Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit  by Carolyn Crowell, To Touch the Mystery: Poetry for the Journey of Life. Carolyn is an educator, minister, theologian and writer in The United Church of Canada. She writes poems that reflect the presence of the Spirit in everyday life. Learn more and...
Soul Songs: Psalm 130

Soul Songs: Psalm 130

LENT SOUL SONG VISUAL PRAYER Psalm 130 Tending the Grief  “My whole being waits for you, my God, listening for your Presence.” — Psalm 130:4 Read Psalm 130 What feelings, longings, hopes are evoked in you as you pray this Psalm? When life is hard and you...
The Wooden Top

The Wooden Top

I hold it in my hand, and give it a spin or two. It came into being through a joint effort. My grandmother used the thread that emptied the wooden bobbin. And from it, my grandfather whittled the tiny homemade top. This, I remember. Waiting, while he opened his pocket...
Shekinah

Shekinah

When this picture passed through the family photo stream, I immediately thought “Shekinah” (and asked permission to use it.) I’ve been using this word a long time whenever I see mist, or fog, or playful light among the trees. You, O Shekinah, cloaked...
Stroll for Your Soul

Stroll for Your Soul

There are over 400 Strollers in the 2016 Stroll for Your Soul. We are from far and near, and of all ages. WEEK THREE – a gallery of photos shared WEEK TWO Elsie MacDonald offers her reflection on Week Two: “Just a few thoughts about these past strolling...
The Ironing Board Diary

The Ironing Board Diary

A few years back my mother showed me the Ironing Board from the house where she grew up in Cape Breton.   “Made by Dad”, May 1, 1939. That was likely the first mark, but not the last. It is a diary.     In case you think Winston is my...
Easter Monday, Bright and Splashing

Easter Monday, Bright and Splashing

Today is Easter Monday for some a holiday, a tradition brought by European immigrants. In the Eastern Orthodox church It is Bright Monday and the liturgy includes an outdoor parade. In some central European days it is Splash Monday, I like this. People toss around...
Blessing Bowls

Blessing Bowls

There is something about blessing that calls forth wholeness and imagines (in the sense of making possible) the best we can be. I invited participants in the Lent Email Retreat to create an altar-table and place upon it a blessing bowl. I didn’t define its use....