“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” ~ John 19:30 They say hindsight is 20/20. Whether good or bad we can look back on past events and assess what went wrong, what went right, how we could have done things better, the good that came out of a bad situation and so forth. When I look back now on the hardest times of my life, the times when it felt everything was crashing down around me and falling apart at the seams I can … [Read more...]
Serve the Servants – Sermon for Maundy Thursday
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.” ~ John 13:3-4 For all that we talk about servanthood being at the centre of the Christian life, the path that we are all called to follow, we can be mighty squeamish when it comes to foot-washing. From a friend’s church in the deep south of the United States that was so uncomfortable with … [Read more...]
King for a Day – Sermon for Palm Sunday
“The whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" ~ Luke 19:37-38 Have you ever received bad news amid other people’s celebrations and excitement? In those situations, you try to go along with the occasion not trying to put a damper on things, you might even put on a brave face so no one knows the … [Read more...]
God’s Peace on God’s Friday – April 19th, 2019
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...]
Humble Service – Sermon for Maundy Thursday 2019
*Audio available at the bottom of the page* “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” ~ John 13:1 Before becoming a father, it is unlikely that you would have ever got me excited at the prospect of feeding time or bath time for an infant. The idea of trying to force a young child to try food that they are not going to like, or to subject an infant to the potential for screaming and torture of a bath. Obviously some children love food and others love baths, … [Read more...]
The Funeral Party – Sermon for Palm Sunday 2019
*Audio available below* Have you ever received bad news in the midst of other people’s celebration and excitement? In those situations you try to go along with the occasion not trying to put a damper on things, you might even put on a brave face so no one knows the difference. I remember when I found out my mother was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, it rocked my world. It was the first time in my adult life that one of my immediate family members had been confronted with mortality … [Read more...]
Sign of the Cross – Good Friday 2018
Even in this day and age of secularism you don’t have to walk very far down the street before you see a Cross of some description. Whether it is on the steeple of a church, built into architectural features or hanging around someone’s neck – crosses are all around us. In church we see them all the time – we process up the aisle with one, we have them embroidered on our linens and stoles, and here at Grace we have the large Christus Rex which hangs upon on our wall. Many find comfort in the … [Read more...]
Who Are You – Sermon for March 25
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”] And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.” – Mark 8:27-30 One of my favourite bands when I got into listening to music, was the British band started … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Kings
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" – Matthew 21:9 Today is the beginning of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, a day where we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with adoring crowds waving palm fronds, shouts of Hosanna, a procession fit for a King. We began today with the joy of Palm Sunday, waving our palms singing our coronation songs just as the crowds did in our first Gospel reading today. And why … [Read more...]