When I was asked to contribute a reflection on an ancient prayer, all I had to do was look up from my desk, and there was the answer – an Orthodox Prayer based upon the Prayer of St. Ioannikios, as well as the traditional and ancient Troparia to the Holy Trinity. I had printed out … Read more
Category Archives: Articles
Awareness of God’s Presence
This devotion is one that I shared at a Renewal Fellowship board meeting in March of 2022 and also shared during a midweek service during Lent. During both we looked at Judges 6:11-7:21, reading just the first part of it and referencing other parts of the section of scripture. This is referencing Gideon, who would … Read more
Stillness Amidst Agitation
And the beat goes on. I arrived in Simcoe just as the 2008 recession was digging its tenacles into every fibre of society. We more or less recovered, at least economically; but it seems there have been constant and serious seismic shivers shaking life ever since. The past many months have only intensified the severity … Read more
Faithful Presence in the PCC
On January 29, 2022, a total of 60 people gathered via Zoom for “Called Together — a Time of Encouragement.” The time of worship, inspiration and prayer came together as the vision of Rev. Paul Johnston, minister of St. Andrew’s Arnprior, Ontario, who worked in partnership with Renewal Fellowship and friends from PSALT. The idea was … Read more
Study Buddies in God’s Word
Dedicated group uses The Story to study Scripture via Zoom Your New Year’s resolution is to read through your Bible from Genesis through Revelation. You start strong, recognizing familiar names, such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and stories about apples and snakes, a flood topped off with a … Read more
A Prayer Testimony
This is a testimony of a couple who for many years, were homeless and travelling around Canada, destitute and struggling with addictions and hopelessness, surviving by living in parks, alleyways under tarps, tents, and receiving handouts in community centres and shelters. They lived “welfare cheque to welfare cheque” and often taking advantage of the compassion … Read more
Chafed by Safe
Mis-speaking seems to be almost as endemic in Western society as the COVID virus. Retractions, corrections, additional information and apologies [both abject and ambivalent] are common occurrences in the public sphere. One form of mis-speaking that rarely gets emended is incorrect use of the English language. One misuse in particular has drawn my attention, reflection … Read more
Seeking Grace Under Fire
As I sat to write this, we were exactly halfway through the federal election campaign and the ‘V’ word had captured media attention. No, not ‘V’ for vote, but ‘V’ for violence - a party leader cancelled an event due to concerns for safety. The violence was a more vociferous threat than virulent action … Read more
Reflections of a Random Nobody
I am neither a minister nor an elder. I don’t have a Ph.D or the title of YAR. I am a Canadian who came to accept Christ as an adult; I became a Presbyterian intentionally. God literally led me to the Presbyterian Church, of which I am still a member. I was not researching Presbyterian … Read more
Becoming “Tide People”
Back in 2016, I spent three months on sabbatical in Edinburgh. One of the highpoints for us was the week we spent on the island of Lindisfarne, about an hour south by train from Edinburgh. What makes Lindisfarne unique is the fact that when the tide goes out, you can drive across to the island, … Read more