“With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” – Acts 4:33When Bethany and I were first engaged, I must admit I was appalled by the whole wedding-industrial complex. Weddings these days are complex events, often requiring a wedding planner to pull off all the various elements. It seems that people look to one-up one another on how extravagant their wedding can be – the best dress, the best ring, the best cake and … [Read more...]
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In the Garden – Sermon for Easter 2018
"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." – John 20:15 Two days before Mary had stood at the foot of the Cross, as her teacher, her friend and Lord had suffered the full force of the Roman Empire’s brutal power – death upon the twisted, torturous tree. The whole earth seemingly mourned Jesus’ death as the sky was darkened, bruised by … [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...]
Cross to Bear – Sermon for Lent 2
“He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Mark 8:34 I have a confession to make, I can sometimes be a little selfish. Ok maybe that’s not much of a confession – we can all be a little selfish at times. Especially, when I was kid I would often look out for myself. It comes with the territory I guess, I have two sisters and as the youngest I needed to protect my interests. As … [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...]
Lay Stewardship Witness – Craig Gustafson
“Gather before me my loyal followers, those who have made a covenant with me and sealed it with sacrifice.” Psalm 50:5 This verse from our Psalm today gives a glimpse into what God has promised us, and what we give in return. God has made a covenant with us, which we read in Jeremiah 31:31–34 and which was accomplished by Jesus on the cross, and we offer a sacrifice to God in response to his blessings in our lives. I am Craig Gustafson, I was born in Fort Frances, Ontario, which is … [Read more...]
‘What would you do for the Gospel?’
“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:22b As many of you know I’m a little bit of a Blue Jays fan, but only just a little bit. Many weekends or weeknights during the summer if we’re not having a church event, you’ll find me down at the stadium with a friend or more likely one of my daughters enjoying a good ol’ fashioned game of baseball. I come by the love of the game honestly, both my grandmothers were avid baseball fans – one of whom … [Read more...]
Between Two Worlds – Sermon for Advent 2
“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”- 2 Peter 3:9 I want to begin today with a modern day parable: For the Kingdom of God may be likened to business owner who hired two women who worked as coworkers for many years. When each woman was hired, the owner warned them that the job did not come with a pension, and that one day their retirement would be upon them, advising them to … [Read more...]
The King Will Come – Sermon for Nov. 26
Today we celebrate the feast of the Reign of Christ, or for those traditionalists among you, Christ the King Sunday. So with that being the case, what’s the first image in your mind when you hear the words King or Queen? Perhaps you’re a good staunch royalist and you picture Queen Elizabeth II in all her dignified regality. Or perhaps you’re more of the history buff (I know I am!) and the first image that comes to mind is one of the great warrior Kings, like Richard the Lionheart, riding to … [Read more...]