by Janice MacLean | Aug 27, 2020 | Poetry & Prayer, Reflections
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...
by Janice MacLean | Jul 25, 2020 | Free Stuff, Reflections
An EXCERPT from the 2020 Summer Sabbath Series: The Inventions of Summer. Sunflowers: Pronouncing a Blessing Read Psalm 113 “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.” — Psalm 113:3 Pause for Reflection The...
by Janice MacLean | Mar 13, 2020 | Reflections, Visual Intercessions
LENT SOUL SONG VISUAL PRAYER Psalm 95 Holding in Care “God holds in care the earth we walk upon, from its deep caverns, to mountain summits which meet the sky.” -Psalm 95 Read Psalm 95 What parts of this Psalm speak to you? Inspire, resonate or call to...
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 | Jul 13, 2016 | Reflections
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...
by Janice MacLean | Apr 16, 2016 | Poetry & Prayer
Spring Carol Steel Snow pulls your cedar fence apart, pushes it slant. Crossbars slump into symbols for “less than.” Winter loosens its hold, sinks into flood, rushes the downward slope to the river. A red ribbon rides the melt, dangles on the lip of the...
by Janice MacLean | Feb 8, 2016 | Ordinary, Reflections
While snowshoeing or ice-fishing might be considered the more contemplative winter sports practices, I am prepared to make a case for snowmobiling. On Saturday, I enjoyed a two hour run in a generational convoy with my brother, my dad, my oldest nephew. It is noisy....
by Janice MacLean | Jan 30, 2016 | Ordinary, Reflections
By Marilyn Burrell, a Prayer Bench partner and Spiritual Guide. I’m here. Are you here? I mean, are you REALLY here? Present with your whole self? Or are you drawn to thinking about something that has already happened; a conversation from yesterday, a meeting from...
by Janice MacLean | Nov 9, 2015 | Poetry & Prayer, Reflections
Here is a poem written by my friend, Linda Foy. Linda is a Quaker and lives in Sackville, New Brunswick. As you read receive words that open your heart. It belonged All the wooden rails in the new fence were straight, save one. That one had the most impressive and...
by Janice MacLean | Sep 21, 2015 | Ordinary, Reflections
On my desk is a stick. It’s smooth-polished by the tumble of lake and stone. It just might be marked by beaver teeth, making it very Canadian. I hand-picked it from a lake in the Mt. Carleton Provincial Park. I held a few in my hand before I found a good length,...
