Friends What a great weekend! Fun, welcoming gatherings, stories and memories shared, laughter and music, delicious food, former members of Mill Woods travelling from far away, a few politicians sprinkled in for good measure, and so much gratitude expressed for the chance to connect in community. A huge thank you to all of you who made this time together possible, and, of course, to everyone who has contributed to fifty years of life and community at Mill Woods. Our anniversa

Friends In an old Seinfeld episode, Jerry suggests that instead of saying “Bless you!” when someone sneezes, we should say, “You are so good-looking!” It’s a funny thought, but it reveals something about how we understand blessing. We tend to associate blessing with good fortune, good health, happiness, even good looks. Yet in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) Jesus offers a very different picture: he calls blessed those who grieve, who are poor in spirit, who hunger for justic

Friends As we catch our breath after the referendum, we turn our attention to another important event: the 50th anniversary of Mill Woods United Church. I have been learning a lot about this congregation through Rob McPhee’s book (did you get your copy yet?), our This is US series exploring each decade of this church’s history, and conversations with many of you. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been asking as many people as I can three questions: what do you love about M

What comes after? Friends The advance polls start this week for the referendum that will be held on Monday October 19th. Above all else, I want to encourage you to vote. Whatever your views about the questions before us, showing up and participating in our democracy is one of the ways we care for our community. Learn as much as you can and make your choice. Voting is a deeply spiritual act. I lived through two referendums on Quebec sovereignty. The first was in 1980 when I wa

Thank you! Friends Canadians are famous for saying sorry, but this week I have been wondering if we say two words even more often: thank you. We seem to say it constantly: to someone who holds a door, pours us a coffee, sends a card, offers help. (There is an old joke that Canadians are so polite they thank their bank machines!) I think much of the time we thank you automatically, but I wonder if those two words hold more than we realize. When we truly say thank you, we are a

This week it’s Orange Shirt Sunday when we will observe the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. We will remember and honour Indigenous children take from their families and communities and placed in residential schools. In 1986, the United Church of Canada formally apologized for its participation in the suppression of Indigenous culture and spirituality, for how it confused imposing western culture and ideals for sharing the Gospel message. In 1998, the church apologiz

Friends On Sunday we covenant together. What does that mean? A covenant is a sacred promise for how we will live in relationship. It assumes mutual responsibility but also vulnerability, growth, forgiveness, and grace. Unlike a secular contract bound by signature, a covenant is sealed through worship and so we will both celebrate and ‘sign’ our covenant this Sunday. And after worship we will gather for our Welcome Back Lunch, with thanks to the Heavenly Hospitality team. In t

Friends This Sunday we begin the Season of Creation, a newer season of the church year that emerged as churches around the world responded to the growing ecological crisis. It invites us to slow down and reflect more deeply on our relationship with God, one another, and the earth. The invitation itself has ancient roots. The Hebrew scriptures understand our relationship with God as inseparable from our relationship with the land and one another. The Bible has a beautiful word