Grace Pritchard Burson

Life in places where we expect none

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All Saints’, Dorval Christmas Eve, Year C December 24, 2024 The turkeys. I recently ran across this passage from the well-known spiritual writer Joan Chittister, in her book In Search of Belief. It’s a longer excerpt than I usually quote, but I think it’s worth hearing in full. “Christmas is a strange season. When you are a child, it is… View Post

Joy Sunday

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All Saints’, Dorval Advent III, Year C December 15, 2024 Composite image from FastCompany.com. One very minor downside to the fabulous loft renovation project that we completed this year, is that it’s now much more difficult to access the places where we used to hang the Advent banners. We’re still displaying the current one at the front of the church,… View Post

Being chosen, being called

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All Saints’, Dorval Advent II, Year C December 8, 2024 Israeli bombing in the Valley of the Christians, Syria, December 9. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every… View Post

This generation will not pass away

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All Saints’, Dorval Advent I, Year C December 1, 2024 At the end of my three-week trip aboard Dragonfly with Dave Robinson this past summer, I was able to spend my last night in Prince Edward Island with my friend Victoria Goddard. Victoria has a PhD from U of T, where she studied Dante and Boethius, and she successfully supports… View Post

Jesus, the fairy-tale king

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All Saints’, Dorval Reign of Christ, Year B November 24, 2024 Illustration for “Rumpelstiltskin,” H. Dočkal, c. 1928. Wikimedia Commons. As of this weekend, I have kept my Duolingo streak going for exactly four years and nine months. I’m not sure it’s actually improved my French that much, but I’m certainly way too stubborn to drop it anytime soon!  … View Post