There is something wonderfully ordinary about a summer evening when neighbours appear with garden hoses, watering cans, and just enough time for a conversation over the fence. In this light-hearted reflection, discover how God often does some of God’s best work in the most unexpected places—and why even a chat about tomatoes might become holy ground. Ordinary Time invites us to notice that the Kingdom often blooms beside the petunias.
Tag Archives: Hospitality
The Gospel According to the Ice Cream Truck
Every neighbourhood knows the sound—that slightly out-of-tune melody drifting down the street, sending children racing toward the ice cream truck. In this light-hearted summer reflection, discover what frozen treats, joyful interruptions, and a little Stephen Leacock-style humour can teach us about the surprising ways God’s grace arrives in ordinary life. Sometimes the Kingdom of God is closer than we think… and sometimes it comes with sprinkles.
The Theology of Family Reunions
Family reunions are rarely orderly, often noisy, and occasionally bewildering—but they may also be one of God’s quiet gifts. Between the stories, the laughter, the familiar faces, and even the repeated tales, we are reminded that we belong to something larger than ourselves. In a world that prizes independence, family gatherings teach us the grace of belonging, the value of remembering, and the blessing of being loved despite our imperfections. This summer, there may be more theology around the picnic table than you expect.
The Gospel According to the Parking Lot
Summer has a way of slowing us down just enough to notice one another. A quick trip to the market, a stop for ice cream, or an ordinary errand can become an unexpected encounter filled with laughter, kindness, and grace. This reflection explores how God often meets us not only in churches and sanctuaries, but in parking lots, farmers’ markets, and all the ordinary places where people cross paths and share a moment of genuine connection.
The Theology of Summer Festivals
Summer festivals are more than food trucks, music, and lawn chairs. They remind us that God created us for community, friendship, and shared joy. Sometimes grace arrives in the most unexpected places—perhaps even disguised as strawberry shortcake.
The Gospel According to the Ice Cream Cone
Some gifts simply cannot be saved for later. Summer afternoons, conversations with friends, the laughter of family, and ice cream cones all share one thing in common: they are meant to be enjoyed while they are here. Perhaps the Gospel has something to teach us about being fully present to the gifts God places before us today.
The Theology of the Seventh-Inning Stretch
What can a summer baseball game teach us about faith? More than you might imagine. From cheering strangers to the quiet rhythm of ordinary innings, this lighthearted reflection discovers that God’s Kingdom often grows not through dramatic moments, but through small acts of faithfulness, community, and grace. Pull up a seat at the ballpark and discover why the ordinary may be where God does some of his finest work.
The Neighbourhood Ministry of Lemonade Stands
What if changing your community were as simple as buying a child’s lemonade, waving to a neighbour, or offering a word of encouragement? In the green season of Ordinary Time, God reminds us that the Kingdom often grows through the smallest acts of kindness. This light-hearted summer reflection explores how ordinary people quietly become extraordinary influences, one simple gesture at a time.
The Gospel According to the Picnic Table
“People matter more than schedules. Conversation matters more than productivity. And joy grows best when we make room for one another.”
The Theology of the Red-and-White Lawn Chair: Canada Day Reflections for Ordinary Time
Gratitude is not the denial of imperfection. It is the recognition of gift.