The Rooster Crows LPCC Podcast Rev. Stephen Milton

In this edition of the Rooster Crows Podcast, Rev. Stephen Milton poses a simple question: if a healthy person were forced to live on the streets tomorrow, what would happen to their health? Stephen interviews Roxie Danielson, a street nurse in Toronto who works with people who are experiencing homelessness. Roxie has been doing this work for nine years, and used to sit on the steering committee for the Shelter and Housing Justice Network in Toronto.

Rev. Roberta speaks with Joseph Lauren of Restorative Justice Housing Ontario (RJHO) who assists former prisoners by providing safe, affordable housing. This gives them the stable foundation they need to become positive members of their communities. It will also lead to lower rates of re-offence and safer neighbourhoods, which helps the city as a whole. 
In Canada, when someone is no longer incarcerated, they often have little support. Without access to their community, income, or housing, the chances are very high someone will return to prison. The Restorative Justice Housing of Ontario is working to reintegrate people into society, one apartment at a time.

In our final podcast of the year, we feature some of the weird backstories behind Christmas traditions. Why did kids have to go on strike to get  Christmas vacations? Who was the real Saint Nicholas?  If you haven't been following Stephen's daily emails about Christmas, this is a good way to catch up, and get some killer trivia for Christmas dinner. 

In this episode of our podcast we're talking about contemplative Christianity - what is it, where did it come from, and why don't many people know about it? We talk to Justin Coutts of NewEdenMinistry.com, an online contemplative community hosted from Manitoulin Island. Justin and Rev. Stephen talk about the ancient roots of this form of Christianity, which focuses on meditation and prayer, rather than judgemental morality. This could be the kind of Christianity you hoped could exist - and was there all the time. 

In a special Halloween edition of the Rooster Crows, Stephen and Roberta dive into some ghost stories that come from United Churches across the country. Why do so many churches have ghosts? What does the UCC think about ghosts? And why are they so focused on the pipe organ?

This episode we are continuing our discussions around death, specifically Medical Assistance in Dying, with two important voices. Heather Morgan is a disability advocate and shares her concerns and hopes around MAiD as the disability community contends on health care and MAiD.
Anne Simmonds is one of the leading voices on dying and grieving in the United Church of Canada, having published articles, led lectures for future faith leaders, and has been on panels throughout her careers around spirituality, death, and community. Her insights on how we treat death are important for anyone who will be dealing with death, including MAiD.Rooster Crows is a production from Lawrence Park Community ChurchCo-Hosts Roberta Howey and Stephen MiltonThis episode is written, hosted, and edited by Roberta Howey  Lawrence Park Community Church https://www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca/Heather Morgan: https://poweredbylove.ca/Anne Simmonds: http://www.annesimmonds.ca/"