The Advent wreath invites us to embrace hope one candle at a time. As its circle of evergreen and growing light accompanies us through the season, it reminds us that God’s promises unfold patiently rather than all at once. This reflection explores the quiet wisdom of the Advent wreath, discovering how each small flame draws us closer to the coming of Christ and the hope that never fails.
Tag Archives: Renewable Spirituality
The Great Anglican Bake-Off: A Meditation on Potluck Theology and Competitive Casserole Craftsmanship
Every parish potluck is a joyful blend of hospitality, treasured family recipes, and the unspoken confidence that someone’s casserole will become legendary. With warmth and affectionate humour, this reflection explores the theology of shared tables, discovering that the Kingdom of God often tastes like generosity, laughter, and the simple grace of making room for one another.
What the Sanctuary Smells Like: Chrism Oil, Lemon Oil, and the Aroma of Prayer
Every church has its own unmistakable fragrance—a quiet blend of chrism oil, polished wood, well-loved hymn books, and generations of faithful prayer. These familiar scents awaken memories and gently remind us that we are standing on holy ground. This reflection explores how even the aromas of a sanctuary can become signs of God’s abiding presence and the enduring faith of those who have worshipped there before us.
Adventures in the Sacristy: Where Chaos Meets Reverence By a mildly frazzled but ever-hopeful Anglican priest
The sacristy is where reverence and delightful unpredictability meet. Vestments are adjusted, candles are checked, forgotten details are remembered at the last possible moment, and somehow worship unfolds with grace. With gentle humour and deep affection for parish life, this reflection discovers that God is wonderfully present not only in the beauty of the liturgy, but also in the faithful chaos that helps make it possible.
Sanctuary for the Weary: What It Means to Be a Soft Place to Land (learning a thing or two about weary souls and the importance of a comfortable chair.)
In a world that often feels hurried and demanding, the Church is called to become a soft place to land. Through welcoming hearts, comfortable chairs, quiet prayers, and compassionate presence, weary souls discover they do not have to carry life’s burdens alone. This reflection explores the holy vocation of offering sanctuary, reminding us that one of the greatest gifts we can give another person is simply a place where they can rest in the grace of God.
The Gospel According to the Lost-and-Found Bin: Baptismal socks, reading glasses, and the parable of misplaced things
Every church’s lost-and-found bin tells a story. Reading glasses, mismatched mittens, children’s treasures, and the occasional mysterious item all bear witness to a community that gathers, lives, and sometimes forgets where it left things. With gentle humour, this reflection explores the Gospel hidden among misplaced belongings, reminding us that God’s grace has always been remarkably good at finding what we thought was lost.
The Holy Ordinariness of Tuesday Afternoon Where Christ meets us in the mundane
Most of life is not lived on feast days or mountaintops, but in the quiet rhythm of ordinary afternoons. It is there, amid familiar routines and unnoticed moments, that Christ so often chooses to meet us. This reflection explores the holiness of the everyday, discovering that the seemingly mundane places of our lives are often where God’s grace is most faithfully at work.
The Parish Office Phone: A Portal to Mystery and Ministry (A gentle theological reflection with a wink toward Stephen Leacock)
Every ring of the parish office phone carries a story waiting to unfold. It may bring joyful news, an unexpected request, a pastoral crisis, or a conversation that changes someone’s day. With warmth, gentle humour, and a nod to Stephen Leacock, this reflection explores how an ordinary telephone becomes an instrument of grace, reminding us that ministry so often begins with the simple willingness to answer the next call.
The Lost Art of the Name Tag: Comedic reflections on sticker tags, lanyards, and the Anglican fear of mingling
A simple name tag does far more than display a name—it quietly says, “You belong here.” With affectionate humour about sticker labels, lanyards, and the gentle Anglican hesitation to introduce ourselves to strangers, this reflection explores the sacred art of welcome, reminding us that hospitality often begins with the courage to learn, remember, and lovingly speak another person’s name.
Why Every Parish Has a Mysterious Drawer of Candles: An archaeological exploration of wax, wicks, and forgotten feast days
Every parish seems to possess a mysterious drawer filled with candles of every imaginable size, shape, and vintage—each with a story no one quite remembers. With gentle humour and affectionate curiosity, this reflection explores the hidden treasures of parish life, discovering that even forgotten candles bear witness to generations of faithful worship and the enduring light of Christ that continues to shine through the Church.