowing down long enough to rest in the shade.
The Theology of the Well-Worn Picnic Blanket
What can an old picnic blanket teach us about the Kingdom of God? Perhaps more than we imagine. As summer begins to wind down, discover how faded fabric, shared meals, and simple hospitality reveal that God’s grace is often found in the ordinary moments where we make room for one another.
The Ministry of the Extra Cob of Corn
There is something wonderfully generous about someone saying, “Go on… have another. We’ve got lots.” In the simple gift of an extra cob of Ontario sweet corn, we catch a glimpse of God’s own abundant heart. This light-hearted summer reflection explores how ordinary acts of generosity become quiet signs of the Kingdom, reminding us that God’s grace is never measured sparingly.
The Ministry of Bringing Dessert
What if one of the holiest ministries in the Church isn’t preaching or singing—but bringing dessert? With a smile, a touch of Stephen Leacock humour, and a reflection on parish suppers, hospitality, and the abundant grace of God, this Ordinary Time meditation reminds us that the Kingdom often arrives through small acts of generosity that make ordinary life just a little sweeter.
The Gospel According to the Cooler Full of Ice
On a hot summer day, few things are more welcome than a cooler full of ice and a cold drink. In this light-hearted reflection, Rev. Don Davidson explores how one of summer’s simplest sights points toward the heart of the Gospel. God’s grace often arrives through practical hospitality, quiet generosity, and ordinary people who think ahead so others can be refreshed. Sometimes the most powerful sermon is simply making sure no one goes away thirsty.
The Ministry of the Neighbour Who Waves
What if one of the holiest things we do each day is simply wave to a neighbour? In this light-hearted Ordinary Time reflection, discover how an ordinary greeting can become an extraordinary act of grace, reminding us that every person longs to be seen, welcomed, and known.
When the Power Goes Out
What happens when the power goes out on a hot July evening? Fans stop, Wi-Fi disappears, and candles come out—but something else often returns as well. In the unexpected stillness, neighbours reconnect, conversations begin, and ordinary grace quietly reminds us that community has always been one of God’s favourite ways of lighting the world.
The Theology of the Screen Door
Bang! The familiar sound of a summer screen door once meant neighbours dropping by, children racing in and out, and homes that always seemed ready for one more guest. In this lighthearted reflection, Rev. Don Davidson explores how that simple summer sound still has something to teach us about hospitality, belonging, and the Gospel’s invitation to leave the door—and our hearts—open.
The Great Canadian Porch Visit
What if one of the holiest moments of your week isn’t found in a grand event, but in an unexpected conversation on a neighbour’s porch? In a world that prizes efficiency, the simple gift of lingering with another person may be one of God’s quietest ways of building community. A light-hearted reflection on neighbourliness, holy interruptions, and the grace found in ordinary summer afternoons.