May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you! Yesterday, as I was thinking about what I was going to write in my mid-week message, I had planned to write a reflection about the Winter Olympics. But then I heard about the tragedy that unfolded in Tumbler Ridge yesterday afternoon, and I've pivoted my plans.  (Depending on what happens in the world in the next 7 days, you may get to hear my thoughts on the Olympics next week...

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you! Monday was not just groundhog day - there are a couple of celebrations that happen on February 2.  In the church calendar, it is Candlemas, also called Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, also called Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  (Got to love a feast day with multiple names and multiple layers of meaning!) The story associated with this day is Luke...

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you! I was just saying to someone yesterday that I am enjoying a "proper" winter this year! (Yes, despite needing to shovel again yesterday for the umpteenth time since November!)  This winter - it feels like more so than in previous years - I find my breath taken away by the beauty of the world around us, trees heavy with snow and sunlight sparkling on ice crystals. For some reason,...