On the Eve of Another Remembrance Day

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“Isaiah 2:4 “God shall judge the nations, and correct the people.  And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

When I was about 3 years old, I learned to count by trying to figure out how many tadpoles I’d collected in my pail.  When my son was 3 he learned to count, along with thousands of others, marching on the streets of Vancouver chanting: “1,2,3,4, we don’t want a nuclear war, 5,6,7,8, we don’t want to radiate.”  Continue reading →

Encounters that Change Us

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Based on Luke 19:1-10 and Habakkuk 1:1-4 & 2:1-4

I’ve heard the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus for many years.  The job of chief tax collector in Jericho offers Zacchaeus great wealth, taken as interest from others.  Zacchaeus is despised, but not without cause. In collecting taxes for the oppressive Roman government he is considered to be a collaborator, and quite likely has pocketed wealth at his own discretion.  Reading the story again this week, I tried to imagine myself in the crowd, on the streets of Jericho.   What would it be like?  What would I be hooping for?  What would I be thinking and feeling?  I invite you to come back in time with me to that day in Jericho. Continue reading →

Spirirual Pilgrimage

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 Holy One, we your children gather to worship, to draw close to your holy spark within each of us, to let our light shine, as Jesus encouraged us.  We gather at this time in history, nearly 500 years since this branch of the Christian tree first developed its tentative shoot from the trunk of faith.  Now, as then, we ask, `What are you showing us God?’ and how then shall we live; what are you calling us to do and be?’  

Help us as a community of faith to be more courageous than cautious, to pursue peace by working for justice, to find where our deep joy meets the world’s hunger for meaning.  May we learn from the mistakes as well as the faithful steps of Christ’s followers through the years, and may we in turn live boldly, love deeply, and share the good news of your love in ways that will bless the world.  Amen. Continue reading →

Sermon: Grounded in Gratitude

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Based on Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7 & Luke 17: 11-19

The year 587 B.C.E. (although they didn’t call it that at the time) was a painful memory to those who survived the siege of Jerusalem and now find themselves living in exile in Babylon.  But at least they are living – they are the lucky ones, the ones who survived the slaughter  in Jerusalem.  They survived because of their abilities, their usefulness to the conquering nation.  Someone brings to them a letter; it’s from that crazy prophet Jeremiah Continue reading →

World Wide Communion Sunday

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Call to Worship: Good morning friends.  There is grain of the fields here this morning, there is salt of the earth, there is leavening and shortening, and milk.  There is opportunity to work together to create a wee feast, praying our prayers for the church and the world into the bread of communion.  There is the Holy Spirit present and moving and indwelling.  Let us awaken our spirits to the gift of this moment as we light the Christ candle… Continue reading →

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission

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Based on Jeremiah 8: 18- 9:1  

Hear these words from the prophet Jeremiah, poured out in anguish over 2600 years ago, as he grieves the destruction of his people…  (read Jeremiah 8: 18- 9:1)  

Hear these words again, poured out in anguish today, by a First Nations elder in Canada, a grandmother or grandfather, as they look at the legacy of being aboriginal in this country. Continue reading →

Lost and Found

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Based on Psalm 14 & Luke 15:1-10  

Of recent years, I have grown to really appreciate the wisdom and writing of Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest.  He writes “It is really shocking how little Jesus is shocked by human failure and sin. In fact, it never appears that he is upset at sinners at all. He is only and consistently upset at people who do not think they are sinners. This momentous insight puts him centuries ahead of modern psychology and right at the center of rare but authentic religion.  So much so, that most Christianity itself never notices Continue reading →

The Broken Chalice

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Based on Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 18: 1-10

What contrast we have in the scriptures today.  Psalm 139 is a prayer of deep awareness, a prayer that acknowledges the totality of God surrounding us, infusing us with Spirit beyond time and space.  God you have searched me, you know my heart…   This is a psalm of openness to the Holy One looking deep within us.  Continue reading →

A Crock-Pot Faith in a Microwave World

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 based on Jeremiah 2:4-13; Luke 14:1, 7-14

 Anyone go to the grocery store this week?  Can you recall what you put in your cart or bag?  E.g. instant, pre-packaged pudding, Zoodles, potatoes – you know, the old fashioned kind with the skins still on them? I find grocery stores have an amazing assortment of things – fresh fruits and veggies yes, but Continue reading →

Like a Rock

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(based on Psalm 71 & Luke 13:10-17)

 You might have detected a bit of a theme this morning – with the song, scriptures and story of rocks.  Indeed they are symbols of strength, endurance, protection.  But then we get to the gospel and there isn’t a rock in sight.  We have a story of Jesus going to the synagogue, a place of worship, of teaching, of community – all be it – a somewhat divided community – men at the front, women at the back and the ruler of the synagogue has his carefully crafted sermons ready to go.  But he’s been generous and let this itinerant preacher from Nazareth do a little teaching before Continue reading →