“Blue - For Hope”
Feeling a little blue these days? Many of us are, I think. I was on a Zoom call recently with a friend in the States, who was surprised to see that it was getting dark outside the church about 4:00 PM. “Just wait,” I told him; “we’re still a month away from the solstice!” A lot of us...
"Adjusting Expectations”
“And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Revelation 21:5
How many times have you heard someone say, “2020...wow, what a year.” All of us have had to adjust to a world and a situation which are unprecedented in our lifetimes. Most of us have...
John Donne “No Man Is An Island”
In the winter of 1623, the English poet John Donne wrote these lines in his “Meditation 17:
No man is an island,
entire of itself;
every man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
as well as if a promontory were.
as...
Pastor’s Page: For The Grace Vine, April 2020 issue (by Pastor Steve)
One of the little irritations that comes with having a cold is the roller-coaster effect of the medications I often take to deal with its symptoms. In the morning, a “non-drowsy” pill not only drains my sinuses but also gives me a jolt of energy. At...
“Being Scent-sible”
St. Paul uses a fascinating image in one of his letters to describe the effect that we as Christians have on the people around us. “We are a sweet aroma of Christ,” he says. “To those who are perishing it is an odour from death to death, but to those who are being saved, a fragrance from...
“Stewards of the Mysteries” (Pastor Curtis)
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Whenever I drive to the north side of Edmonton, I like to observe the construction...
So, When Would You Contact Your Pastor, Anyway?
You call your doctor when you have an earache. You call your dentist when you break a tooth. You call the plumber when… Well, you get the point. But when should you call your pastor?
Probably the most obvious time to call your pastor is when you’re experiencing a crisis or...
Do we really believe in teamwork?
Most people know at least a few catchy slogans about teamwork. There’s the acronym: “ T ogether E veryone A chieves M ore.” There’s the pun: “There’s no “I in Team.” And there is the wisdom gained through experience: “A team is more than the sum of its...
Meet our New Pastor!
Formally, he’s the Rev. Dr. Stephen Chambers. But in a few months, he’s going to be “Pastor Steve” here at Grace—or, if you prefer, “Pastor Chambers.” Have you met our incoming Associate Pastor?
Pastor Steve grew up in Vancouver, B.C. and attended U.B.C. before...
Under One Roof
It’s hard to ignore the work being done on the church right now. Large scaffolds surround the sanctuary. The sound of hammering and moving materials around reminds us who are under this roof that it is being strengthened, and covered in a new protective layer of shingles. The price tag for this re-roofing project is...