Spirited Reflections
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…
Post filed in: Middle East, Spirited Reflections
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…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
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…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
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…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
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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Spirited Reflection: Jesus heals and blesses children
January 28, 2020
Continuing with the Epiphany resource, Listen to the Children: A Worship Resource for Justice Seekers (digital) (print) and Écoutez les enfants , this week we see how Jesus included children in his teachings. Throughout his ministry, Jesus speaks about a…
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Spirited Reflection: Children as prophets, servants and leaders
January 24, 2020
Today, as with Scripture, we find news and stories of children and youth as prophet, servant or leader. From Isaiah 49:1-7: the servant’s role is to turn God’s people back to God, to make them a “light to the nations,”…
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Spiritual Reflection: Grief and a season to find connection
January 24, 2020
When I reflect on community, it is often with a sense of grieving for the connections once found at this time of year. Certainly, traditional communities were communal and intergenerational in their caregiving, with many navigating the harshest stretch of…
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Aspiring to inspire! Calling for Spirited Reflections writers
January 17, 2020
With KAIROS’ commitment to faithful action for ecological justice and human rights, we are calling for new Spirited Reflections to help inspire our constituents and others. Spirited Reflections are ethical and theological reflections on the issues facing our world. We…
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Spirited Reflection: God hears children—from the beginning
January 15, 2020
This year, KAIROS Epiphany and spirited reflections are focusing on children, based on the new Epiphany Resource Listen to the Children: A Worship Resource for Justice Seekers (digital) (print) et Écoutez les enfants. “I was born here. This is the…
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Spirited Reflection: The vulnerability of children and communities
January 3, 2020
“We, youth, come together to create, construct, resist, and dream.” —Paola Andrea Muñoz January 6 is the beginning of Epiphany and KAIROS spirited reflections are focusing on children, based on the new Epiphany Resource Listen to the Children: A Worship…
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