When we hear the word “passion”, it’s often used in the context of a question: “What’s your passion?”; that is, what’s your strong interest or unique talent, or a driving force behind a personal hobby, goal or mission?

Scuba-diving. Wood-working. Studying the medieval history of the papal conclave in the...

I know it’s hard to believe on a day like today, given the last couple of days of a resurgence of winter, but we really are heading toward spring, really!

Isn’t today officially the first day of spring, the spring equinox, March 20?

My thoughts naturally turn toward one of my favourite things to do in the spring and summer –...

Of all the world religions, Christianity places a high premium on community. “Christian” spirituality is uniquely communal. Our relationship with God is nurtured, formed within a group of people.

One of the most distinctive things we do, is gather together. We worship together. We pray together. We sing together. We commune together...

At a recent meeting at the church, we were discussing how important it is to emphasize the positive, good, and effective ministry, activities, and practices in our faith community. We have every reason to be grateful and joyful. As a people of God, as part of the household and family of faith stretching throughout the generations and centuries,...

Did you see last week’s episode of “The Amazing Race?” Are you watching that? I guess we’re all waiting for “The Amazing Race – Canada” to air. It didn’t this time, but I’m sure next time.

Anyway, in last week’s episode, in one of the more creative challenges, contestants were required...

Sitting around the kitchen table at my parents’ place in Ottawa, my mother finishes bringing all the food to the table – chicken schnitzel, scalloped potatoes, buttered string green beans. We give our thanks to God, and start loading up our plates with this warm, steaming, savoury food.

And no sooner is my mouth full, and I’m...

Marieta Holst made the best cakes ever.

At least that’s what I, as a ten-year-old, wholeheartedly believed.

This great early memory of sinking my teeth into a deep, moist, vanilla sponge-type flat cake with the best vanilla or chocolate icing in the world (with those green, blue and pink icing flowers on the corners) – that great...

In 1946, Viola Desmond, a teacher and a businesswoman with her husband in Nova Scotia, took her car to New Glasgow on business.  On her way there, her car broke down.  As it was being fixed, she decided to wait it out by going to the movies.  Unaware of the segregation laws in New Glasgow, she bought a ticket for the main floor of...

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield onboard the International Space Station orbiting the earth has been tweeting photos of the earth.

I along with over a quarter million other “followers” have been following Hadfield on Twitter, and checking now and then for the latest amazing photo of a mountain range in Venezuela, or a desert expanse...

The wedding at Cana

It is Jesus’ mother who pushes. John’s gospel doesn’t name her, but we know who she is: Mary, who was young and courageous and who took on the task of bringing Jesus into the world. This mother, who heard the voice of angels, saw shepherds and nobles alike come to see her newborn son, who muted her fears and...