I’m in my second year of church planting, and I have a 6-week old baby. I’m taking a short maternity leave, and this time away from work for a few months has been a gift, but it’s swiftly coming to an end. I’m simultaneously itching to get back to the daily
Read MoreIn many ways, neighbouring has become a lost art form. From the juggling act of maintaining our busy schedules to the anxiety around relating to those who we see as different than us, the practice of neighbouring can
Read MoreMy dad's grandmother was the embodiment of hospitality. She raised her family of thirteen children in the tiny farming community of Wicklow, New Brunswick. She had no washing machine, no dishwasher, no indoor plumbing. But that didn't stop her from creating a home marked by generosity.
Read MoreI woke up on October 18th to the Canadian headline: Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip Dies at 53. It was evident that much of Canada seemed saddened by the news. My social media feeds were filled with messages
Read MoreNext week, New Leaf is putting on a pre-conference day about the religious landscape in Canada at a big Church Planting event in Montreal. It crossed my mind that one reality of my upcoming travel is that I probably won’t have to wait in line for the restroom like I usually do at big events. The mens room will likely be more crowded than the ladies room.
Read MoreOctober 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Loss and grief are hard subjects, and when that loss is intimate and hidden from view, like a miscarriage, it may not be an easy topic to talk about. More Canadian families have experienced this type of loss than any of us might realize, so the New Leaf blog would like to remember those empty arms and arching hearts with the contributions of two bloggers who have shared their journeys. Leah Perrault and Andrew Stephens-Rennie.
Read MoreAbout six months ago I was at a coffee shop waiting for my friend, Helen Mo, who was studying at The University of Toronto taking a PhD. in religious studies. Her focus was on the topic of the identity of the second generation Chinese Christians in Toronto. My friend’s study stems from her own journey as someone
Read MoreI remember sitting in the car with my friend, a friend who identified strongly with the LGBTQ community, had since high school, and yet still faithfully attended the pentecostal church where we first met. I remember my friend wishing they could invite all their gay and queer friends to come to church and experience it as a loving community, but also expressing fear for the judgement these friends might experience in coming there.
Read MoreBook Review: Greg Boyd is someone who understands and has lived the journey towards wholeness in Jesus. The Crucifixion of the Warrior God is the fruit of his decade long journey towards reconciling violence in Scripture with the non-violent self-giving love of Jesus. His journey toward this book is an important part
Read MoreBook Review: The Bible is the world’s best-selling book. For many it is a sacred text, providing spiritual inspiration and insight, while for some it is viewed primarily as an historical and religious artifact. Still others consider it to be a dangerous piece of written propaganda filled with irrelevant fables and fairy tales from an ancient tribal culture.
Read MoreIn theory, all denominations want to engage in forming new kinds of churches. Many will state publicly that their future depends on it. But saying something is different than doing something. The future we all face
Read MoreHere at New Leaf, we find stories essential. We want to connect you to stories that you will find encouraging, and we want to know your story. Have you ever been in a conversation, telling a story and your conversation partner interrupts your story with a story of their own?
Read MoreSome of my favourite moments in the Bible are when God calls someone to something big. I find a strange sort of comfort in how these stories play out. Jeremiah 1:4-10 shares an intimate moment between the prophet Jeremiah and God Himself, when God calls Jeremiah to do his difficult work of preaching bad news
Read MorePlanters and starters are people who are fueled by what is their hearts: a gnawing sense of holy unrest, a vision of a new way of being the body of Christ, a courageous decision to try something new, and the willingness
Read MoreI finally broke down and attended my first women's retreat when I was about 27. I had been married for 2 years and figured, this is what older, married women do right? (Back then I used to think 27 was old). I was a woman, I really loved camping & being at the lake
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