“My wife and I don’t really believe in anything. Can we still bring our kids to your church?” This is the question posed a few weeks ago in a piece titled “Raising Kids Without God (But Maybe Not Without Religion).” The writer and his wife, both having grown up in a fairly conservative brand of fundamentalist Christianity have left this behind for something like agnosticism. Obviously burned by the church and particular ways of thinking about the divine, they nonetheless find themselves drawn to a religious community (this case Unitarian) for the good of their children, and maybe even themselves.
Read MoreOn Sunday February 1, St. George's and Comox United Church will host The Kid-dom of God: A Workshop for Parents on Sharing Faith with Children. Many parents wonder how to share their faith in a way that respects their child’s need to develop and grow their own spirituality. This workshop is designed for parents, grandparents, and other adults interested in talking about faith with children. Nancy Reeves and Linnea Good will be leading the workshop together.
Read MoreSad news yesterday, that the Naramata Centre has announced that it must close and cease all operations. Naramata has played a key role for decades in lay Christian education in the United Church, with many United Church people having fond memories and transformative experiences.
We at St. George's lift up our prayers for the staff and board of Naramata, along with the surrounding community.
Read more here.
Read MoreSometimes I wonder if we see the Way of Jesus as just another way for us to cash in--be it in terms of our own material success or a way to accrue blessings for ourselves here and in the hereafter.
Read MoreIn the Christian tradition, we look at time through the lens of the church year. Thinking of time in this way reminds me of who I am and the story that I belong to that is different from other possible stories. It's not just a story I read, but one that I am living daily. But what happens when the story you are raised in has become a drain? Something that is not life-giving, but one that creates pain, guilt and hurt?
Read MoreThis Saturday, January 10th, we'll be holding our regular men's breakfast with "tastes of the Yukon." All men are welcome to come and share in good food, and greater conversation. We'll be using the New Year as an opportunity to perform a spiritual examen, looking back over the past year and looking forward to the promises of the coming year as well.
Come to the St. George's Fellowship Hall at 7:30am if you wish to help out with cooking, 8:30am to eat.
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When the wise men show up in Matthew's gospel, it's anything but cute. It's kind of dark, actually. Outraged tyrants. Murder plots. Last minute escapes. Matthew's story doesn't have any angels, shepherds, donkeys or a sweet little manger, even. These all belong to Luke's story. Which is the kinder, gentler gospel. The wise men get a little spotlight time this time of the year. But kind of like any Christmas pageant, they are usually tacked on to an already awesome story. As a bonus or something.
Read MoreThis Sunday at St. George's, we'll be celebrating the feast of the Epiphany, which normally ends the twelve days of Christmas. It is one of the older feasts in the Christian calendar, being celebrated first in the 4th century. Epiphany means “manifestation” or “striking appearance,” It celebrates the (the revealing, the unveiling) of Jesus’ divine identity to the gentiles--the people who do not yet know the story of the God of Israel.
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