Thoughts on being charitable at Christmas

In a day when people ask “Why church?,” people from the One88 community share their thoughts on why the church community is an important part of their spiritual journey.

I was struck by these words from Henry Nouwen. On one level, it is easy for us to say ‘yes’ to them. Yet, they are challenging when we think about the larger church and how it has operated for many years. Or when church leadership drafts up a statement that says what is “first &…

[this is part 3. You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here] Part 3: PRACTISES OF PRESENCE (A) The nature of our community is that life/death cycles look different than a more traditional church setting. We have friends that die violently and tragically after years of addiction, abuse, and harmful social settings. We…

This is the final part of a series. You can read Part 1 here; Part 2 here; Part 3 here. As the church is present-with marginalized people, it patiently joins together in wrestling with the tension of moving out of an old life into a new one. Practising presence requires patience.  We have a God who…

PART 1: Being Present As a church community, PRESENCE is one of our highest values. Having friends around you, particularly in difficult times is life-giving. More than that, we believe that healthy community is a key to flourishing in life. That is part of the irony of COVID-19; there is health in us being apart…

This week’s video looks a little different. A few of you gave reflections on something that struck you this Easter. There is an update from our board chair and a peek into a conversation at the drop-in. I continue to invite your thoughts & reflections as we seek ways to connect with each other in…