by Janice MacLean | Feb 12, 2020 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
Inside Prayer “Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and went up the mountain to pray.” I was fortunate to visit the place where, by tradition, this story may have taken place, Mount Tabor in Galilee. We didn’t walk up the mountain. We drove. As we wound our...
by Janice MacLean | Dec 5, 2019 | Ordinary, Reflections
A Gentle Stirring of Life and Hope I’m haunted by this image. Before you read more about it, take the time to explore the entire image with your eyes: Notice the shapes, the different figures and symbols…. See if there is any part of the image that asks for your...
by Janice MacLean | Nov 7, 2017 | Free Stuff, Ordinary, Reflections
A special gift for you from the Prayer Bench, an Advent calendar. Each day from December 1 to New Year’s Day, it offers you a practice or gesture for creating hope, peace, joy and love in complicated times. Your Advent calendar is available as a free instant...
by Janice MacLean | Oct 30, 2017 | Ordinary, Reflections
These are the thin days of Hallow’s Eve, All Saints and Souls when we offer thanks for those who linger with us and the souls who come to find us. Here among us are the saints-in-making the challenging one, close by or far away the incredibly rude one the smoker...
by Janice MacLean | Apr 16, 2017 | Memoir, Reflections
It was on an Easter Sunday, 1972 I believe and Grant United Church, my home church, the little church by the Lake, saw a rather large confirmation class lined up along the front of the church. There were four of us. We had memorized the shorter catechism — and knew a...
by Janice MacLean | Feb 21, 2017 | Reflections, Video Conversations
Anne Pirie makes beautiful Prayer Settling Jars. They are lovely to look at, beautiful to hold, and an inviting way to settle into retreat time. In this Skype conversation, Anne Shares how she uses Prayer Settling Jars in her own life and with the children in her...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 26, 2017 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
When you wake on February 2, you are 40 days from Christmas. You might think it is Groundhog Day, but alongside this celebration of forecasting hope or gloom, it is also Candlemas. Candlemas is very old tradition rooted in the visit of Mary and Joseph to the Temple...
by Janice MacLean | May 12, 2016 | Lectionary & Scripture, Reflections
The images of fire-filled Fort McMurray remain close to us as we near Pentecost. With pastoral sensitivity, and out of kindness, some have suggested setting aside fire imagery and holding up other Pentecost images. I tried to. I sat with the Pentecost-as-Breath story...
by Janice MacLean | Mar 28, 2016 | Ordinary, Reflections
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...
by Janice MacLean | Jan 18, 2016 | Ordinary, Reflections
Lent Getting ready for the Mystery of Easter. Lent A slow showing of God in the ordinary. Lent 40 days of noticing life shining in the mystery of everyday. Lent Calling us to gratitude, mindfulness, intention. Lent Pausing to becoming awake, aware, receptive and...
