DeanRobin

Keep the Faith. Homily for May 4, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:00:00 -0500

Jesus our great High Priest is faithful to the Father and to us. May we keep faith with him.

Musing about the Ascension

Robin Walker — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:28:40 -0500

It's Ascension Day, the "forgotten child" of the church's Principal Feasts. Because it falls on a Thursday, in many places ...

Speaking in the Marketplace. Homily for April 27, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:00:00 -0500

"Know your audience" is a simple communication slogan, shown in action as Paul preaches at the Areopagus.

A Unique Invitation. Homily for April 20, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:00:00 -0500

A call to read John 14:6 as invitational, not exclusionary.

Abundant Life—After Katrina. Homily for April 13, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:00:00 -0500

God's abundant life is evident in the life of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

The city of tragedy & comedy

Robin Walker — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:04:48 -0500

Thought and images from the Deans' Conference in New Orleans

CBC Radio 2

Robin Walker — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:04:00 -0500

In his comment on "Snow...", Steve wondered what "the Corporation" is up to. A full-page ad in Saturday's Globe & Mail told the story. Classical music is on the way out, except from 10 am to 3 pm. Effective September 1, The morning & afternoon shows are being completely restructured to feature Canadian content -- nothing fundamentally wrong with that, I suppose -- but without classical music. The ad in the G&M had endorsements from a long list of Canadian performers -- not one of them a classical artist. CBC Radio 2 is the only place on the dial currently featuring classical music. If you are a classical music lover who works in the day, that's too bad!

The Spirit of Forgiveness. Homily for March 30, 2008 (Easter 2)

Robin Walker — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0500

The work of Easter is the work of forgiveness, empowered by the Holy Spirit

Snow and other annoyances.

Robin Walker — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:40:21 -0500

It's March 29 and it's snowing lightly. It's the first full day of the school spring break, and two days ...

The Hidden Life of Christians: Homily for Easter Sunday , 2008 (Early service only)

Robin Walker — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:00:00 -0500

The Christian life is not a Walter Mitty fantasy, but a life of seeking the things above.

Is the Anglican Church dying? A personal reflection

Robin Walker — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:23:44 -0500

A comment on another post suggested that the Anglican Church is dying. It immediately reminded me of confirmation class—almost 50 ...

The Tearing of the Curtain. Homily for Good Friday 2008

Robin Walker — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:37:45 -0500

The tearing of the curtain of the temple is a both a sign of grief and an act of empowerment of God's people.

Tradition - Homily for Maundy Thursday 2008

Robin Walker — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:27:29 -0500

The Eucharist is a matter of Tradition—in the "Big-T" sense.

The Cross: Symbol and Event

Robin Walker — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:19:10 -0500

In an earlier post, I referred to the cross as a symbol, and was challenged for making it a "mere ...

Paul Gibson on Schism

Robin Walker — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:17:29 -0500

The Rev. Dr. Paul Gibson has written a thoughtful and helpful essay on schism, posted on the Anglican Church of Canada website at http://tinyurl.com/335vgl.

Note: comments on this article are now closed.

The Voice of the Crowd. Meditation for Palm/Passion Sunday 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:10:36 -0500

We participate in both the acclamations and the condemnations of the crowds in Jerusalem

A friend becomes a bishop

Robin Walker — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:34:35 -0500

As reported in the online Anglican Journal, the Diocese of Edmonton elected its Dean, the Very Rev. Dr. Jane Alexander, as the successor to +Victoria Matthews. I watched this election with great interest. I served in that diocese for 15 years before coming to Brandon—the last year and a half working together with the bishop-elect, then a newly-ordained priest. She and I became good friends. I had been approached about letting my name stand in this election, but after several months of indecision and inner strife, decided that the Holy Spirit was not calling. Now the Spirit has spoken, and my friend Jane+ will become +Jane on May 11. It is a good decision for the diocese I still sometimes think of as home.

Pray for the Diocese of Edmonton and for Jane as they grow together as people and Bishop.

Disturbed in Spirit… Homily for March 9, 2008 (Lent 5, Year A)

Robin Walker — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Jesus' humanity and divinity are both revealed at the tomb of Lazarus.

Readings and prayer for Friday, March 7

Robin Walker — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:40:33 -0600

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

A Prayer For Our Enemies

God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies:
Lead them and us from prejudice to truth;
deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge;
and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany of Reconciliation

From the Cross of Nails Fellowship

All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

Father, forgive.

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,

Father, forgive.

The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,

Father, forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

Father, forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,

Father, forgive.

The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,

Father, forgive.

The pride that leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,

Father, forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

A message from our Primate

Robin Walker — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:02:54 -0600

I continue to give thanks for the ministry of Archbishop Fred Hiltz. View his latest statement to the church on the national church website. To his words I can only say "Amen."

Heirs of Our Past, Stewards of God’s Future

Robin Walker — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:00:00 -0600

Sermon preached before a "100-mile pot-luck." We inherit our past, and accept its responsibilities. We are called to live into God's future in gratitude and hope.

None So Blind… Homily for Lent 4, March 2, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Blindness afflicts us on several levels. God reaches out to heal our blindnesses.

An unrequested blessing—first thoughts on John 9

Robin Walker — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:30:59 -0600

Jesus heals a man born blind. There are other stories, especially in the synoptic Gospels, where Jesus heals blind people. In most of those (e.g. Bartimaeus in Mk 10), the individual asks Jesus for healing. John 9 is different. Jesus just steps up and gives the man his sight, unrequested and without explicit permission. This man has never seen, so could he even know what to ask for?

Thirst and Service. Homily for Lent 3, Feb. 24, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:00:00 -0600

Thirst is the most basic of human feelings—both physically and spiritually. Christian disciples are called to address it on both levels.

Born From Above. Homily for Lent 2, Feb. 17, 2008

Robin Walker — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:00:00 -0600

Lent is a time that invites us to take discipleship seriously. Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus challenges us to live into eternal life.

Getting OUr Priorities Straight. Homily for Lent 1, Feb. 10, 2008

Robin Walker — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:00:00 -0600

As the church seeks the way ahead, we are challenged to resist the temptation of pragmatism, placing our trust in God's word.

Playing the blame game

Robin Walker — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:04:42 -0600

We can't blame the weather on other people, just as we should avoid laying blame in all areas of life.

The fast that I choose

Robin Walker — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:10:45 -0600

I sometimes think I'm just lazy, but I find fasting very difficult—at least fasting as giving up food. I like my creature comforts, but I don't think I'm a glutton! But then I read in Isaiah 58:1-9a about another kind of fasting, the fast of responding to injustice. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, addressing injustice wherever it may be.

The fact of people being needlessly in need makes me angry, and I am reminded that Thomas Aquinas remarked that one would sin by not being angry in the face of injustice that s/he could and should confront.

I know I can do that, and I can do more.
This is the fast that God chooses.
Let it be my choice.

Dust to dust. Thursday of the first week of Lent

Robin Walker — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:27:40 -0600

Lent began with a whimper, so to speak, with a very low attendance at the evening Ash Wednesday service. Several ...

Joy and Sorrow. Homily for Ash Wednesday, 2008

Robin Walker — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:00:00 -0600

Ash Wednesday recalls earlier times in church history, evoking the polarity of joy and sorrow.