Children know the bully in the playground on open.substack.com/pub/bishopka...

Brilliant, clear, insightful speech by PM Mark Carney today at Davos today. Grateful for his leadership, so needed for such a time as this.

I am struck, in conversation with conservatives, by their anger at the most marginalized and poor, blaming them for using resources that are making their own lives lack affordability. Actually , it is the powerful and wealthy who have caused such tremendous income gaps.

It’s time for a vision check up if we want a better world substack.com/@bishopkaren...

"Be present, O merciful God, & protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes & chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness, through Jesus Christ our Lord." ~ BCP, p. 133 #Compline

“Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty.”– Phaedrus

If he really wanted peace, he would’ve renamed it “Department of Peace” not “Department of War”. Words matter.

My class will be watching the movie “Romero” together this week. I’m grateful for Bishop Hirschfield’s 2026 reminder to be prepared for the cost of discipleship www.wmur.com/article/ice-...

Fear and violence...where do we go from here?

Oh, if only you knew the things that make for peace... ...and Jesus wept...

This Covenant Prayer is one Methodists have used since 1755. It’s one of my favorites and one I pray often as I seek to be a faithful follower of Jesus.

A quiet beginning to 2026… Happy New Year!

“No feeling is final”. Such wise words!

The Pugwash Hallmark Christmas movie had its grand finale: a community wide Christmas dinner. Our village of 700 pulled out all the stops. 40 volunteers came 2 the “peeling party” to peel, slice & dice. On Christmas, more than 200 folks came for supper w/ another 40+ volunteers helping serve & clean

The sauce for Christmas Eve pasta is simmering, the tree lights are twinkling, carols are playing in the background, & I’m holding a warm cup of tea. For just this moment, all is right with the world In the midst of these hectic days, may you savour moments of comfort & joy as Christmas approaches

The older I get, the more I realize how radical/revolutionary God’s actions through Jesus are. We are called to engage in this radical life/love as Jesus’ followers. But we rarely do. Sometimes, we need someone from outside our tradition to help us understand it better. youtu.be/Tr1d0ivyTTk?...

Sometimes I need this reminder: Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean ur heart don't hurt Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean there's peace on earth Joy 2all the world can be the hardest time of year But see the star even here Bring your wounded heart 3the manger youtu.be/HOVo1KlXqPk?...

I’m reading a book about Nova Scotia. Below is a conversation in a very noisy place when I read an interesting bit of trivia: K: “You know cod?” R: “Yes, I know God.” K: “Not God. Cod. The fish.” R: “Yes, I know cod.” K: “Did you know they’re omnivores?” R: “I guess I really don’t know cod at all.”

An observation of the Holiday music radio stations where I’ve lived: In San Francisco, the stations mainly played secular holiday music. In Denver, the stations played more sacred Christmas music. In Nova Scotia, the stations play Anne Murray holiday music…a lot!

A newly released cohort study of 22.7 million vaccinated and 5.9 million unvaccinated adults, found that vaccinated people had a 74% lower risk of death from COVID-19, as well as no increased risk of mortality from all other causes over a 4 year period In other words, the mRNA vaccine is safe

The best things in life are often waiting for you at the exit ramp of your comfort zone. Karen Salmansohn

I saw this print in my friend Armand’s office in the early ‘90’s. When I commented how much I liked it, he took it off the wall and handed it to me. Ever since then it’s the first thing I read when I get up each morning and I say a prayer: May it be so.

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” Karl Barth

Latitude Adjustment: Dispatches from a Northern Reckoning Another installment of my reflections as someone raised in the US now living in Canada open.substack.com/pub/bishopka...

who are you,little i (five or six years old) peering from some high window;at the gold of november sunset (and feeling:that if day has to become night this is a beautiful way) e. e. cummings

“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?” - Marcus Aurelius

I am always troubled when I hear someone say, “It is what it is.” What if it’s not? And if it is what it is, should it be what it is?

So honored to be in the UK to speak at Helen Ryde’s memorial service. Well done, good and faithful one! Rest in peace.

Is nothing sacred? I just learned that Farmers Almanac is ceasing publication after 2026. Robin has always made sure that Santa provided it in my stocking each Christmas. My favorite Christmas gift! I can’t bear anymore bad news. 

So proud of The United Methodist Church! It’s a new day! Now, let’s get to work as the Body of Christ! #UMC

This Moment Matters — because it's "who is my neighbor," not "who is my enemy." Will you join us in welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry and caring for the sick? Visit ThisMomentMatters.org #BeUMC #ThisMomentMatters #LoveThyNeighbor

So sad the Blue Jays lost—but the series has been awesome baseball!!! Watching the games in the Atlantic time zone all week has exhausting! We are looking forward to a Sunday nap!!!

As someone who grew up in the US before retiring to Canada, it has been sickening to see how quickly democracy can be dismantled, and the dehumanizing and degrading tactics that are being used. I am thankful to now live in a country that values diversity and is committed to healthy communities.

I love being in conversation with faith communities that want to be more welcoming and supportive of lgbtq people. Tonight I was invited to speak with a group of nuns and laity in New Jersey. I loved their commitment and our conversation!

1/2 "For a day will come when people will not listen to good teaching. They will gather around themselves teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and believe made-up stories.” 2 Timothy 3: 3,4 (First Nations Version)

When the ICE agent is Canadian… 🇨🇦 😍😂

I love to hike. This trail in Oxford, known as the Bunny Trail, made me insanely happy. (Future visitors be forewarned: this will be on the itinerary when you come visit us!)

You are the only YOU the world will ever know. Let your true colors shine!

Stay safe out there today, friends.

With all that’s going on in the world, I find myself wanting to disconnect. But this is not the pathway to change and healing. I read this and it hit me deeply: “ I try now to approach each person, event, creature, with two questions: how are you my teacher? What am I meant to learn?” (Joyce Rupp)

I’ve been invited to be a guest on several Mormon-related podcasts that are LGBTQ-affirming. The conversations have been rich as we seek to build inclusive faith communities. podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/a... 

Salt boat coming into the Pugwash harbour this morning, at low tide, no less!