This spring in Edmonton has been a bit of a roller coaster. We have a few glorious sunny days that are even warm, then the clouds roll in and the rains come, and come, and come. Then the cycle repeats. Our weather reminds me of the rhythm of life with highs and lows, peaks and valleys, joys and sorrows. Last Sunday we celebrated Pride Sunday and it was truly a mountain top, joyful experience. The joy continued to flow as towards the end of our worship service we held a “C

We are now in the month of June, the month that in recent years has been referred to as Pride Month. In light of this, Naheed Nenshi, NDP leader in Alberta, posted on Facebook that “Alberta is seeing growing attacks on 2SLGTBQ+ communities and warns that recent moves targeting trans rights are only the beginning”. What surprised me was the type of responses and replies to his post. Many either wanted to argue with his statement or simply come back at him with personal atta

When I was a kid in Sunday school I remember singing the song, with actions, about the wise man and the foolish man. Based on the parable in Matthew 7:24-27, the song tells the story about the wise man building his house upon the rock and the foolish man building his house upon the sand. The rains came down and the floods came up. The wise man’s house stood firm, the foolish man’s house came tumbling down. As I read this now, what strikes me is the awareness that storms c

In May of 1981 I was ordained a minister in the American Baptist Churches of America at a church in Wayne Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. On May 24, 2009, my ordination was recognized and I was officially welcomed as a minister of word, sacrament and pastoral care in the United Church of Canada at a regional celebration in Langley, BC. This Sunday will mark 17 years since I officially became a part of United Church family. At the time I had absolutely no idea that in the

Today, May 14, is Moose Hide Campaign Day which began as a BC-born Indigenous-led grassroots movement to engage men and boys in ending violence towards women and children. It has since grown into a nationwide movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians focused on ending gender-based violence. Born out of sorrow and grief, the Campaign began over 10 years ago along the Highway of Tears where many indigenous girls and young women simply disappeared. The Campaign today

Today is the last day of April, 2026. I have nine more Sundays left before I retire on June 28th. Last night I attended the April Church Council Meeting. I only have two more such meetings left before the Council takes a leave for the summer and resumes in the fall with their new minister. As I write this I am aware that I am feeling a mixture of relief and sadness. I am relieved that my time here as your minister is coming to a close. I have been in this role far longe

Thanks to Rob McPhee, our 50th Anniversary Book is now published and being distributed. Looking back over the last 50 years, 1976 – 2026, evoked a myriad of wonderful stories and memories. The scripture reading for this coming Sunday describes the early church as a community where everyone shared whatever they had, and none went without. It reminded me of some of the old hippie communes back in the 60’s and 70’s where a large home or farm was shared by many people and all

I am writing these Ponderings on April 15 th , and there is a skiff of fresh snow on the ground. Our niece sent us pictures of a recent visit her family made to Butchart Gardens near Victoria. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming and spring was clearly in the air. This time of year a part of me longs for the resurrection of spring. Yet on the Prairies, including in Edmonton, I am always amazed that when it rains or even when it snows, people often say, “Well, yo