Have you ever heard the expression: “He or she doesn’t have a hope”? When someone feels or thinks that way about themselves or a situation, they are in a slow death mode, because without hope we feel that all our efforts are futile, the situation will never change and there …
In a recent Globe and Mail article, the former Governor General of Canada, David Johnson, writes about how acts of giving can help us overcome the pandemic blues: “Whether time, treasure, or talent, each one of us can experience the uplifting effect of giving. It is the antidote to loneliness, …
I have a confession to make: This year has been hard. I know that sounds obvious, but as a pastor of a small congregation, it has been difficult to lead my church through this pandemic. From the challenges of adapting congregational care, to the creative and technological challenges, to these …
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in …
“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NRSV) It seems to me, based on conversations I’ve been having with people lately, as well as my own …
Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, everyone is experiencing church in their homes. A friend recently asked if this reminded me of my house church days. It got me thinking that she didn’t really understand what house church was all about. Our family was part of a house church in …
During these strange days, we have been hearing a lot about the church needing to reveal God’s love in real and tangible ways. This isn’t a new thing. God (and others) have been saying this for a very long time. When a need arises or a crisis happens, we are …
I was preparing a liturgy for my congregation; words and passages from scripture that would lead them into the sacrament of Bread and Cup. It’s a very different thing to know if the words you have prepared will invite people to partake, alone, in isolation. And yet, this is something …
It is an understatement to say we have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some more than others. Due to its prolonged nature, COVID-19 has caused social, emotional, physical, mental and even financial trauma to individuals and churches alike. In a recent Christian Magazine survey, 6 out of 10 …
The very first New Leaf Learning Centre we hosted was to invite a Canadian Epidemiologist/Pastor, Michael Garner, to speak to us. It was very early on in the pandemic and having our very own expert that we could ask questions of was incredibly helpful in those early days. For me …
