Author Archives: The Rev. Monique Stone
About The Rev. Monique Stone
I am blessed to be the Incumbent at the Parish of Huntley in Carp, Ontario (part of the Diocese of Ottawa) and have lots of fun contributing to the leadership of our rural parish. Whether I am sitting at the local coffee shop or flipping burgers at the annual Fair I consider authentic engagement with the broader community integral to my ministry. I personally feel that this period of church history with all its changes, declines, doubts and concerns is exciting, inspiring and best approached with a sense of hope and a sense of humour.Who is our King?
Maybe asking this question is a prudent task this Advent. An invitation to reflect, transform, release, and wait. Wait and confess our role in upholding images that have been to our benefit. Wait and reclaim an image that seeks to emerge and normalize. Wait and enable truthful images to grow and take hold. Continue reading
The weight of General Synod
General Synod 2016 will forever impact the journey of many. It may never be forgotten, especially by those who sat for hour upon hour at any of the tables in that plenary room. Now, as it has come to an end, its weight will enter communities across the country who will carry the joy and the challenge of its burden. Continue reading
Over your dead body
I hope death will not be soon for any of us, but it will happen at some point. So while we are living here on this earth we have a choice to make: to deny or embrace the responsibility we have as watershed disciples, even over our dead bodies. Continue reading
The scent of decay
It’s not pretty this time of year. Death and endings in our lives rarely are. They look bad, they feel bad, they sound bad and sometimes they even smell bad. Our own seasons of change, transformation, and death push our senses and our hearts beyond our capacity. Sometimes it feels like we have been buried in snow with no hope of emerging. But a season never lasts forever. Continue reading
Plump squirrels and climate change
Extremely plump squirrels, and summer flies in the middle of December seem rather insignificant. That is, until we realize the interconnectedness of it all. Continue reading
Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.
In the meantime, we are called to live out life here on earth and we do so with a choice. A choice to choose between fear or hope. Maybe that sounds like a weak declaration to some of you, but I have nothing else. And I think it is enough. Continue reading
And then I had to take my shorts off
I’m a very good shopper. Not only can I shop and spend money for no reason at all, but I can also connect shopping to my emotions, using shopping as a means to overcome grief, anger, exhaustion, and self-consciousness. I have walked into stores equipped with the excuses “I deserve this,” “I need this,” and “I don’t have enough,” with each excuse allowing me to justify purchase after purchase. Continue reading
Simple and not so simple
Simple and not so simple: might both be needed for our journey. Continue reading
Let’s face it. No one had to show up this morning.
No one had to show up this morning.
Our society does not demand that any of them be here this morning. It doesn’t even demand that you be here this morning. There are lots of other good things to do. There are many other places to be fulfilled; other churches, temples, charity runs and nature walks to name a few. There is sleep. There are yummy eggs benedict and fun purple rubber ducks. Continue reading
May life not simply go on
I wanted to yell out of my window, “Don’t you know what has happened here this week?” “Don’t you know you are naively walking on the very same spot of the road where a Women’s Warrior Dance erupted a mere 72 hours ago?” “Don’t you know that Indigenous peoples of this country and those who are standing beside them are here this week declaring the hope for a world that will change?” Continue reading
