Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a while since my last entry. And I don't want that to happen again. My commitment is to practice regular journaling of my amazing journey.

I just returned from our church service on the Sunday of this Thanksgiving weekend, and all I can say is that I am blessed. I am thankful for many, many things in my life. First and foremost my family. David and Toro add such joy, delight, groundedness, and completion to my life. I am thankful for the many friends I have that really are family to me. I am grateful to live in Vancouver - a truly magical city. And I am thankful for my community of faith - St Andrews Wesley United Church. There are several reasons why this church is such a gift to me, and I've decided to lay out a few of those reasons below:

* for its' strong sense of mission. Not in the sense of conversion, but of love in action. This church is serious in the call of Jesus to spread the love of God to our neighbours. From an active and engaged End Homelessness Now action group, Homes to Heal (raising funds to supplement rent for young adults with mental illness), and Food For First (food to support the First United Mission downtown to the hungry), St Andrews Wesley also partners with and supports the Boys R Us Outreach (a drop in centre for male and transgendered sex trade workers).

* for its' commitment to religious diversity. We are on the 4th Sunday of a 6 week series entitled Exploration in World Religions. As Christians, what gifts and truths do our brothers and sisters in other faiths offer us? How do these offerings enrich and enlarge our own Christian journey? Today we explored Judaism. Next week we look at and examine the offerings of Islam.

* for its' commitment to Christian discipleship. Here the Christian tradition is affirmed and lived out. The Bible is taken seriously, but not literally. The gifts and grace of God are celebrated through song, prayer, Bible study, embodied spirituality such as yoga, and authentic relationships with each other. And the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our lense to the holy and we live in relationship with God through Jesus.

These are just a few of the reasons why I love my church and wanted to give thanks for such a wonderful community. What better time than on a beautiful sunny Thanksgiving Day to do that. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!