Born the 6th child, 5th son, in a family that would grow to 8 children, in a household with as many as 9 boarders, and 9 day care children daily I learned early the basic principles of ‘Radical Hospitality’, the grounding and fundamental value of the Emmanuel Howard Park United Church Congregation.

‘Radical’ adj. 1. Arising from going to a root or source; fundamental; basic. 2. Carried to the farthest limit; extreme; sweeping: radical social change. 3. Favoring or effecting revolutionary change.

‘Hospitality’ n. 1. The act or practice of or a tendency toward being hospitable. 2. An instance of being hospitable.

‘Hospitable’ adj. 1.a. Welcoming guests with warmth and generosity. b. Fond of entertaining. c. Well-disposed toward strangers. 2. Having an open and charitable mind; receptive.

(Quotes taken from ‘The Houghton Mifflin Canadian Dictionary of the English Language’)

My almost twenty years of ministry have been honing and fine tuning this ancient Biblical art/teaching of providing welcome within and through the faith community. When our Hebrew ancestors were invited/called by God to be ‘the chosen people’, it was not to lord their power over others; but, to be ‘a light unto the nations’. [Isaiah 42:6] In effect, model God’s desire to provide generous hospitality to all and especially ‘orphans, widows, and the stranger in our midst. [Deuteronomy 26:12]

My ministry has led me from one coast to the other of Canada and invited me to offer hospitality in rural, urban and inner city settings; with pastoral charges; within prisons and hospitals; and as mission chaplain for the largest inner city mission within the United Church of Canada. (First United Church Mission, Vancouver, B.C.)

I’ve been blessed with a richly fertilized garden of existence. This has nurtured my soul as I embrace more and more freely each day the extravigant invitation to explore God’s great, vast, varied and beautiful creation in the journey to find my rightful place in the garden and in the community where I live day by day.

I delight in joining others who seriously wish to dig around in their unique spiritual soul gardens and see what may lie dormant there to grow new braches of Love, Care, and Compassion for the fullness of God’s Creation. At Emmanuel Howard Park United Church I’ve found a vibrant, curious and fascinating mix of people. Most are committed to growing in the faith and providing Radical Hospitality to any and all who want to open to their relationship and place in a God loving and God Loved Community of health and healing. We hope you would be interested in coming and sharing your journey of spirit and soul with us as you are comfortable.

Peace be with you.

Philip

p.s.: I think that ‘Christ the Jester’ is often lost in a too literalistic reading of the bible; lost on most of us really. So below you find one of the roles I like to offer as we enter into an experience of the biblical stories to liberate and enrich our lives and exploration of faith. Come to Emmanuel Howard Park United Church and join in the ‘fools for Christ’; or risk watching from the edges for a while. Take your pick, we’d love to meet you no mater who you are!

Back to top.