Toward What We Can Scarcely Imagine and Scarcely Refuse
We’re really pleased to let you know that we now have copies of a new book for Lent in hand and available for sale for just $5. Toward What We Can Scarcely Imagine and Scarcely Refuse is a collection of eight meditations – one for Ash Wednesday and seven built around the “seven words” or seven sayings Jesus uttered from the cross - written by James Snyder with illustrations by our own Helen Lyons. What follows here is my preface to the book, which offers something by way of a context as to why we’ve done this project.
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n the summer of 1998 while on a vacation in Nova Scotia, I attended worship at St George’s Anglican Church in Halifax with my sister and brother-in-law, who were active members of the parish. I had hoped to hear the rector Gary Thorne preach, as he was someone of whom my 
sister spoke very highly, and so was a bit disappointed to discover that on this particular Sunday the sermon was to be preached by James Snyder, a parish honorary assistant. While we waited for the liturgy to begin, my sister explained that Snyder was a Lutheran pastor currently taking a break from full-time ministry and working in the social services field with troubled youth. “Oh great,” I thought, “a burned-out pastor limping along as some sort of counselor, not even able to function within his own denominational structure.” But then, just as the liturgy began, my sister leaned over and added, “He’s very fine.”
he biblical book of Exodus tells the story of the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. It is a particularly dramatic story, culminating in a last minute escape across the Red Sea. Once safely on the other side, however, the people find themselves in the Sinai desert, utterly dependent on the grace of God. As the story unfolds, it turns out that they need to be in that wilderness for 40 years… hardly what they had anticipated when they’d first heard Moses’ words about freedom. 
of the questions seldom asked is that of the international – and even personal – responsibility for climate change refugees, people displaced by changing weather and environmental conditions. It is one of the most significant issues we will face over the coming decades. Carol Thiessen holds an MSc in Global Ethics from the University of Birmingham, UK (2005), and her dissertation work focused on climate change refugees and the requirements of justice. She currently teaches development ethics in International Development Studies at 