Resurrection Power. Needed, because too often we have pre-resurrection thoughts and because we live with pre-resurrection attitudes. I’m not sure why we do. The women went to the tomb with a  pre-resurrection mentality but left the place with fear and great joy [Matthew 28:8]. Peter and John went to the tomb with a pre-resurrection mentality and believed [John 20:8]. Their lives were changed! And yet we, who have the Scriptures before us and know about the death and resurrection of Jesus . . . we who have read about the ...

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Another Sunday . . . another day of rejoicing. Although it didn’t start that way. It started with three women going to a borrowed tomb to finish embalming the body of their closest friend. It started with despair and sadness for a life that was – a life ended too soon; a life ended horrifically. It started with even more tears as they couldn’t find the body that they had planned to give just a bit of dignity to. But the words He is not here; He is risen renewed their spirits, their joy, and their hope. Easter!!! Thei...

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It was Sunday . . . a day of great rejoicing. Palm Sunday. The day of the Triumphal Entry. It was Wednesday . . . a nothing day . . . an everything day . . . the beginning of the end though most of the disciples did not realize it. Wednesday. The day Judas agreed to betray Jesus. It was Thursday . . . a day for community. The disciples and Jesus together in the Upper Room to have a meal together. Jesus, teaching on servanthood. Jesus, washing the feet of the disciples. Gethsemane. Prayer. Betrayal. Arrest. Denial. Thursday. The ...

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Ah, the smell of spring! Some people call it an odor . . . kind of rank, kind of stale. Other people call it an aroma . . . kind of sweet, kind of fresh. I look at it as the smell of newness, the smell of hope. It always reminds me of marble season when I was growing up. However you see it, it looks like we’ve survived the dread cold of winter, and new life is on the horizon.   Yesterday we finished our very brief look at Joseph. Even though some people may feel that Joseph got everything that he “deserved&rdquo...

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I guess I should begin by saying UnHappy Anniversary. Who knew a year ago that our lives would be as restricted as they still are. Facial coverings and ZOOM meetings are still the norm. It’s nice to see/hear that the vaccination process has begun. We wait our turn; we wait to see what normal will be once everyone (who wants to be) is vaccinated. My hope for us is that we have learned to embrace slow . . . quietness . . . contemplation . . . mindfulness . . . awareness of the world and of the people around us. And that we (as peo...

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A year ago we knew about the coronavirus and were starting to understand that it was more serious than first thought. We still had no idea, though, about the implications of “a flu”. Have we learned! Or . . . maybe it’s have we learned? We have been shaken by the effects of the virus in our long term care homes. We have been disquieted by rules making us wear facial coverings and by lockdowns and by travel restrictions. We miss smiles and physical contact. Solitude has become isolation, being alone has become lone...

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March. Roars in like a lion or wanders in like a lamb (let’s not worry about what is supposed to happen at the end of the month just yet). So I’m trying to figure it out . . . how do we interpret the beginning of this month? It was nice enough this morning: +4°C when my day started. That’s lamb-like to me. But the forecast for this afternoon is for snow squalls. And overnight we are told to expect it to drop to -19°C with a wind chill of between -28° and -30°! That’s lionish! Maybe it’s...

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While I’d like to say it was nice to see everybody yesterday, I can only say it was nice to see those who I saw (it was nice to be able to meet together in the sanctuary) . . . and even then I can only say it was nice to see those who I partially saw. Can we be finished with these masks . . . please? I miss seeing smiles! Although since they work I’ll keep wearing mine. I realize that some people will disagree with that last statement and think that wearing a face covering is an affront to whatever they think it is an a...

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You’ve probably heard it . . . it’s a popular nursery rhyme dating from the early 19th century: What are little boys made of? Snips and snails and puppy-dogs' tails. That's what little boys are made of. What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice. That's what little girls are made of. Can we stretch it to say hearts and roses and chocolates and candlelight dinners . . . that’s what Valentine’s Day is made of. For some. And yes, we do tend to focus on these things February 1...

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As is every year, there was a lot of hype about the Super Bowl (played last evening, in case you missed the continuous advertizing). My favourite part of the “game” is the commercials created specifically to run during the broadcast  (although in Canada we have to wait until the day after, where we can watch them on YouTube). I usually skip the half-time show (this year Canada’s “The Weeknd” was the featured star, and yup . . . I skipped). For those who didn’t watch the game, the “hate...

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