At the end of August, 2011, I formally retired from my position at VGH. My brother died the next week in Idaho and so I was off to be with family to honour his life and grieve his death. While there the hospital administrator who was responsible for Spiritual Care at VGH called me and asked if I would return to work part-time until the end of the year when the new person would begin. I said yes. In early 2012 when the Personnel Minister for the Pacific Mountain Region learned

This is a busy week for Mill Woods United Church. In addition to our normal weekly activities which include hand bell practice, stitching connection, clothing bank, food bank distribution, and the bread run, we are also involved in two memorial services. On Friday we will celebrate the life of David Baker here in our sanctuary at 3:00 PM. A reception will follow. At 1:00 PM on Saturday will be the memorial service for the Rev. Dale Irving, a member of our congregation and

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