“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...]
The King and the Cross – Sermon for Nov. 21
“Through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” – Colossians 1:20 Through the blood of his cross… it might seem odd to you that today our scripture readings are focused on Jesus’ death, on his crucifixion, on the blood of the cross. After all, today is the last Sunday of the Christian liturgical calendar – next week we begin the season of Advent; we get to begin again the journey of preparation … [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...]
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...]
Just a Fool – Sermon for Holy Cross Day
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18 Today we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Cross, a day that is linked to the dedication of the Church Constantine dedicated, purportedly on the site where Jesus had been crucified 300 years before, and where according to legend Helena (Constantine’s mother), had discovered a piece of the true Cross during the excavation of the church, the … [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...]
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...]
What is Dead May Never Die?
“When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said her, ‘Do not weep’… And he said ‘Young man, I say to you rise!’” – Luke 7:12-13 Let’s talk about death. I know, I know it is not a subject that any of us are particularly comfortable with: whether it is memories of loved ones who have died, the horrific scenes of death plastered across our news screens every day or even the prospect of our own deaths – the subject of death is not one that most of us are comfortable talking … [Read more...]
Riding with the King
A sermon exploring the difference between admiring Jesus as King and riding with him. May you be challenged and edified and may you ride with your King. … [Read more...]
Blinded by the Light
This sermon explores what the Transfiguration teaches us about God, Jesus and the hope for each of us who follow him. … [Read more...]