Author Archive
Embracing God’s Springtime at Pentecost — by Marian Noll
June 9, 2014
This reflection asks us to notice God in our everyday lives through creation at this season by Sr. Marian Noll, OSU, Canadian Religious Conference
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Why I Love the Corporation: A reflection for Pentecost by Luke Stocking
June 3, 2014
This reflection by Luke Stocking of Development and Peace looks at how the Body of Christ since the first Pentecost is a Spirited “corporation” for God acting in the world.
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Freedom and Bondage – by Tim Wray
May 26, 2014
Tim Wray, Lutheran (ELCIC) speaks about our freedom in God from being bound to the power of the status quo.
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Mother to Mother: I Didn’t Know But Now I Do – by Karen Kuhnert
May 12, 2014
Karen Kuhnert of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) has created this visual and poetic Spirited Reflection for Mother’s Day. She writes: I was asked to write 500 words, but at this time of acknowledging the thousands of missing…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
A Deacon’s Musing|Solidarity – by Richard Manley-Tannis
May 5, 2014
Richard Manley-Tannis, a diaconal minister with the United Church of Canada, explores the idea of solidarity with the particular lens of the Easter season.
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Resurrection: Trust Needed – by Sean Neil-Barron
April 28, 2014
Sean Neil-Barron brings fresh insights to the familiar passage known as The Road to Emmaus. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that important things happen over food. First dates, family fights, communion – in sharing food together we enter into…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Sacred Water: An Easter Reminder
April 22, 2014
Anglican priest, Laura Marie Piotrowicz, reflects on the celebration of Holy Week just passed: As we, the church, continue to journey through the Easter season, we carry with us the importance and significance of water. We are challenged to examine…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
TRC Young Adult Engagement Team Final Reflection- What’s Next?
April 3, 2014
In their final reflection from the TRC National Event in Edmonton, KAIROS’ young adult delegates wonder if we are ready to “overcome fear and guilt, and allow ourselves to be transformed by the power of authentic relationship.”
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
We Are Part of a Sacred Covenant
April 2, 2014
As KAIROS youth delegate Elyse Brazel explains, in their expression of reconciliation, the 4Rs Youth Summit promised to keep the sacred fires burning and the drums beating beyond the mandate of the TRC.
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Bone-Dry – by Margaret Evans
April 1, 2014
Margaret Evans will begin her term representing the Presbyterian Church in Canada on the Dignity and Rights Circle this spring. In this week’s Spirited Reflection she offers thoughts on the lectionary text from Ezekiel. Are we too being called to…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Surviving, Thriving, and Refusing to “Get Over It”
March 29, 2014
As KAIROS youth delegate Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt explains in her blog on Day 3 of the TRC National Event in Edmonton, residential school trauma is not something you can “just get over”!
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Thoughts on Solidarity at the TRC
March 29, 2014
On Day 2 of the TRC National Event in Edmonton, KAIROS youth delegate Elizabeth Kessler explores the meaning of solidarity.
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
TRC Reflection Day 1- Wisdom
March 27, 2014
On Day 1 of the TRC National Event in Edmonton, KAIROS youth delegates Elyse Brazel and Jesse Root reflect on how acknowledging the existence of many “truths” is an important step on the road to reconciliation.
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Faithfully Preparing for the TRC Hearing in Edmonton
March 24, 2014
Jesse Root is currently interning at KAIROS as part of his program requirements for his Master of Arts degree in Immigration and Settlement Studies.
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Psalm 23 and Wisteria: a chance for new beginnings or right relationships? – by Carmen Lansdowne
March 24, 2014
First Nations theologian and ordained minister Carmen Lansdowne has written a very personal Lenten reflection. Her openness and honesty call us into our own Lenten journeys, to examine our own hearts, to pay attention to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
A Garland Instead of Ashes – by Stephen Allen
March 17, 2014
Stephen Allen, KAIROS Board member and Associate Secretary for Justice Ministries of The Presbyterian Church, reflects on Isaiah 61 and a history of seeking justice. “We live with the tension between the values of the year of the Lord’s favour…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Decisions, Decisions – by Cindy Bourgeois
March 11, 2014
“A few years ago I ran into Josh, whom I knew to be homeless. I met Josh at the free dinners hosted by my church. We chatted for a bit and when we were about to part he hit me…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Mountain-top Moments and the Valleys of Reconciliation: Reflections on Matthew 17:1-9 – by Marcie Gibson
February 25, 2014
“Justice Murray Sinclair states, ‘Reconciliation is about forging and maintaining respectful relationships. There are no shortcuts.’ As finishing touches are underway for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s seventh and final National Event in Edmonton, on March 27-30, 2014 (www.trc.ca), I…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Time for Climate Activists to “Turn the Other Cheek” – by Greg Powell
February 18, 2014
Greg Powell, a UCC Divinity student and activist, challenges us to find and live out the modern equivalent of ‘turning the other cheek’ for the sake of climate justice.
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Mandela and The Prince of Peace – by Jennifer Palin
February 11, 2014
UCC minister Rev. Jennifer Palin reflects on the swirl of media discussion following Nelson Mandela’s death and what a ‘living’ faith depends on.
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Talking about sin—and redemption—in the quest for justice – by Paul Heidebrecht
February 3, 2014
Lent and social justice – do these themes relate? Paul Heidebrecht, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) staff and former KAIROS Board member, reflects, “Advocacy presumes that the institutions of our own day are also fallen,” but he is also talking about…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Fasting from Inaction and Complacency – by JoAnne Lam
February 3, 2014
In this week’s Spirited Reflection JoAnne Lam, seminary intern at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and CPJ, explains, “In Isaiah 58:1-9a, the people of Israel struggled with the efficacy of their fasts. They had thought that God required from them…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Dressing for Justice – by Keith Randall
January 20, 2014
We banter around the word “justice” all the time. Here Keith Randall, one of our Presbyterian companions, grapples with what justice means and how we achieve the best results. Do you agree? What do you think? (Spirited Reflections are always…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
The Joys and Fears of New Parenthood in our Beautiful and Scary World – By Shanna Bernier
January 13, 2014
Shanna Bernier works in Youth Ministry with the United Church of Canada and is mother to Bea. In this week’s Spirited Reflection she explores the injunction not to worry, as found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in light of…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Just as he came up out of the … what? – by Rev. Alex Bisset
January 8, 2014
Presbyterian minister, Rev. Alex Bisset reflects on this week’s readings from Matthew and Isaiah. The baptism of Jesus and the words of the prophet call us to more than pleasant songs about the River Jordan.
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Destined for Adoption – by Rev. Desmond Jagger-Parsons
December 31, 2013
“God destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ….” Our new Board Chair, Rev. Desmond Jagger-Parsons (UCC), reflects from his own perspective as an adoptive parent on this week’s scripture lessons and our joint destiny as adopted children…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Christmas Reflection from the Chair of our Board
December 24, 2013
This week the Rev. Paul Gehrs of the ELCIC offers our Christmas Spirited Reflection as he completes four years as our KAIROS Board Chair. He reflects on the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, the road KAIROS has been…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Dusty Shoes or Golden Slippers
December 11, 2013
by Ellen Wood Ellen Wood is a grain, cattle and apple orchard farmer as well as an ordained United Church minister, now semi-retired. She has worked on many social justice causes, most recently the tar sands and the nuclear…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America