The Church Mouse

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;     he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted     and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars     and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power;     his understanding has no limit. (Psalm 147: 1-5)   Monday morning, while I was working at the church, the news alerts started coming in about the violence and murder rained down by two individuals in the communities of James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Saskatchewan.   I could feel my heart catch in my throat.  … Read more

The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Supper. (Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1895.) I believe there is no line between the secular and sacred because God is forever made manifest right in our ordinary lives—there isn’t one room where God dwells and another room where … Read more

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.  James 5:16 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (Hebrews 10: 24,25)   When I was still studying theology, and taking a class on church history, I spent some time studying John Wesley, the … Read more

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:11) The following list provides examples of the social determinants of health, which can influence health equity in positive and negative ways:   Income and social protection Education Unemployment and job insecurity Working life conditions Food insecurity Housing, basic amenities and the … Read more

“to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” (Micah 6:8) “seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, [and] plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17). So today, as I was driving up to the church two things happened.  The first was that I hit and killed a chipmunk.  I had swerved to try and miss the little creature to no avail.  When I pulled over to see if there was anything I could do, it was really obvious that a chipmunk competing for road space with my car, as little as it is, meant … Read more

So God created humankind[a] in his image,     in the image of God he created them;[b]     male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)   To turn and to turn will be our delight, ‘til by turning and turning we come ‘round right.  (Old Shaker Hymn “tis a Gift to be Simple’)   God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1: 31)   All this week I have been surfing the news and shaking my head at what I’m hearing.  Covid … Read more

26Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— 29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the … Read more