As the church looks back on 100 years and looks forward at the next ten, there are some stark realities we are facing. There is grief and frustration, anxiety and a feeling of helplessness. I am reminded of when Mary and Martha bemoan Jesus’ delay at the bedside of Lazarus… “If only you had been here…” (John 11). Why does it seem like God hasn’t answered our call and has been leaving the mainline Christian denominations like the United Church to wither? I understand the reaction to what we’re...
Category: Deep Spirituality
Christmas Hope While it is unlikely that I can meet with all of the 437 communities of faith in my three regional councils in any given year, I certainly have connected with a good number of them over the last year. A few things are clear. We are all struggling. We are all facing an uncertain future. Congregations that are running out of money, others who are running out of people. Disciples who are unsure how to speak to their friends and neighbours about faith because they are worried about...
Since my return, a number of people have asked me how the Camino experience has changed me. It’s really difficult to summarize a two-month journey and its impact. One American Lutheran minister I met towards the end of my journey told me that it took him a year to full process his first Camino. While that seemed long to me at the time, I am starting to understand what he meant. Like an onion, you just keep peeling back the layers and sometimes there are tears that come as a result. The short...
Churches create compassionate space for grief during the holidays December 2, 2024 (Montreal, QC) - For those who are feeling lost and lonely, experiencing financial or emotional difficulties or living with trauma, the bright lights and holly jolly sparkle of the holiday season can feel uncomfortable or alienating. Communities of faith may be one source of comfort, inviting their neighbours to a "Blue Christmas" or "Longest Night" service: a quiet, contemplative gathering for those who are...
What is often described as the most beautiful Camino, and also one of the most challenging, is the Camino Primitivo. It starts in Oviedo, and cuts through the mountains between the Camino del Norte and the Camino Frances. For most people it is a 13 day walk to Santiago, with an extra two days if you start from the Camino del Norte at Villaviciosa. There are many things that make this particular path an interesting walk. It is the oldest and the one that is described as the path of the very...
There is a lot of wisdom along the path. One particularly long day, about three weeks into my journey, I encountered a seasoned walker who had done many different paths, but doing the Camino del Norte for the first time. He was an avid gardener. In fact, he was the gardener of a local monastery in his home town in Germany. He would stop frequently to admire various flowers, both in and out of the many gardens you would encounter along the journey. Many of the flowers in northern Spain were...
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