Are you an “Early Adopter?” It’s a term that describes someone who is one of the first to buy and try some new piece of technology. Early Adopters are the first customers. They are always eager and willing to try new things, especially new gadgets. On a bell-curve of who buys a new tech gadget, first there are the Innovators, the people who create and market the items. Then come the Early Adopters, the first people in town to own one. If you have a “Smart speaker” like an Amazon Alexa … [Read more...]
Found when lost – Sermon for Lent 4
*Audio can be found at the bottom of the page* “We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” – Luke 15:32 There is something reassuring about old familiar stories: they are like the old family recipe that has been passed down for generations – warm cookies, cake with that special family ingredient. They are comfortable, they often bring warm memories to mind. Our story from the Gospel of Luke this morning … [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...]
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...]
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...]
Feast and Famine
How many of you have given something up for Lent this year? Or perhaps some of you have taken on a new discipline? We’re here on the third Sunday of Lent, near the mid-point of the season, so how’s it going? Or if not this year have you given up something in past years? … [Read more...]
A challenge to get going
Lent is a time when we are supposed to let ourselves be uncomfortable. This teaching is all about discomfort and false comfortableness. It is a challenge to us as Church to do the same; getting up and getting going. Whatever you are working with in your life, I hope this helps you face the challenge, and invitation, to exchange deadening safety for the risk and the promise of abundant life. … [Read more...]
Setting your course of life.
Sometimes when things go wrong and life comes to a shuddering stop you have to re-think what you are doing. But in Lent the Church actually invites you to do this without a catastrophe to push you there.A life well lived is a life that you reflect on. A spiritual life well lived is reflected on, fine tuned and re-set annually. Getting ready for the New Birth of Easter, which is what you could call the weeks of Lent, is our time to do this. … [Read more...]
Sermon to prepare for Lent
In the 40 days of Lent we try to be better at this "Christianity thing" we struggle to follow. This sermon is not about doing without chocolate. It is about trying to look at people the way Jesus looks. Give it a try! … [Read more...]