Spirited Reflections
Final message from Jennifer Henry, Executive Director
December 24, 2020
When I think of what KAIROS is, at its essence, the first words that come to mind are “together,” “accompaniment” and “solidarity.” Almost 20 years ago, KAIROS was created out of rich legacy as a place for churches and religious organizations…
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Believing in impossible change: KAIROS Christmas video message for sharing
December 24, 2020
Dear Friends, May we be ready this Christmas to really welcome the Holy One, the radical love and justice that changes everything. Let’s believe in impossible change and join our hands and hearts to the movements around the world that…
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Spirited Reflection: Being known under the tree
December 23, 2020
1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20); Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51 This cold and blustery January may seem far removed from lush and leafy summer gardens, but the fig tree mentioned in the gospel reading for this week has…
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Spirited Reflection: The baptismal drive
December 23, 2020
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 As a young adult, I became interested in alternatives to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Being someone interested in all kinds of things, it was…
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Spirited Reflection: Glorious display
December 22, 2020
Version en français Epiphany has many subtle meanings in the original Greek. The one I like best for this year and these lectionary readings is ‘glorious display’, and what a display of glory is offered to us! We need to…
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Réflexion Spirituelle: Manifestation de gloire
December 15, 2020
English version Dans son étymologie grecque, épiphanie a plusieurs significations quelque peu différentes. Celle que je retiens cette année pour cette lecture du lectionnaire est celle de « manifestation de gloire». Et, en effet, quelle glorieuse manifestation nous est présentée! Nous devons…
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Spirited Reflection: A Rigorous Spirituality
December 9, 2020
A Cry for Justice – Theological Reflection from the KAIROS Palestine-Israel Delegation In the late fall of 2019, I was part of the KAIROS Church Leaders’ Delegation to Israel/Palestine. This was, as one of our delegates, Rosalyn Elm, put it “Not…
Post filed in: Middle East, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Mary of Palestine
November 30, 2020
A Cry for Justice – Theological Reflection from the KAIROS Palestine-Israel Delegation A year ago, I was travelling the roads and cobblestone paths of Palestine on the KAIROS Israel-Palestine delegation. When you’re a Christian in Bethlehem, in the days leading up to Christmas, the gospel stories of Jesus’ birth resound in your heart. In Manger…
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Now available! Good News: Epiphany Year B Resource for Justice Seekers
November 8, 2020
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Thanksgiving video message for sharing
October 7, 2020
As we gather on Thanksgiving, there is no doubt that this year is different. However, I am looking forward to it for the reminder it brings to turn our hearts to gratitude. And there is so much to be thankful for. I am particularly grateful to the migrant workers who…
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Spirited Reflection: Love is the Revolution
September 17, 2020
This reflection is dedicated to the late Rev. Jim Kirkwood who modeled and lived a life of Revolutionary Love. During our weekly Wednesday morning staff meetings, my boss Rob Dalgleish often throws a fist in the air and emphatically and syllabically…
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Spirited Reflection: Stirring new hope after the pandemic
June 15, 2020
Like so many others around the globe, my colleagues and I are working hard to imagine our way forward in a post-pandemic world. As we advance, we consider amongst other valued voices, the guidance and direction of Pope Francis. In…
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Prayer of a white settler on National Indigenous Peoples Day 2020
June 15, 2020
by Shannon Neufeldt Photo by KS KYUNG on Unsplash Creator God, I come to you with a humble heart, So grateful for Your creation, this place I am in. The land is full of Your glory this solstice day. Sunlight sparkles on fresh…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Embodying the Golden Rule
June 8, 2020
I have a crystal clear childhood memory of learning from my parents about the Golden Rule: “In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you, for that is the essence of…
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Stories of residential school impacts experienced by Indigenous Women
June 3, 2020
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was formed 12 years ago, the Calls for Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released a year ago, and this Indigenous Women’s Month at KAIROS we join our voices…
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Spirited Reflection: Calling for an economy of life in a time of pandemic
May 26, 2020
The World Council of Churches (WCC), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the Council for World Mission (CWM) through the joint New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) have released a joint urgent…
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Spirited Reflection: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
April 30, 2020
There are specific days that I remember, which forever changed my understanding and perspectives about being a First Nations woman in Canada. Like so many in this country, I grew up with the cliched ideas of Canadian society-polite people surrounded by clean cities and…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Prayer for Earth Day
April 16, 2020
On April 22, 2020 people around the world will recognize Earth Day for the 50th time. This year’s international theme is climate action; a part of our action as spiritual people is bringing our hopes and fears to God in…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Easter video message to share: Easter mystery in extraordinary times
April 6, 2020
Dear Friend, These are tough times we are living in right now. We are very concerned for the grave risks, particularly to vulnerable peoples and communities in Canada and around the globe. It can be hard to keep our spirits…
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Spirited Reflection: Join the Passion of the Lord
April 2, 2020
Scripture Matthew 26:14-27:54 Growing up I remember Palm Sunday with the sermons focused on those of us who would cheer for Jesus, and who were soon to betray him. We waived our palms in some services and more commonly, in Protestant…
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Spirited Reflection: Holding close to our hearts
March 31, 2020
In this time of isolation, staying behind doors and apart from one another, questions on the meaning and power of prayer may arise. How can I offer support to those far away? Is there a way to close the gap? …
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Changing the world one KAIROS Blanket Exercise story at a time
March 30, 2020
Words cannot express the gratitude for every time we are called upon to offer the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE). It is an honour to meet with participants who, for the most part, are on a journey of learning. We have been asked to go where people have little or no…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Coping with lockdown, quarantine, staying-at-home
March 25, 2020
A long-time partner of KAIROS in the Philippines, Vernie Yocogan-Diano, shared the following with us to keep up our spirits, to learn from the Igorot and to remind us all worldwide of the choices we face. In northern Philippines, the Igorot (a collective term for Indigenous peoples in the Cordillera mountain region) are composed of several…
Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Lent, Human Identity and our Environment
March 3, 2020
In pondering Eve’s conversation with the serpent (as in Genesis) and Jesus’ conversation with Satan when he fasted for forty days in the desert (as in Matthew 4:1-11), we see these conversations as saying something about our human identity. In…
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Spirited Reflection: One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see
February 26, 2020
Two readings for this Lenten season coming to mind, about seeing and vision: Psalm 121, I lift up my eyes to the hills; and the story of the man born blind that is in the ninth chapter of the Gospel…
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Spirited Reflection: Choosing Life
February 20, 2020
This week the KAIROS Epiphany resource, Listen to the Children: A Worship Resource for Justice Seekers (digital) (print) and Écoutez les enfants, highlights the responsibility of parents and other caring adults to nurture and guide children in the ways of God. The Message The Israelites have been wandering in the…
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Spirited Reflection: Children of courage
February 14, 2020
This week the KAIROS Epiphany resource, Listen to the Children: A Worship Resource for Justice Seekers (digital) (print) and Écoutez les enfants, highlights the situation of extremely vulnerable children who find and demonstrate strength and resilience. Child enslaved and saving her master The heroine of the story in 2 Kings 5:119 is a young and unnamed Israelite…
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Spirited Reflection: Become like children
February 5, 2020
Continuing with the KAIROS Epiphany resource, Listen to the Children: A Worship Resource for Justice Seekers (digital) (print) and Écoutez les enfants, this week we note the importance of the community in overseeing and advocating for children’s development and well-being….
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