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Progressively bigger stacks of coins grow plant shoots.

Let’s reimagine how we use God’s house

In the interest of stewardship, is it time to rethink how we use our buildings? After salaries for clergy and administrative support, the up-keep of ...
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A story woven into the quilt of Canada

Black History Month is celebrated in North America and in some other countries in February. It is believed that the precursor of Black History Month ...

Words of gratitude, wonder and hope

February, the shortest month of the year, begins with the tradition of Wiarton Willie seeing or not seeing his shadow. Will he show us the ...
hands hold a candle next to a flyr that reads "talking about social justice"

Stand in solidarity with those living in poverty

“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, Open your hand to the poor and needy ...
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Like the magi, many are searching

One of the memorable moments from the consecration of Andrew Asbil as our new bishop was the recessional music, U2’s “Beautiful Day.” It was an ...
A pair of hands holds a mound of soil with a green sprout.

Hopeful signs for outreach, environment

The 2018 Parish Outreach & Greening Survey was launched in May to gain insight into the outreach, advocacy and environmental efforts of parishes in our ...
A line of people with signs expressing support for Muslims.

I say my Church is the Big Tent

The Rev. Canon Gary van der Meer is the diocese’s interfaith officer. He has also served as incumbent of St. Anne, Toronto since 2011. As ...
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We need to talk

God is love. God is good. Not all people behave well all the time, even though we are all formed in the image of God. ...

I am excited by what’s in store

In a couple of months, I will retire as Bishop of Toronto. I have already retired as Metropolitan of Ontario and Bishop of Moosonee. Many ...
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I wouldn’t trade where I am for anything else

The Rev. Roshni Jayawardena is the assistant curate at Church of the Redeemer, Bloor Street in Toronto. As the assistant curate, I am trying to ...
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We must uphold the dignity of others

In Chapter 4 of the Acts of the Apostles, we read of the strong emphasis by the early Church on the importance of community. Members ...

We need to take an active stand

Racist graffiti was sprayed recently across property at the back of one of our churches. It was a vile display of bigotry and racism that ...
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We always seem to be cooking up plans

Jillian Ruch is an Area Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Episcopal Area of York-Scarborough and chair of the Archbishop’s Youth Ministry Committee (AYMC).  If I ...
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How the Creeds shape us

Texting is a non-negotiable aspect of staying in touch with our teenage daughters, and so I’ve adopted many of the abbreviations that make texting such ...

I have done nothing in Belize alone

Andy Harjula is a member of St. John, Ida and volunteers here and in Belize. I have been retired for over 20 years. In the ...

Work is underway on our strategic plan

I am delighted to bring you an update on Growing in Christ, our diocese’s strategic plan. As you will recall, the plan lays out a ...

Remember our Christian values

Ontarians will be going to the polls on June 7 to choose who will represent us at Queen’s Park for the next four years. Not ...
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Seeking the Lord’s face

Twenty-five minutes seemed like an eternity on that warm, spring day in North York. Ordinary people were out doing ordinary things in the afternoon sunshine ...
Fred Hiltz and Janice Biehn.

I am a bit of a church geek

Janice Biehn is the communications coordinator at The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) and a member of St. Olave, Swansea in Toronto. I ...
Progressively bigger stacks of coins grow plant shoots.

Effective parishes turn outward

Following the success of his March column, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Parishes, Peter Misiaszek, the diocese’s director of Stewardship Development, asked others to write ...
Three people sitting at a table.

Parliament of religions coming here

When I was first looking for a connection between St. Anne’s and a synagogue to learn about Passover, I contacted a rabbi whose synagogue often ...
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Our work is resurrection work

God is good. When I was about 15 years old, there was “the incident of the running cows” that is forever seared on my mind, ...

Thy Kingdom Come

I don’t remember how I first learned about prayer or how to pray. I guess it was as a small child. I was taken to ...
Progressively bigger stacks of coins grow plant shoots.

Why the Church needs generous givers

Last month’s article on The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Churches garnered considerable interest, as evidenced by the emails and conversations I have had concerning ...

What does it mean to care for creation?

The Anglican Communion’s fifth Mark of Mission calls us to “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the life of ...
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There is nothing that we cannot face

The wonderful seasons of Easter and spring are with us once again as we anticipate warmer weather, outdoor activities, longer days, gardening and enjoying spring. ...

Listen to the leading of the Spirit

In early March, I presided at the election of the Coadjutor Bishop of Niagara, my last as Metropolitan of the Province. I am delighted that ...