Spiritually Speaking

Lincoln Shlensky January 27, Members of all community service groups have the spirit of friendship, the spirit of service, the spirit of loyalty and creative imagination to keep their vision alive with purpose and energy. Paul Newman January 24, Community is essential to spiritual traditions and practices. In the Christian tradition, as Jesus began public ministry, one of his first activities was inviting others to join him in this work and in community together. Lyle McKenzie January 20, Sheila Flood January 17, Join us in honour of UN Interfaith Harmony Week and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, panelists from the diverse traditions will discuss how to take this turbulent period of history and build the stable, egalitarian, humanitarian future we all want.

Sheila Flood January 13, Finding inspiration in Hindu teaching can help navigate this life, fraught with unexpected journeys to the edges of precipices, its uncertainties, its roller coaster ups and downs. Suresh Basrur January 10, It has been a heavenly experience. Recently, I spent three weeks in India, visiting family members in two cities. Every time I visit India, I feel spiritually rejuvenated.

Suresh Basrur January 6, There is a very important message that I take from the account of the Wise Men coming to worship the Baby Jesus, namely, that Jesus came not just for people of any particular religion, but for everyone, everywhere. Drew Snider January 3, But if we nurture what is spiritual and life giving for us, then maybe the New Year is a stepping stone to a larger spiritual transformation.

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Larry Scott December 30, At this time of year, peace can feel very far away. Anna Bowness-Park December 27, Reverend Canon Nancy Ford December 23, Karima Ramji December 20, Hanukkah or Chanukah - lighting the candles is a special ritual with reasons for how it is done that can teach us all valuable lessons. Fiona Prince December 16, It turns their kinds of love into blessings instead of problems. Paul Newman December 13, Christians look to Jesus as the criterion of wisdom. He was full of the Spirit of God. For wisdom we can look to what he taught and lived. Paul Newman December 9, Prayer is a powerful tool.

It has been used throughout history as a form of non-violent protest. Martin Luther King Jr. Maryam Baksh December 2, I have to confess, I am not an art aficionado. Recently, though, for the first time, my knees buckled on seeing a work of art. Drew Snider November 29, Ferries buoys Saturna with bottled water. The healing and unifying effect of singing together at Christmas This Christmas celebrates years of the continual singing of the carol, Silent Night Anna Bowness-Park December 15, The importance of sharing our faith and honouring others. Celebrating religious festivals together is an opportunity to better understand our neighbours Fiona Prince December 12, Finding patterns in everyday life brings comfort A coincidence?

Or a pattern of God revealed in a knitting project. Advent candles a symbol of inner quest Advent is understood as a celebration of peace and good will, culminating in Christmas itself. Wisdom is needed today, but what is it? Wisdom is available for all Suresh Basrur November 21, Exploring the path to wisdom in Hinduism Hinduism teaches lessons that enable us to move forward on the path to wisdom Suresh Basrur November 17, Remembering is a Spiritual Event The widespread participation in Remembrance Day is cause for hope for a better world.

Revitalizing democracy A vital element of democracy is constant revision Sheila Flood November 7, Housing the homeless - beyond the politics With the cold weather season upon us, the issue of housing the homeless is in the forefront. Kristallnacht - Choosing action over indifference Kristallnacht - the night of broken glass remembers the attacks on Jews in Germany and Austria on Nov 9th Spiritually Speaking October 24, Reflecting on the hijab can bring understanding it is time for society to listen to the voices of the women who wear them when discussing the hijab.

What is Orange Shirt Day? Gratitude - the highest human virtue The more gratitude we cultivate the more we have to be grateful for. Naloxone, compassion and the Gospel — aids in fighting addiction Stories of recovery from addiction often begins with one act of simple kindness Reverend Canon Nancy Ford October 3, New beginnings - a time of hope and expectation New beginnings are full of potential, shiny with hope, and dressed in the clothes of great expectations for the future.

Yom Kippur and the importance of taking responsibility Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar, yet still has relevance today Alan Rutkowski September 22, Who is my neighbour? The lesson of the Good Samaritan offers insights for current neighbourhood issues Keith Simmonds September 19, Time of Creation a reminder of our responsibilities Many churches are adopting a season of Creation as part of the Christian calendar Rev. Things I learned from loving my neighbours Listening to our neighbours can teach wonderful life lessons in unexpected ways Rev.

Zen for Activists, or do you love earthworms? In Buddhist practice there are no commandments, because this path is an investigation Soshin McMurchy August 29, Finding a way past the daydreaming makes life better Meditation teaches us a way to stop the day dreaming and bring us into a more present experience of life, but it takes practice. Breaking down walls of hostility through friendship In our busy, disconnected word, we need to rediscover the ways of friendship The Right Reverend Logan McMenamie August 18, Making the most from life's lessons Those who are close to us can teach us so much from their own lessons, and that can inform our lives Rev.

Rebuilding lives after wildfires Forest fires across the northern hemisphere are shocking in their ferocity, but there are spiritual lessons of hope to be gained. The Divine influence that brings hope and action There is no place so remote that we cannot hear and feel divine Love's guidance when we listen.

Morning Prayer of Gratitude: Is creation coming to an end or being continuously renewed?

Two people can sit together and see creation differently - as either a sunset or a continual sunrise Fiona Prince July 21, The partnership of prayer and action in Thailand Rather than seeing it just as luck, the cave rescue can be seen as an example of God's presence in challenging circumstances Drew Snider July 18, Days of nationalism should give pause for thought Displays of nationalism and patriotism can evoke different responses, depending on the context, and whether we are insiders or outsiders.

Cultivating peace in a world of conflict Our desire to cultivate peace invites us to re-think how we see our enemies Matt Jackson July 7, Refugees, immigration, nationalism - the search for a plan for a global society We need to consciously plan for a global society that is just, democratic, humane in its essence and respectful of all life Sheila Flood July 4, Lots to learn on helping victims of refugee crisis Inter-Cultural Association of Victoria will be hosting "Responding to the Refugee Crisiis, 1: In a judgemental world, try looking at others favourably It takes self awareness and patience to judge others favourably.

Being in touch with Creator gives life meaning Helpful steps for a meaningful connection with the Creator Paul Newman June 16, Consciousness and its Relationship to the Universe Hindu scriptures teach the importance of consciously living a good life Suresh Basrur June 13, Living from a place of love isn't simple. Bishop Curry's sermon was act of spiritual resistance Love should be the status quo, not something we aspire to. Pentecost offers us all a lesson in moving forward When we think of Pentecost we can gain encouragement from the lesson it teaches us Drew Snider May 19, The Buddhist View of Kindness We must protect and benefit all peoples; be kindness itself with a year perspective.

The practical effects of meditation practice The experience of a friend in hospital brings to light how meditation can change one's view of life Wayne Codling May 9, Meditation - a helpful response to suffering Buddhism is not centered on a creator God. Prophets, Poetry and Imagination Come to this interesting talk by a leading Jewish scholar.

Search for meaning can come through religious story-telling Religion can be seen as a search for meaning through story telling. Child's poem awakens community housing needs What is the impact on our community when basics such as affordable housing are disappearing? Who Were the Prophets? He can be reached at dallasweekly.

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Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Edit Article Add New Article. Campaign targets homeless, seeks public's help. White House pulls back from shutdown threat over wall funds. Museum honoring Harriet Tubman destined for Cape May.

Japan to have first aircraft carriers since World War II. Deported immigrants get their last flight on 'ICE Air'. Author Alice Walker criticized for support of writer's book. Local set on gridiron, but tackles singing, stage and TV. Church of the Week. Church credibility at risk over sex abuse. Authors meet at Enon Tabernacle. That old, refined spirit returns to North Broad Street. There can be no Christmas without Christ.

Bishop McNeal celebrates 80th birthday and 47th year in ministry. He would shepherd his flock as they did, only his flock would be people like you and me. I hope you have opportunities to be a good shepherd today, and to allow others to shepherd you. Sunday, December 16, Angelic Messengers. And it doesn't matter what brings us to the nerve of life. It might be truth or falsehood or a confusion as to what is real. What matters is that we face the nerve of life when it appears, the way Jacob wrestled the unnamed angel in the bottom of the ravine until it blessed him. Mark Nepo Weekly Reflection: There are happenings in every life, sooner or later, that stand out clearly as a turning point.

It may be the end of a relationship that's been dying slowly for years; or it may be an unexpected diagnosis that will cause us great hardship. It may be an accident, or an injury. It may be the discovery that we are pregnant, or in love. Or, we may simply wake up one day and know at the core of our being that things must change. The time has come. We must make a sharp turn and go in a different direction. That moment of realization is both exciting, and terrifying, because it carries us into the unknown. Sometimes, we are brought face-to-face with our own mortality.

Perhaps a friend or a loved one dies, and we realize that life is short, unpredictable, and a bit precarious. We understand that we must do what we've been putting off—make changes we have been pondering, but not acted upon. Could be some piece of our life has been dreamed about but ignored; some expression of our soul has always existed, but never been taken seriously. Life was too busy, there were too many things to take care of, too many demands that seemed more important.

Now, suddenly, we realize that time will not stretch on forever, and we'd better get cracking. This is not necessarily age-related. We reassess; we question where we are, what we're doing, and where we are headed. These are our Jabbok moments. We are deep in the ravine; we wrestle with our own angel, and come away changed. One in which more of our true nature asserts itself, our wholeness is revealed. As uncomfortable as they are, there is a blessing in these wrestling matches. We cannot help but recognize the truth behind them.

We may not activate the changes right away, but we're clear-eyed in seeing them. They can no longer be ignored. As for myself, I've noticed that when I ignore the urging of an angel, that angel gets larger and louder until I come around.

It's best not to ignore a heavenly messenger. Saturday, December 15, Consider the Manger. Thomas Moore The Soul of Christmas. I seem to be stuck in the stable in the run up to Christmas this year. I can't pull myself away from that bucolic scene of Mary, Joseph and the baby surrounded by farm animals and shepherds.

That was a peaceful, humble and adoring beginning for a baby boy who was destined to change the world. He was born in peace, and that is what he taught. Be at peace, my peace I give to you, do not be afraid—were among his major teachings.

The manger is a reminder to us to stay humble and vulnerable, too. As an artist, I have to remain in that state of expectation, without knowing where it will lead. I have to be open to direction that does not come from my left cerebral hemisphere. As soon as I decide to take control of what happens, the piece I'm working on becomes stilted and stale. I have the feeling that Jesus, as rabbi, didn't plan his sermons ahead of time; he didn't carefully construct his message so as to repeat the theme three time. I imagine that he knew scripture by heart, having memorized it in his village synagogue, and that he had pondered its meaning since childhood.

So when he began to teach, he spoke from his own understanding, and not in a conventional way. He was an open vessel with a loving spirit; he spoke the words as they occurred to him. The manger is a symbol of humility for the purpose of this story. But in reality, it is a lifeline for the animals who live in the barn. That is where they receive their sustenance, where they are fed. If you have an animal of any sort, you know that meal time is the central moment of their day.

He became spiritual food for his followers. Putting those ideas together, we find that humility is food for the soul. Openness, vulnerability, the willingness to not be in control, are necessary for spirit to guide us. They are the most difficult practices of all. When you're struggling with them, think of the manger, and notice the peace it brings.

Posted by Silver Spirit at 4: Friday, December 14, "I should be doing something with my life!

My friend, Garvice, told me yesterday about a story he had seen on TV about everyday heroes. It featured a woman who noticed how much food restaurants throw away at the end of the day; food, she reckoned, that could be used to feed people in homeless shelters. She set up a website that allowed restaurant owners to list their remaining food so that shelters could claim it and then come and pick it up. I believe she called it Access.