I have been musing a lot lately on this quote from Walter Brueggemann, "The prophetic tasks of the church are to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair."

As we head into Advent 2020, I can't help but think of how critical it is that we as Christ's followers allow the apocalypse of this past year... more

Lately we have found ourselves in a number of prayer meetings, representing different settings, as well as different facets of the church. In all these interactions there is a clear sense of awakening to prayer. We have helped host and been participants in international, national, regional and local prayer calls within our Vineyard family as well as with groups like the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.more

Several  weeks ago David and I were privileged to be a part of an "adoption" ceremony that was hosted on line to welcome the New Joy Community in Surrey, B.C  into our Canadian Vineyard Family.  Members of the Foundations Team, the B.C. Regional Team and others from around the country were on deck to take part in this fun event.

In preparation for the call, I set aside some time to wait, listen and ask... more

Well it certainly has been the most interesting of times to have been hidden away. The three months went by a lot quicker than we could have ever anticipated and we are deeply grateful for the time we had to lay low, recalibrate and rest. As we slinked into the shadows COVID was in full swing, the protests both south and north of the border had begun while both Canada and the US were trying to find... more

Dearest Canadian Vineyard Family,

Well, we are standing on the brink of a pretty surreal moment for the two of us. In the midst of one of the most intriguing, challenging and innovative times in recent history for the Ecclesia of Jesus, we are heading into a three-month sabbatical. As counterintuitive as this appears at such a juncture, we know it's not just a good idea, but actually an invitation of... more

The Thorn Bush Will Bow /David Ruis

To all those who mourn

Beauty crowns your head

There is precious oil

That makes the spirit glad again

A sacrifice of praise

A fragrant offering

Sing your lament Salvation is near at hand

To all those who long

A crown of justice waits There's weeping in the night Joy will rise as morning breaks

Though mountains fall While the earth is crumbling All heaven's tremblingmore

This is the last day of Lent in the Church Calendar in the West. We've observed Good Friday and today is what is known as Sabbatum Sanctum (Holy Saturday) or Black Saturday, the culmination of Holy Week. Tomorrow is Easter, the first day of Eastertide.

For todays reflection, I thought I'd share a song originally written for an International Justice Mission Europe project a few years ago, "Shadows." The... more

Strangely, I've been reflecting of late on what must've been going through the mind of the convicted felon who hung beside Jesus during the Crucifixion and would later be called the Penitent Thief, known as Saint Dismas (the name given him in The Gospel Of Nicodemus) in Church tradition.

I then stumbled onto a poem about this man written by spoken word artist, Michael Mark , called "Just Hangin'. It... more

With blazing speed things have been changing all around us since our last letter. In times like these we can so quickly loose our bearings and give in to impulses and behaviours that are not necessarily healthy. We all cope differently. Our eating habits, sources of entertainment, and ways that we destress may need to be under some extra scrutiny. We may be fearful in ways we are not normally... more

"The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists"

Japanese Proverb

Plant your roots in Christ

And let Him be the foundation of your life.

Be strong in your faith just as you were taught

And be grateful.

Colossians 2:7

As we ponder what the Father has been cultivating in the "heart soil" of the Canadian Vineyard over the past several years, the word "resilience" comes to mind. This word... more

Every shift in season, provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect and re-center. This is especially true after a time of intense wrestle and challenge. Walter Brueggemann in his study of the book of Psalms refers to this practice as a time of "Reorientation."

It's a facet of what many would understand as the spiritually healthy rhythm of "taking stock". It's where we as individuals and as a community... more

Well, we are just past the half-way mark in our national communal fast. We thought it would be an appropriate time to lean into the Common Prayer that we have been using as Vineyard leadership over the last several years. There also is a version of it in our "Why Vineyard?" material that is designed for broader usage. Let's be praying this together over the next several days.

Father – we are Your... more