Spiritually Speaking

Advent is a reminder that we are building a more just world. Meeting people and hearing their stories transforms fear about end times to breaking bread and building community together.

Annual General Meetings have the reputation of being rather dry events, but not this one! A difficult issue held us all in rapt attention and generated constructive conversation.

I have learned no matter the circumstances when one has a strong sense of purpose, one does not give up. It’s about how we show up. My source of hope, gratitude, strength and purpose is from my faith.

Grief does not end; our response to it does soften over time and life continues to envelope it. It adds to the tapestry of our life.

Last week, on Monday, November 11th, Remembrance Day presented an opportunity to reflect not just on the past, but our current world. Have we become so fixated on “the now” and moving to the future, that we’ve forgotten to consider history?

Christian Science practitioner Mark McCurties will be giving an in-person talk, “The Joy of beginning with God,” on Sunday, November 17th at 2:00 pm PCT at 1205 Pandora Avenue. A Zoom link will be provided for online attendees at victoriachurch.ca.

The dead become spirit members of our communities—to be visited and  remembered, sometimes with  honour  and love.

Congregation Emanu-El, 1461 Blanshard St, Victoria, Thursday, November 7, 2024 –7 p.m.

As grievers, caring friends, family, clergy, counsellors, grief groups, Death Cafes and Wind Phones help us express the inexpressible.

How does the lulav and etrog symbolize unity? We bundle them together and thank G-d for this mitzvah that shows us we are all one people. In order to grow and thrive as individuals who are able to help humanity and the world we all live in, we need to come together with our strengths, talents, challenges, and differences.