Jess Williams reflects on home and the longings of the heart that led her to St. Stephen. She talks about loving her heart for leading her well, and how her (sometimes messy!) life, and belonging to this community is teaching her to let go of perfectionism (fear!) and trust that our belovedness has nothing to do with what we are able to achieve or perform.
Jess offered some personal reflections on accepting and blessing the truth of our lives. She connected this with Hagar’s experience of oppression and abuse in the home of Abraham and Sarah, and of encountering God in the desert. Then she considered how God is with us — even and especially when things are not okay
On the first Sunday of Pride month, Jess Williams reflects on the history of Pride and how it models a way of walking the path Jesus walked while highlighting the history of St. Croix Church and its decision to split paths with the Vineyard
On Ascension Sunday, Jess Williams reflects on the wisdom and courage of Thomas, and how honouring our questions can create a space and opportunity for true encounter.
In this Easter Homily, Jess Williams reflects on how a faith that centres on resurrection requires us to face the reality of death and all its anguish. Looking at Jesus’ teaching in John 12:25-27, she suggests that to walk in Jesus’ steps is to “let go of life as it is, reckless in your loveâ and willing to lose it all.
This Sunday, keeping in mind that it was recently International Women’s Day, Walter interviewed Jess about the ways in which our society, including churches, have not listened well to women, and how that is changing or could change.
Today, Jess continued to explore Charles Peguy’s poem titled “God’s Dream.” She encouraged us to consider how our own identities and God’s Dream are intrinsically intertwined, and reflected on how vulnerable it can be to carry a dream.
This week Jess shared more reflections on the poem that we used last week (“God’s Dream” by Charles Peguy) and its relevance to the season of Epiphany – recognizing the Presence of God’s heart as we experience what resonates in us.
On Christmas Eve we had a candlelight service full of the warmth of friends and family, songs, dance, readings and a thoughtful homily by Jess Williams.
On the Second Sunday of Advent, Jess Williams gives a talk on the Jeremiah passage that emphasizes that a surface peace that doesn’t face real and present divisions is no peace at all.