Tim Woodcock writes:  It has been only been ten days since King Charles III was crowned. As a Brit, people have asked me about it multiple times since then. Do I like Charles? Am I a fan of the royal family? Does the pomp and circumstance of the occasion make me glow with pride? My thoughts and feelings on this are so complex and contradictory that trying to write a coherent response seems impossible. So instead here are some impressionist bullet points, firstly on the British royal family, and secondly on the idea of kingship plays in the modern church.          The verb is “crowned,” people! It is not as I heard it on a reputable news source, NPR, recently – “coronated.”           King Charles – not very inspiring, is he? I suppose you can say he will grow into the role and it’s simply impossible to please everyone as a monarch, especially as a monarch in the modern world. Queen Elizabeth II’s stature as a dignified, fai...

Mike Willock writes: Moving from the Maundy Thursday service in Niccolls Hall to the sanctuary where the Stations of the Cross are displayed, I was struck by two contrasting uses of a basin and water for washing. The basin in the Last Supper was used by Jesus, as described in John 13: “Jesus got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. … After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. … If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you must also do. ... I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you must also love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” The other basin was used by Pon...

RELENTLESS IS CREATION’S VIA DOLOROSA   Relentless is Creation’s Via Dolorosa— choosing each millisecond along its ever expanding Tree-of-Life journey— emerging, purging, resurging, fragile resilience ever setting Being’s face toward new Jerusalems: galaxies swirling, atoms whirling, comets hurling, creatures toiling, humans turmoiling and gargoyling.   Relentless is Creation’s Via Dolorosa to temples of grandeur, upsetting tables of the greedy, setting up banquets with the needy, mocked, bound, beaten, crowned with corporate logos by those who wash their hands politely, litigiously while Pachamama’s precious vitality— sapped, tapped, stretched, plundered— pours black blood and fool’s gold, its seamless garment stripped, folded, and gambled for spoils, its parched sighs ignored while skies blacken, mountains shake, winds choke, seas roar, and fires scorch.   Relentless is the Cry of Creation’s Via Dolorosa— reverbera...

With an eye out for signs of beauty and hope, these two photos were taken next to church in the past week. Thank you, Mike Willock. 

   A poem by Ellie Stock in the season for  Women's History Month. To Earth's (Our/My) Sisters--   Who ~ bravely dance their daily paces, shine extraordinary light on ordinary places, where others faint or fear to tread, where laughter is born and tears are shed.   Who ~ steadfast, courageously with bolding care encourage unheard voices to dare, to share-- whose own struggling and vulnerability forge the way for new beginnings and brighter days;   Who ~ spirited, passionate, seized by wonder endure times and worlds so torn asunder-- Daughters of the Universe, Mothers of Earth, Midwives of Vision contracting to birth;   Who ~ Friend of the forgotten, Madonna of the Trail league so the beleaguered cannot fail-- builder of community, hub of life, Heart of compassion, mind of delight;   Who ~ creative, innovative, for justice, for peace, no shrinking violet: advocate for the least-- doormat for none, s...

Nancy Quigley writes: In these times of wars, horrendous earthquakes, gun violence, political division and mental health challenges, it’s sometimes good to find a word of encouragement. Recently, I read an article written by Peter Baker about Michael Gerson.*  It is a good article, describing a complicated person with an eloquent Republican voice, who longed for “compassionate conservatism”, advancing liberal goals with conservative means. Gerson, who died recently, struggled with depression. In 2019, he preached a sermon in which he said he was “stalked by sadness.”  But he went on to say the following, which helped me remember once again what is essential. “Many, understandably, pray for a strength they do not posses. But God’s promise is somewhat different: That even when strength fails, there is perseverance. And even when perseverance fails, there is hope. And even when hope fails, there is love. And love never fails.”   * The article was in the New York Times ...

A reflection by Mike Willock  Micah 6:8 (NRSV) God has told you, O mortal, what is good,     and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness     and to walk humbly with your God? To begin the Sacred Space for Children part of the worship service on January 29, pastor Travis tried to engage the children with the Micah 6:8 preaching text. He strutted in front of them with his chest puffed out and his head thrown back to contrast a self-absorbed and prideful stride with how we should walk humbly with God. Since then, I’ve been reflecting on that very familiar scripture. There are three action verbs – “do,” “love,” and “walk,” but we usually connect only the last of the three with the words that follow – “with your God.” I think that misses an important point. I think a better reading would be Do justice with your God, and Love kindness with your God, and Walk humbly with your God. When we separate t...