Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Love
December 20, 2009
Gretta lights the fourth advent candle — love — and asks how we might re-imagine the Christmas story as one of love, truth, beauty and goodness. She highlights the work of Glynn Cardy, the vicar at St. Matthew-in-the-City, whose church recently erected a controversial billboard spurring people to conversation about the Christmas story.
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What is Good?
December 13, 2009
We continue exploring the advent season by reflecting on the tools of philosophy. Previous weeks saw Gretta speaking of beauty and truth. Today she speaks of goodness, using the work of philosopher A.C. Grayling to explore what is good.
Affirming Diversity
December 6, 2009
This Sunday we celebrate becoming an Affirming Ministry within the United Church of Canada. One of about 50 ministries that have joined Affirm United in support and in celebration of the LGBTQ, West Hill took this step after a year of exploration and following a unanimous vote supporting the motion at our June 2009 Annual Congregational meeting.
As a progressive congregation, West Hill has been a place of non-exclusivity and welcoming of diversity for many many years. But declaring that we are an Affirming ministry is much more than receiving recognition for the openness that currently exists. In its public declaration, West Hill joins Affirm to stand alongside and in solidarity with those who have been marginalized by sexual diversity or those who advocate for them. And to mitigate the effects of religious communities who have marginalized and continue to marginalize those who have walked the path of difference.
At our celebration, we hear again from Calvin Neufeld, who presents the certificate from Affirm United. Calvin spoke movingly to the congregation last February about his journey as a female to male transsexual and today he thanked us for encircling him with belonging. We were also privileged to have with us the Hon. George Smitherman, former deputy premier of Ontario and current MPP. Reflecting on his own positive welcome from his family, his words speak of the need to extend the circle of belonging to those who have been unwelcomed within their own family circles.
Finally, Gretta talks about the need to extend our embrace in ever widening circles, stretching it so far that we will be forever changed.
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