New Kid on the Blog

I spoke Tuesday at the Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria 12-Step Recovery Service, and as I am unlikely to share this elsewhere thought I would come back to this blog and leave it here... Based on Psalm 96 and Matthew 18:12-14 Judgement I got to indulge my overacting ability last week when I was asked to come in and play John the Baptist in a school assembly here in the Cathedral for the school next door. After shocking a few of the tots by shouting ‘Repent – the kingdom of God is at hand’ as I walked in wearing a hairy poncho of some kind, I was asked questions by the children which I was asked by the teacher to answer as if I was in character. One of those questions was a very astute one – is God angry at us? It comes from John’s quote to the pharisees in the book of Matthew ‘you hypocrites, who told you could flee from the wrath to come.’. And it’s not a bad question. It certainly seems that in some streams of what is broadly called the Christian tradition that God seem...

Here's an article I wrote last week for the local paper, the Times Colonist. Rather than putting the full text here I'm going to put the link up and invite y'all to go visit! https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/blogs/spiritually-speaking/finding-god-is-not-as-hard-as-you-think-1.23939156

Just this last week we finished the 42nd General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada - and it was a real series of ups and downs, so much so that I wrote some pieces for our church website which I think is worth reproducing here. Firstly, though, a bit of background - this was an historic Synod for lots of reasons (which come in the second piece), but in the middle of it was an important vote on inclusivising our Marriage Canon (Canon XXI) - one of the laws which govern the church, and contain the 'Doctrine' of the Anglican Church of Canada - to take away reference to 'Marriage is between a man and a woman' and change it to 'Marriage is between two partners' - thereby enshrining equal marriage for all, including same-gendered partnerships, in Church law. The reality is that the Canon doesn't forbid same-gendered marriage, and as such I have (with the permission of my Bishop and the support of my community) already been privileged to officiate at same-...

I have been at St John the Divine, Victoria - serving as their Priest and Rector - for just over a year now. Some recent conversations I have had on Social Media, plus a blog posting which I found very moving on the dearpopefrancis.ca blog ( here ), plus some time spent with friends from my MRC (Motorcycle Riding Club) as both 'pastor' and friend have all caused me to reflect on the experience of the past year or so.  And just why I find this particular place, spiritual community and time in my life so personally and spiritually nurturing. Community That's the key.  I believe that the key to our Spiritual journey is the need to be in community.  That doesn't mean that time alone, in prayer, reading, meditation, playing guitar or riding motorcycles (my own influence may have slipped in there) is not important - but to have a sanctuary, a place to share ideas, hopes, doubts, dreams, concerns and above all, love, is crucial.  The Orthodox Church has a saying 'w...

It was my privilege today to preach at the weekly '12 Step Eucharist' which takes place at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria on Tuesday evenings.  I chose the theme, taken from the Lections from the Tuesday for Holy Week, of Death and Resurrection (surprise, a very unexpected theme for Holy Week...) As it won't be shared anywhere else, for the time being, here's a taster, the full text is on my ' New Kid Deep Stuff ' blog (where old sermons go to receive their rest) Tuesday in Holy Week 2014 – 12 Step Eucharist Ps 71:1–14 Jn 12:20–36 Death and resurrection We don’t like talking about death.   At least as a society we steer clear of talking about death.   It’s a strange reversal on the Victorian era where they took almost a delight in all the things that surrounded death, they observed mourning very visibly and even took pictures of deceased loved ones – known as momento mori – to keep.   But they were very uptight indeed about sex and (the urban...

I love weddings, it's part of the huge privilege of Pastoral Ministry to mark special events in people's lives and to share in both the bad and the good.  I also love a good video - and this video made of a wedding I did I find very moving, not just because they were gracious enough to include me in the video, and some of what I said in my sermon, but because the whole thing has a positive and thoughtful feel about it.  This video gives a pretty good vibe of how a wedding can feel.  Not that the wedding is the be all and end all, marriage is the real purpose of all of this and that takes work - but this video gives a glimpse of a couple who are deeply committed to one another, surrounded by friends and family, and who wanted to have their wedding affirmed and blessed - something the Church is very happy indeed to do.  I love the song too.  Enjoy! jonathan+melanie from Paper Heart Films on Vimeo .

Now I am not saying anything I have not said before, in fact I have even used some of the illustrations before - eg the Ray Harryhausen reference - but why this sermon for The Presentation of Christ has felt so difficult to write is a surprise to me.  Perhaps it is the way I've felt the need to put lots of things I have discussed over years into one place.  Also, I seem to be 'outing' myself as an uber liberal - but I am not too concerned about that... The Presentation of Christ Presentation (20 14 ) Year A RCL Principal Malachi 3.1-5 Hebrews 2.14-18 Luke 2.22-40 A Sword Will Pierce your Own Heart also God is here! You’ve already heard that phrase a few times this morning.   That bold proclamation which is the foundation of today’s Gospel reading – when Anna and Simeon encounter the baby Jesus and proclaim ‘God is here’ – both in word and in action.   Simeon through the words we have come to know as the Nunc Dimitus, Anna with words of p...

Here's the player for today's sermon in case you prefer to listen rather than read!

Today I preached a sermon that I found moving both to prepare and to share.  I am struck at this point in my journey of faith by the great privilege of the ministry to which I am called, but the graciousness of my Christian community and by the sense of moving together in our sharing of story.  We are growing as a Christian fellowship. So this sermon is very personal, and relatively dense - I will post it as a podcast but for now here is the text version. This follows on directly from last week's sermon and a few people wanted the text, probably to dissect! As always, taster on this page, link takes you to New Kid Deep Stuff blog (much underused these days)... Epiphany 2 (20 14 ) Year A RCL Principal Isaiah 49:1–7 Psalm 40:1–12  1 Corinthians 1:1–9 John 1:29–42 Come and See First up, a little thought which I did say to the sermon Circle I wasn’t going to share, but it leads me into what I want to say this Morning too well to keep to myself.   It’...

I feel the need to write, but can honestly say I don't quite know what to say.  This last six months has been a whirl of activity and colour, life, questions, worship, prayer, discover, reinforcement and faith, hope and love.  I feel very warmly welcomed and quickly at home here as part of the congregation of St John the Divine , as part of this Diocese of British Columbia and in this city of Victoria . Sketch by Martin Machacek. The Church is active, vibrant, welcoming and alive.  The people who I am fortunate enough to count as colleagues are dedicated and fun to work with, those who give so much time in voluntary service to the Church are committed and faithful.  There are many activities which take place in the course of each week and the church offers a variety of worship, groups, events, ministries and social action.  Of course it's not perfect, nor is the Rector who serves it.  But we, together, are seeking to celebrate those aspects of the ...

My Study is tidy, or rather it is significantly tidier than it has been for a looooooooong time. Part of my lack of posting is the simple fact that I've not felt at home at my desk for weeks which, though it hasn't stopped me working, has stopped me speculating and generally being in blog mode for a bit! A long time ago I said that I think my study is an externalisation of my internal state, if that's the case then I am at the moment feeling that things are in a place on the way somewhere to being sorted, there's still a way to go, but it looks OK. Actually I think that might be a relatively good way of describing my view of life generally rather than specifically. I am very aware of the 'now and the not yet' state of the Christian journey. Now we live in Christ, redeemed and made clean, forgiven and whole, healed and complete. Except we aren't quite there. We are not only saved, we are being sanctified, prepared, made holy so that one day we will see ...