By REV. ANGELA J. CLUNEY Over the past few years in our society, there has been an abundance of special days being highlighted in the media such as: Giving Tuesday and the National Day of Kindness. These days focus on campaigns which encourage the generosity and goodwill of people. We are asked to reach out […]
Category: Open Doors
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: How a community becomes beloved
By Rev. WAYNE WALDER Beloved community is not always beloved. There are people who can push your buttons, step on your toes, ruffle your feathers and generally rain on your parade. The person who coined the phrase, beloved community, at first probably said, “darn that community!”, (or worse). Community, as a spiritual practice, is second level […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: Journey provides gifts and teachings if we are willing to notice and receive them
By REV. LUCY REID This summer I had the luxury of a sabbatical: three months of paid leave for rest and refreshment, travel and study. In planning it a year ahead, I knew I wanted to spend the first month walking, so that the all-consuming thoughts about work would have good chance to roll off […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: St. Aidan’s associate priest weighs in on Anglican Church of Canada’s vote against changing marriage definition
By REV. JEFF NOWERS As I’m writing this article, the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod—the church’s highest governing and legislative body comprised of a large number of delegates from across the country—is in the midst of a seven-day meeting in Vancouver. This has been a highly anticipated gathering because noteworthy on the agenda is […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: Look for the helpers, they are always there
By Rev. SHELLEY McVEA Holy Week. Unholy week. The seven days leading up to Easter are celebrated in the Christian tradition as the most sacred of times. Church services, pageants, Biblical re-enactments all highlight the story of the death and resurrection of the one we call the son of God. But when one looks at […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: What is Lent, and why is it important?
By REV. JEFF NOWERS As the days become noticeably longer, Christian communities are in the thick of the 40-day season called Lent. The meaning of the word “Lent,” which originated in Old English, has to do with “lengthening”—the incremental lengthening of daylight hours that leads to the celebration of Easter. In medieval Christianity, Lent was […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: Beach United Church’s parking lot will help support housing organizations
By REV. KAREN DALE Looking from the outside at the walls and often closed doors of a church, it might seem a bit of a mystery as to what happens inside, beyond the Sunday morning worship. Even if the doors are unlocked and there are friendly people waiting with a smile; it is unlikely that […]
Open Doors Spiritual Matters: Making our time count for something
By REV. DAVID McCLEARY At the start of the year it is only natural for our minds to cast back to the year that was, while we also look towards the future with expectancy and hope for what this year might hold for us. In principle, we all know that time marches on, regardless. But […]
Longest Night Service among upcoming events at Beaches Presbyterian Church
By REVEREND KATHERINE MCCLOSKEY Beaches Presbyterian Church is a warm and affirming place to be, especially during Advent and Christmas as we journey together toward Bethlehem. It as a time when we, at Beaches, are especially aware of how we might bring the warmth of this season to others. Taking time to pause for a […]
The spirituality of gardening
“The best place to find God is in a garden,” wrote George Bernard Shaw. The Green Thumbs gardening group at Beach United Church would definitely agree with this statement. Gardens take many forms and a walk up and down the streets of the Beach attest to this. At Beach United Church the garden wraps […]