Harvey, Sandy, Katrina, Hugo, Carla, Ivan, Camille, Patricia. These are some of the most notable hurricanes in recent memory. These powerful and destructive tropical storms can have winds over 250 km/h, heavy rains, crashing waves and storm surges. As the hurricane arrives, the rain starts, the wind blows steady and strong. As we pass farther in, the wind builds, the seas become more dangerous, the rain more lashing. Near the centre, in the Eye Wall, the winds reach their peak speed, … [Read more...]
Crosses and Rainbows – Sermon for Lent 1
When our daughter Anastasia was little, her nursery was decorated using Noah’s Ark as the theme. It was full of animals and rainbows. From an early age, she has loved bright colours in general, and rainbows in particular. She draws rainbows and splashes of colour all the time. Maybe her colour-love is because of the room decor. Or she might take after Julie, who often wears bright tie-dyed shirts that blend lots of colours in spectacular swirls. Our Old Testament reading this morning is … [Read more...]
Sin, Confession and Reconciliation – Wk. 4 Biblical Imagination Series
Our purpose today is to draw inspiration from Leviticus and imagine what Confession, Forgiveness and Reconciliation could look like. We read a representative part of chapter 4, but the full picture goes all the way to Lev6:7. These verses describe the Sin Offerings and Guilt Offerings. Let me start with a confession: I have always struggled with Prayer. For some of you, it comes easily; you have a strong ability to talk and listen to God. I envy you; it has never been easy for me. So I was … [Read more...]
Sermon for Lent 4 – March 26th 2017
For years, John was my favourite of the four Gospels. It is only in John that you find the stories of Jesus turning water into wine; or Jesus talking with the woman at the well; or Nicodemus visiting Jesus. John has some of the most famous Bible verses, like John 3:16 that used to appear on signs at sports events. In the other 3 Gospels, Jesus can be secretive about who he is and what he is up to, but not in John. "I am the way, the truth and the life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the … [Read more...]