Every Sunday, or at least on the Sundays I remember, I try to welcome both the regulars and the newcomers.  Often, I say something on behalf of the congregation like: "welcome, we're glad you're here."  I am glad that every person sitting in the chairs got up that morning and walked through the church doors to join the community for worship.  I am thrilled that week after week faces become more familiar and there is a good energy bouncing around our space.  But I also know, that for the most part, we all know each other.  Or at least all

It's been a hard couple of weeks for many of us.  We seem to be surrounded by death, injury and deep hurt.  For me, personally, it really feels that way.  As a minister, death is not a stranger.  I officiate funerals, I sit with the dying, I accompany families when life support is ended, and I journey with people as they make plans to celebrate a life.  I have buried a child, a teen, and a mother, plus various elders.  Conversations about dying are not unusal in my house.  But these last two weeks have really taken its toll for

These were words written by Saskatchewan Conference President Krystal Sheremeta.  On Friday, the world shifted sideways for so many people here in the province of Saskatchewan.  Krystal can attest to that, as she ministers with the people of Nipawin, the town that was to host the semi-final hockey game that the Humbolt Broncos were on their way to when the unthinkable happened.  

We struggle to find the words to express our pain, to express our support for those closest to the loss in the wake of the death of 15 people and the physical injury of 14 others.  We try

I posted this cartoon the other day on our Facebook page:

I posted it in the wake of another American school shooting.  Sometimes, in the aftermath of such a violent and tragic act, I can get a little prideful in being Canadian.  Nothing could ever happen like that here.  Canada is a safe place, a safe place for my children who can go to school each and every day with relative confidence about their safety.  They practice code whites and hid in closets and bathrooms, huddled together, pretending that there is a potientally dangerous stranger in the building.  But that's

Bedtime in our house is probably much like any other family.  There are snacks, stories, procrastination, kisses and finally closing the door on another day.  Sometimes though, during the bedtime routine, little questions of life poke their way through and need to be pondered.  Last night, it came from a conversation with my daughter.  This is her grade 6 year, and it's a time of transition both physically and emotionally.  We've had conversations recently about friendship and what it means to be a good friend.  Last night we were talking about the difference between "good time" friends and "long time"

Two weeks ago I was in the process transforming an empty work space into a comfortably, welcoming office space.  As I was unpacking, I realized that each book, each candle, each piece of paper and little knick knack had a story, had a connection with the years I have spent in ministry.  One accumulates a lot of stuff in 15 years of ministry.  These things, though, are part of my ministry, and tell the story of who I am as minister, and who the churches I have worked with are.  I can't take the people with me, but their connection