After the excitement of Christmas Day, Boxing Day offers a quieter invitation—to rest, reflect, and simply receive the gift of God’s presence. This reflection explores the grace of resisting the pressure to rush into the next thing, discovering that peace is often found not in doing more, but in lingering a little longer with the joy that Christmas has already brought.
Tag Archives: Joy
Christmas Day: Gathering at the Table We Love (Featuring a Few Rector-approved Musings on Gravy, Grace, and the Gloria in Excelsis)
Christmas Day is filled with familiar joys: loved ones gathered around the table, generous helpings of food, grateful laughter, and the song of the angels still echoing in our hearts. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection explores how gravy, grace, and the Gloria in Excelsis all point toward the same astonishing truth—that in Jesus Christ, God has drawn near to dwell among us and invite us into the feast of divine love.
Christmas Eve: Where Mystery Meets Mincemeat
Christmas Eve is a night when the profound mystery of God’s coming is woven together with familiar traditions, candlelight, festive treats, and joyful anticipation. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection explores the wonder of the Incarnation, discovering that the God who entered an ordinary stable continues to meet us amid the ordinary celebrations and cherished customs of Christmas Eve.
Finding God in the Church Sexton’s Closet: A meditation on mop buckets, mystery, and the quiet saints who keep us from slipping in the hallway.
Most people never notice the sexton’s closet, yet some of the Church’s quietest ministry begins there. Mops, buckets, and well-worn supplies become instruments of hospitality in the hands of faithful servants. With gentle humour and deep gratitude, this reflection celebrates the hidden saints whose unseen acts of care remind us that the Kingdom of God is often built through humble service offered without fanfare.
The Parish Calendar: A Comedy of Errors and Occasional Miracles A reflection on scheduling, double-booking, and the inexplicable endurance of the Altar Guild
Every parish calendar tells two stories at once: one carefully planned, the other delightfully unpredictable. Between scheduling conflicts, last-minute changes, and the quiet heroics of faithful volunteers, God somehow keeps the Church moving forward. With affectionate humour, this reflection celebrates the holy resilience of parish life, discovering that grace often thrives precisely where our best-laid plans begin to unravel.
How to Bless Other People’s Chaos Without Adding Your Own A wise and humorous exploration of pastoral presence
Life often brings us into the middle of someone else’s confusion, grief, or uncertainty. In those moments, our greatest gift is rarely having the perfect answer. It is the quiet grace of a calm, compassionate presence. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection explores the pastoral art of bringing peace instead of panic, discovering how Christ calls us to bless the chaos around us without adding to it.
Christmas Pageant Survival Guide: Incarnational Joy and Controlled Chaos (A Seasonal Meditation for Clergy, Parents, and Anyone Who Has Ever Attempted to Glue Pipe Cleaners to a Halo)
Every Christmas pageant is a glorious mixture of holy mystery and cheerful unpredictability. Halos slip, shepherds wander, angels forget their lines, and somehow the Gospel is proclaimed all the same. With warmth and generous humour, this reflection celebrates the beautifully imperfect chaos of Christmas pageants, reminding us that the miracle of the Incarnation has always been wonderfully at home in the midst of ordinary human life.
Beloved: A Scriptural Reflection for Our LGBTQIA2S+ Siblings
Every person is created in the image of God and is deeply, unconditionally loved by the One who calls each of us “beloved.” Drawing upon the witness of Scripture, this reflection offers a message of hope, dignity, and affirmation to LGBTQIA2S+ siblings in Christ, reminding us that God’s love is steadfast, inclusive, and life-giving, and that the Church is at its best when it reflects the generous welcome of Jesus.
Reading for Justice: A Personal Invitation
Reading widely and thoughtfully can become a spiritual practice that expands both our understanding and our compassion. Books that challenge our assumptions invite us to listen more deeply, seek justice more faithfully, and grow in love for our neighbours. This reflection offers a personal invitation to embrace reading as part of Christian discipleship, reminding us that hearts and minds are transformed when we are willing to learn with humility and courage.
Leading from Joy: What’s Good, What’s Now, What’s News
Christian leadership flourishes not through anxiety or constant urgency, but through joy rooted in the presence of God. Paying attention to what is good, what is happening now, and where new possibilities are emerging helps us lead with hope rather than fear. This reflection explores the spiritual discipline of joyful leadership, reminding us that gratitude, attentiveness, and trust in the Holy Spirit can transform the way we serve God’s people and embrace the future.