*Audio Available at the bottom of the page* During the season of Lent we rightly focus on repentance and the call for us to confess our sins and such. It is a season of prayer and fasting, a season where we can assess our lives of faith and discipleship, determine where we are lacking and areas where we need to grow – on Ash Wednesday we are encouraged to observe a holy lent, by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting and almsgiving and meditating on the word of God. Repentance … [Read more...]
The Spirit Carries On – Sermon for Easter 6
"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" – Acts 10:47 As the father of two girls, even as young as they are, I am intimately aware of the lingering inequalities and injustices that exist in this world even as white middle class Canadians we enjoy many, many privileges. When my eldest daughter first became enthralled with the Blue Jays three years ago, she quickly decided that she wanted to play for them when she grew up, and … [Read more...]
Repentance
Last week Andrew spoke to us about discipleship. He spoke to us about how the heart of discipleship is about ‘being with Jesus’, hanging on to Jesus’ every word, on learning what it means to live from Jesus and more challengingly being with the people that Jesus hung out with – the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the prostitutes, the sinners, the tax collectors, the lonely. He even went on to concretely challenge us to live out this calling to be with Jesus and those Jesus chooses to be … [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...]
Crumbs From Your Table
This sermon continues our series on "Why and How do we worship" and it explores the church's tradition of Holy Communion, why we do it and what we believe about it. May you be challenged and blessed as you ponder the riches of Christ's table. … [Read more...]