life
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August 25, 2026 – Beyond the Two Minutes: The Stories We Heard
Tonight, CBC BC’s 6 p.m. news carried a two-minute report about the Stronger Together gathering held in Richmond on August 15. Watching the report, I was grateful that people in Richmond who are experiencing homelessness were not simply being talked about. They spoke for themselves, and a much wider community had the opportunity to listen.… Continue reading
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July 19, 2026 – More Than a Meal: What I Have Learned Around Our Friday Lunch Table
A Meal Every Friday, our parish hall at St. Alban Anglican Church in Richmond comes alive. Coffee is brewing, volunteers are preparing lunch, tables are set, and people begin arriving before the meal is served. Some greet one another like old friends, while others quietly find a seat and wait. People from many different backgrounds… Continue reading
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July 10, 2026 – When Work Becomes Love: A Coffee Shop Conversation and the Spirit of the Japanese Artisan
Yesterday, at my usual coffee shop, a small moment unfolded that stayed with me long after I left. As I walked in, a gentleman greeted me with a friendly smile and joked that I must not be working since I wasn’t wearing my clergy collar. I laughed and explained that during the summer I usually… Continue reading
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June 27, 2026 – Reflections on This Afternoon’s Talking Circle
This afternoon, we hosted a small community gathering to introduce people to the practice of a Talking Circle. Only a few people attended, but that actually suited the purpose of the event. For a first experience, a smaller group allowed us to settle in more comfortably, to speak more openly, and to learn the rhythm… Continue reading
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June 20, 2026 – Listening with Dignity: Reflections on an Afternoon of Conversation
This afternoon, 360 Community hosted Listening with Dignity: A Community Conversation on Gender Diversity & Pronouns at St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Richmond. As the facilitator, I did not know exactly what to expect. Conversations about gender diversity can easily become polarized. Some people are afraid of saying the wrong thing. Some worry that asking… Continue reading
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May 28, 2026 – Two Gatherings, One Thread of Hope
This May has been a month of listening — listening to stories of courage, recovery, and the quiet strength that emerges when people refuse to give up on one another. On May 14, I attended Building Pathways for Hope, the annual fundraising dinner hosted by Pathways Clubhouse Society Richmond. The room was filled with warmth… Continue reading
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April 13 2026 – Remembering, Grieving, and Responding: Marking 10 Years of the Public Health Emergency in British Columbia
Yesterday, I had the honour of attending a community gathering marking the 10th anniversary of the public health emergency related to drug toxicity in British Columbia. It was not simply an event, but a space that invited us to slow down, to listen, and to remember. In a world that often moves quickly past pain,… Continue reading
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Feb 10 2026 – They Did Not Dream of This
I spent part of my day at the drop‑in centre, helping an elderly Chinese‑speaking man fill out an application for supportive housing. The form was long and clinical, full of questions that would be difficult for anyone to answer, let alone someone who has lived through years of instability. We worked through it slowly, line… Continue reading
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January 28 2026 – Learning at the Edges: Reflections from the Richmond Homelessness Outreach Network Meeting
This afternoon’s meeting of the Richmond Homelessness Outreach Network left me with a renewed sense of both gravity and gratitude. Around the table were staff from the City, Vancouver Coastal Health, and community organizations who spend their days walking alongside neighbours who are unhoused or precariously housed. I continue to be the only clergy person… Continue reading
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Nov 21, 2025 – After the Sleep Out: One Night, Many Lessons
Last night, I joined Covenant House’s Sleep Out: Executive Edition. For one night, I lay outside with only a sleeping bag and layers of clothing between me and the cold. The weather was mercifully chilly, but fortunately, no rain. Still, the ground was hard, the night was long, and the cold crept in despite my… Continue reading
