The End is Just the Beginning
03/18/2024

The End is Just the Beginning

The Gospel of Mark invites us into a new storyWritten by Caleb Unrau Whenever I choose a movie, I tend to pick ones with sudden endings. I appreciate films that don’t tie up every loose end but instead leave some of them there as invitations to the audience to discover for themselves what

  Caleb Unrau
Desert of Ambiguity
03/14/2024

Desert of Ambiguity

An unexpected path to clarityWritten by Bethany MartellMy little boy is a little over one year old. Most of the time, he is good natured and happy. But try to pin him down and force anything on him (especially, heaven forbid, boots!) and the back arches, the head flies back, and the world abruptly c

  Bethany Martell
The Redemption of Villains
03/14/2024

The Redemption of Villains

The good, the bad, and the beautiful in antagonist storylinesWritten by Abby CionaWhen you think of a villain, do you think of a figure cloaked in black, lurking in shadows and plotting revenge? A manipulative, cruel magician who profits off others’ misfortunes? A cruel jealous queen willing to do a

  Abby Ciona
Building Sabbath Rhythms
02/27/2024

Building Sabbath Rhythms

What a day of rest looks like for a working family with young kidsWritten by Jeff HawkerIn recent years I’ve been seeing a resurgence in teaching and practising about the Sabbath in some Christian circles after some decades of less attention. I’m grateful to the lead pastor of my church for teaching

  Jeff Hawker
Are You There, God?
02/15/2024

Are You There, God?

Embracing the unknown and finding hopeWritten by Mikayla Nembhard Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a heads-up before our lives take a sudden twist? Like having a little roller-coaster operator in our heads warning us to buckle up and keep our hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times because this

  Mikayla Nembhard
When Faith has a Cost
11/02/2023

When Faith has a Cost

Written by Jared Vander MeulenLeah Sharibu was 14 the day that her life was uprooted.It was a normal day at her school, Government Girls Science Technical College in Dapchi, Nigeria. Life was full of optimism.But on the evening of February 18, 2018, that optimism was shattered. The school was attack

  Jared Vander Meulen
Technology’s Good Side
11/01/2023

Technology’s Good Side

Amid growing concern over the harms of online culture, we can forget there are lifegiving aspects too Written by Abby CionaI had probably walked this path a hundred times to and from university classes, rain and shine, snow and ice, but this was the first time I stopped at the rock-covered in l

  Abby Ciona
Embracing Life
11/01/2023

Embracing Life

How we can support the vulnerable amid Canada’s changing laws about assisted dyingWritten by Elizabeth DuarteThis doctor was my last hope.A week before, I’d been turned out of an emergency room with a heart rate jumping like a ping pong ball and my skin covered with rashes. A nurse saw my tears and

  Elizabeth Duarte
Friends by the Fire
11/01/2023

Friends by the Fire

Collective faith strengthens our faltering stepsWritten by Taeryn Novak“… The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters …”The night was clear and dark and cold. I sat wrapped in a wool sweater, wood and

  Taeryn Novak
Moments of Respite, Taylor’s Version
10/26/2023

Moments of Respite, Taylor’s Version

Churches offering sanctuary to the hurting and lonely should take note of Taylor Swift’s resonanceWritten by Adam Kline It’s a strange and impressive achievement, Taylor Swift’s sustained stardom. Her notoriety and fandom have crossed generations. Millennials remember the earlier albums that brought

  Adam Kline
Loving the Church Even When You’d Rather Not
10/26/2023

Loving the Church Even When You’d Rather Not

Written by Stephanie MassicotteI met her at university. Since we were both in wheelchairs, we started off by joking about getting stuck in snowbanks on campus and laughing about automatic doors that don’t open. You know, daily wheelchair-related struggles. One day after class, as we talked about our

  Stephanie Massicotte
Treasure in Clay Jars
10/18/2023

Treasure in Clay Jars

A Thunder Bay potter’s creations replace her church’s single-use plastic communion cupsWritten by Marianne Jones“I was constantly making things as a child. I was the little girl who couldn’t stop cutting paper,” Liz Straiton reminisces. “I always did well in art classes at school, and later took fin

  Marianne Jones
Starting Conversations About Indigenous Justice in Canada
09/28/2023

Starting Conversations About Indigenous Justice in Canada

Home on Native Land is a free 10-part course that welcomes participants into an engaging and laughter-filled conversation about Indigenous justice in Canada.“We recognized that there was a real hunger in the national psyche to do something in order to reconcile and be involved in Indigenous issues,”

  Ilana Reimer
A Shared Story and a New Song
09/11/2023

A Shared Story and a New Song

The Blanket Exercise is a powerful tool for strengthening Indigenous-Settler relationshipsWritten by Adam KlineThere is an apathy in our hearts, oftentimes, an indifference to those with another path or perspective. We don’t necessarily wish our neighbour ill, but we don’t care enough to stand along

  Adam Kline
Young Canadian Christians and climate action
08/02/2023

Young Canadian Christians and climate action

Survey shows young Christians want to see churches get more involved in creation careWritten by Abby CionaToday’s young adults have grown up with environmental concerns at the forefront. We are more globalized and connected than ever before, making us in tune with the ripple effects of world events,

  Abby Ciona
Whispers of God
07/27/2023

Whispers of God

Letting go of expectations amid complex griefWritten by Cindy PalinThis article contains descriptions of suicidal thoughts. Reader discretion is advised.During a training session for hospice volunteers, the presenter wisely told the group that not everyone attending would decide to follow through. “

  Cindy Palin
Grief and the kingdom of God
07/21/2023

Grief and the kingdom of God

Sorrow is an expression of appreciation for God’s good, but temporary giftsWritten by Axel Schoeber“When did Marcus die in that accident?” Sheila asked.“Four months ago,” I replied. We were speaking of a congregation member, who I’ll call Maggie, who had recently become a single mother after the dea

  Axel Schoeber
A foretaste of heaven
07/13/2023

A foretaste of heaven

Written by Joshua BelterWhile it is impossible to fathom what heaven on Earth will be like, many of our perceptions regarding heaven lack imagination. The typical image we envision tends to be a large crowd of people all uniformly dressed, standing in some ephemeral white space (usually resembling c

  Joshua Belter
Finding hope in the desert
07/12/2023

Finding hope in the desert

Words by Tara Joi C. S.“People don’t like us,” my husband concluded.While I knew this not to be true, I could not give him answers as to why our lives had been difficult. I turned to the window, and let the tears flow.It felt as though we were living in a desert.Desiring some thoughtful time before

  Tara Joi C. S.
A cleansing process
07/04/2023

A cleansing process

Written by Brenna CovelensWhen God gave me the phrase “purification is a process,” I immediately wrote it down. Above that phrase, I drew a tulip; toxins burst forth from the middle of the flower, shooting and clawing for the sky. I added fresh water droplets falling downward, cleansing the tulip fr

  Brenna Covelens
Neighbouring
07/04/2023

Neighbouring

Edmonton community initiatives are bridging gapsWritten by Jesse KaneMoving into a city has been the most isolating, alienating experience of my life. I grew up in the countryside where people lived far away, but when you did see them there was always hot coffee and warm conversation. Since moving t

  Jesse Kane
Peace is in our hands
07/04/2023

Peace is in our hands

What daycare can teach us about creating harmonyWritten by Leah ReimerThroughout university, I worked in a daycare. It was an extraordinarily challenging, entertaining, and rewarding job. During my first few months, I felt like I was constantly putting out fires, running around separating kids, tell

  Leah Reimer
Bible studies in deep space
06/29/2023

Bible studies in deep space

Christian gaming communities can bring isolated people togetherWritten by Elizabeth DuarteAfter college graduation, I was preparing for a six-month missionary trip to Europe when the floor fell out from under me. Over the next years, I discovered the names and faces of the enemies harming my body—Ly

  Elizabeth Duarte
Why does failure have to be part of leadership?
06/29/2023

Why does failure have to be part of leadership?

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend I used to mentor. Our discussion veered toward leadership. One of the issues concerning him was failure. As I reflected back after our conversation, my head was flooded with my many leadership failures. As just one example, there have been many peo

  Shawn Naylor