Grace Pritchard Burson

The word we don’t say

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All Saints’, Dorval Good Friday, Year C April 18, 2025 Photo: Angela Recine-Estima The dripping blood our only drink, The bloody flesh our only food: In spite of which we like to think That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood – Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good. (T. S. Eliot, of course.) I find myself… View Post

Palms, cross, serpent, skull

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All Saints’, Dorval Palm Sunday, Year C April 13, 2025 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Last month, my friend and colleague Jes Kast, a United minister in Pennsylvania, went to the Philadelphia art museum and saw the artwork… View Post

Service, sacrifice, sanctity

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All Saints’, Dorval Lent V, Year C April 6, 2025 The altar of repose, 2024 Service. Sacrifice. Sanctity. These are the three concepts that kept coming to mind as I re-read this week’s Gospel passage. Mary serves Jesus by anointing him – thus setting the example that he will follow just a few days later when he washes his disciples’… View Post

Funeral sermon for Michael Westwood

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All Saints’, Dorval Michael Westwood April 5, 2025 Meg and Michael’s names on the list of donors to the St. Mark’s organ restoration project in 2011. “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” If you’re a musician like Michael Westwood was, you’ve already starting humming Handel’s music to these words…. View Post

Bits and bridles

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All Saints’, Dorval Lent IV, Year C March 30, 2025 Melanie Ferrio-Wise and Vlad (Photo from the Equine Chronicle, 2018) Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you. As a horse person, this verse has always annoyed me. I don’t know… View Post