Not every holy moment happens inside a church building. Sometimes God’s presence meets us beside a lake, beneath a shady tree, on a hiking trail, or over a quiet morning cup of coffee. This light-hearted reflection explores how summer vacations can become opportunities to rediscover the God who has always been present in creation—and why stepping away from our usual routine can actually deepen our appreciation for worship when we return. Even on vacation, grace is never out of office.
Tag Archives: Worship
The Gospel According to Sunday Evening
A life lived gratefully is not measured by how much gets done. It is measured by how fully we receive the gifts God has already given.
The Sacred Mystery of the Summer Sunday Pew
Every step along the road. Every conversation with a stranger who somehow became a friend before the day was done. Every cool breeze arriving at precisely the right moment on a hot afternoon. Every beautiful place to stop and rest. Even every glorious café con leche along the way.
All of it became almost sacramental.
In the Name of the Father… and the Son… and the Holy Spirit… (and a Deep Breath)
Which means that when we speak of a “Spirit-filled community,” we are not inventing something new.
We are reflecting something ancient.
We are drawn into the very life of God.
When the Wind Finds the Church
The Church often prefers calm waters and predictable routines. Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit has other ideas. This reflection explores what happens when God’s wind begins to blow again—calling us beyond comfort, beyond control, and into the surprising adventure of faithful discipleship.
The Holy Innocents — Then and Now
The Feast of the Holy Innocents confronts us with one of the Bible’s most heartbreaking stories and reminds us that the suffering of children is not confined to the distant past. This reflection explores the enduring hope of the Gospel amid profound grief, calling us to compassion, justice, and trust in the God who gathers every innocent life into eternal love.
The Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist: Where Love, Light, and a Little Humour Meet December 27
St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, invites us to encounter the Gospel through the enduring themes of light, love, and life in Christ. With warmth and gentle humour, this reflection celebrates the beloved disciple whose witness continues to remind the Church that the deepest truths of faith are ultimately revealed not through fear, but through the transforming power of God’s love.
Boxing Day: Not Racing to the Mall, but Finding Peace and Rest in the Aftermath
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.
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.