stjamesunitedchurchdartmouth

Thoughtful Thursday! October 24

I’m back from Ottawa and will be back in the pulpit on Sunday. Worship: We are marking All Saints Day, remembering the ‘saints’ in our lives; you are invited to bring in photos of your loved ones that you would like remembered. Scripture is 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:27-30, 41-43 and I have NO idea whereContinue reading “Thoughtful Thursday! October 24”

Midweek Message – October 16

It’s World Food Day! If I were going to be in church this Sunday, we would be marking it in some way, but since I’ll be in Ottawa for my final week of Study Leave, participating in Hunger on the Hill. This is a Canadian Foodgrains Bank initiative, where a group of 20 people fromContinue reading “Midweek Message – October 16”

If Only

If only, if only. Those were the two words that stuck in my head as I pondered and prayed about this passage! It’s part of Hannah’s fervent prayer for a son, which you are about to hear. This passage introduces her story, a woman deeply troubled by her inability to have children. And remember, inContinue reading “If Only”

Midweek Message – October 9

Is it Wednesday again already? 😉 Scripture – 1 Samuel 1:1-18 – Hannah’s story of supplication to God for a son. Reflection – What If? Questions that have been rolling around in my brain: What I’ve been up to this week! Monday – It started with a Zoom Call, well, actually a Microsoft Teams call,Continue reading “Midweek Message – October 9”

Every Child Matters

You might think the title of my reflection is more suited to last week, where we marked Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day. But as I pondered and researched the scripture passage for this week, along with reading the news reports of the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the continued and increasing violenceContinue reading “Every Child Matters”

Midweek Message – October 3

Monday was National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; a holiday for many people. I try not to think of it as a holiday, but more as a day set aside to learn some more about Indigenous History and present day realities. So, while I spent some time in the morning at my computer, working onContinue reading “Midweek Message – October 3”

Serve and Preserve

We continue with our series on creation, this week with a focus on humanity as part of creation. As I pondered this week’s readings, I was struck by the phrase: serve and preserve that is found in Genesis 2. Voice 2 elaborated on this by saying: I have been given the responsibility by God toContinue reading “Serve and Preserve”

Midweek Message – September 25

It’s been a week! And it’s only Wednesday! Late last week, I thought I had burned my mouth on coffee, my throat was a bit scratchy on Friday, I didn’t feel great on Saturday, and felt steadily worse on Sunday. Adrenaline gets me through worship when I have to… Sunday afternoon all the adrenaline leftContinue reading “Midweek Message – September 25”

Midweek Message – September 18

Worship this week continues our focus on creation; this week fauna. Considering my love/hate relationship with deer lately… 😉 Scripture: Psalm 104: 1-2, 10-24 Right now, I’m imagining a dialogue between science and faith, about creation and the animals. My Week: Monday – Doing sermon prep, bulletin prep, starting my reflection for Yvonne Bannerman’s memorialContinue reading “Midweek Message – September 18”

Who Are You?

The ocean has always been a powerful symbol or metaphor for God for me. It’s the place that I connect with God most easily. Which is a bit surprising, because I didn’t grow up anywhere near the ocean… but the ocean means home. Whether it’s a warm summer day and the waves gently kiss theContinue reading “Who Are You?”