Year: 2024

September 15, 2024

James 3:1-12
Psalm 19
Mark 8:27-38

“The Power of Words”

Let us pray.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

Preachers and teachers need prayers like that one, taken from the final verse of Psalm 19. I remember my preaching professor in seminary telling us that the high pulpits in many churches should serve as a reminder to preachers of the magnitude of the task that we are called to. When we approach one of those pulpits, and make our way up the steps, we should do so in fear and trembling, he said, praying that God will give us the words to speak.

Our pulpit here is not so high, not like the one I saw years ago in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Geneva where John Calvin once preached. It has a full spiral staircase with about ten steps to climb… plenty of time to think about what the preacher is about to do… plenty of time to ask for God’s help. But even as I step up into this pulpit on Sunday mornings, I’m praying something similar because I know that words matter, and I know that … Read more »

September 8, 2024

James 2:1-9; 14-17
Mark 7:24-37

Children’s Message

Last Sunday, some of you will remember that we were talking about the wonderful Creation that God made. And I asked you what was your favourite animal, or plant, or place in the Creation.

This morning I want to find out what other favourite things you have:

What’s your favourite colour?
What’s your favourite food?
What’s your favourite activity?
What’s your favourite subject in school?
Do you have a favourite person? Maybe a best friend?

I wonder… Do you think that Jesus had favourite things too?
Do you think Jesus had a favourite person?
Do you think Jesus had a best friend? (Maybe Peter?)

There were people that Jesus spent more time with, for sure. His disciples who decided to leave their homes and go out on the road with Jesus spent lots of time with him, listening to his teaching and learning his ways. And I expect that Jesus loved them a whole lot!

There were other people Jesus met who maybe caused him more trouble – the Pharisees who challenged what Jesus taught, and other leaders who didn’t like how so many people were following Jesus.

And Jesus met people who were very different from him. He met people who lived in different towns, who had … Read more »

September 1, 2024

James 1:17-27
Psalm 42
Romans 8:19-25

“To Hope and Act with Creation”

The theme for the 2024 Season of Creation is “To Hope and Act with Creation” based on the passage Marianne just read from Romans 8:19-25. This biblical image pictures the Earth as a mother, groaning as in childbirth.

Thousands of years after this passage was written in a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Church at Rome, its imagery takes on new meaning for Christians grappling with the climate crisis and looking for hope for the future of our planet.

Along with our Sister, Mother Earth, creatures of all kinds today, including humans, are crying out because of the consequences of our destructive actions causing climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and human suffering as well as Creation’s suffering.

Our national and international news is filled with stories of climate-change induced disasters affecting human communities. Out-of-control forest fires have become such a common occurrence in Canada that we probably all know at least one person or family who has been evacuated or even lost their home in the last ten years.

Other communities have been devastated by destructive floods, typhoons, and other weather events that people used to refer to as “acts of God” as if … Read more »

August 25, 2024

1 King 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20

“O Lord, Hear Our Prayer”

Throughout history, human beings from every corner of the world have set apart places of prayer and developed rituals and routines for reaching out to the Creator of all things, and talking to God.

We bow our heads, we clasp our hands, we kneel, or lie prostrate, or stand with our arms raised up towards heaven. We light candles, burn incense, or make offerings. We use memorized prayers, or speak from our hearts, or simply sit in silence before the One who made us, and who we hope is still watching over us and caring for our lives.

From the time of Abram and Sarai, the Hebrew Scriptures tell us about people who set up places of prayer. Not yet temples or synagogues or churches, but wherever they travelled in their nomadic lives, they set up stone altars – places to honour God and express their prayers.

In the time of Moses, God’s presence became associated with the Ark of the Covenant – the beautiful carved box containing the stone tablets with the ten commandments – and God went along with the people as they continued their journey to find the … Read more »

August 18, 2024

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20

“What do you want from God?

What do you want from God? If you were asked that question, as King Solomon was, what would be your answer?

It reminds me a little of those stories of genies popping out of old lamps and offering three wishes to the person who rubbed the lamp and released them. In gratitude for being freed from the tiny prison of living inside an old-fashioned lamp, the genie exclaims, “Your wish is my command!” and promptly offers to fulfill three wishes for you.

What would you wish for? Better health? Longer life? A happy family? A more fulfilling job? A new car?

Most of the genies, including the one in the famous Alladin story, have a few rules around the wishes. Things like, you can’t wish for someone to come back to life or for someone to die either. You can’t wish to become immortal or change the fundamental nature of reality. And you can’t wish for unlimited wishes.

But that still leaves quite a lot of scope for wishes to be used for good or evil, to make things better in the world or to fulfill our most selfish desires.

What would you wish for … Read more »

August 4, 2024

2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Ephesians 4:1-16

“In a Good Way”

Our Scripture readings began this morning with a text from the 2nd Book of Samuel, continuing where we left off last Sunday in the story of King David. Just in case you missed last Sunday’s sermon, you should know that David used his position and power to satisfy his own cravings at the expense of others. He slept with another man’s wife, got her pregnant, tried to cover it up, and eventually resorted to having the husband killed in battle so that David could take her as his own wife, as we read this morning.

As is very often the case, a powerful man has gotten away with rape and murder. He’s used his privilege to get rid of the people who might complain, and he’s ready to go on with his life with a new wife and child as if that was normal. That is, until we get to the latter part of verse 11 where we read: “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”

There’s no mention of Uriah’s family complaining about what King David did. And Bathsheba, who was the most deeply impacted, just mourned her husband … Read more »

July 28, 2024

2 Samuel 11:1-15
Psalm 14
John 6:1-15

“There is One”

Back in early June, during an intergenerational service, I was talking about the various kings of Israel and Judah – the human leaders of God’s people. And I remember saying that King David was generally a good king, but he also made some bad choices at times.

This morning’s passage from 2nd Samuel tells the story of one of those times. And reading it today makes me think of some of the corrupt and self-serving leaders and politicians in our world at this time as well. In case you didn’t catch what King David did in this passage, let me summarize.

The story begins with David sending his armies out into battle, but he doesn’t go with them. He stays in Jerusalem instead. While his soldiers are fighting for his kingdom, David is lazing about on his couch and walking around on his rooftop. From there, he spies on a woman who is bathing, thinks she is beautiful, and sends servants to get her so he can sleep with her. Essentially, he rapes her, as I expect she wasn’t a willing partner in the affair.

When the woman (Bathsheba) gets pregnant, David schemes to make her husband … Read more »

July 21, 2024

2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-32

“A Dwelling Place for God”

“Where does God live?” That seems to be the question that ties together our Scripture readings this morning. When I noticed that was the key question, it made me think of a young child exploring the world and curiously asking their wondering questions: “Why is the sky blue?” “What are the clouds made of?” “How do the jack rabbits move so fast?” “What makes ice cream taste so good?” “Where does God live?”

I actually Googled, “children’s book” and the question “Where does God live?” and found a lovely picture book by Holly Bea about a little girl who asks that question, “Where does God live?” and gets all kinds of answers from different people and animals.

In our text this morning from 2nd Samuel, King David isn’t asking about where God lives because he believes that he already knows the answer. He knows that God has been with him over the last while because David and his armies have been winning battles and taking over territories. He knows that God is with him because he’s got the Ark of the Covenant in his possession – that beautiful box containing the tablets with the … Read more »

July 14, 2024

2 Samuel 6:15, 12b-19
Psalm 24
Ephesians 1:3-14

“The Church Lives to Praise God”

It’s probably not surprising for you to hear that I enjoy praising God in worship. I love singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God, and I love doing it with other people. In fact, it was the experience of leading congregational singing at camp, and in Christian clubs on campus, and in my home church that first gave me the idea that I might be called to ministry.

Occasionally I meet a minister who doesn’t enjoy singing or feel that they are very good at singing, and I’m always surprised by that. First of all, because I believe that everyone can sing if they are taught and nurtured to do so, and because singing praise to God feels like such a central part of what it means to be the people of God.

“Living Faith,” the statement of Christian belief of The Presbyterian Church in Canada tells us that praise and worship is central to who we are, but it’s not limited to singing or music alone. Section 7.3 about worship says this:

7.3.1 The church lives to praise God.
We have no higher calling
than to offer the worship that belongs to God
day … Read more »

July 7, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

“The Power of Weakness”

I don’t think that much of the Christian Church today feels very strong or powerful. Whether in conversation with Presbyterian colleagues at General Assembly last month, or with ecumenical colleagues here in Regina or through the Canadian Council of Churches, I often hear that clergy and church communities are struggling and feeling somewhat discouraged in their ministries.

They worry that the number of people involved is decreasing and the level of involvement is going down too. There seem to be fewer resources available for ministry – both in terms of money and people. There are many small congregations without the resources to employ ministry personnel, and the big church buildings we set up in the 20th century are becoming expensive to maintain.

Many communities are focusing their attention on survival, and the thought of going out and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ in word or loving action (like we read about in the Gospel text today) feels daunting and dangerous.

Part of the problem, of course, is that for a while in the church’s history, we became quite powerful. During Christendom, churches in many parts of the world became associated with political power, often becoming … Read more »

May 19, 2024

Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27
Romans 8:22-27

“Speak!”

I began to write this sermon in the middle of the week when I was suffering from laryngitis. The virus that took hold of me a week before started by giving me a sore throat, and then made my voice get hoarse, and then caused it to disappear almost entirely. All the coughing I was doing just made the throat situation worse, and I agonized with every cough, knowing that it was doing even more harm to my vocal chords with each one.

I explained to my doctor how important my voice is to my life and work – as a preacher and as a singer. I wanted her to take pity on me and prescribe some anti-biotics, but it was also true. I don’t know how I could fulfill my calling without my voice. It would be a lot more difficult.

There are a number of places in Scripture where the mission of the disciples and the mission of the church that would follow are expressed. In Luke 9, when Jesus first sends out his disciples in his name, he tells them “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when … Read more »

April 28, 2024

John 15:1-8

“A Congregation that Abides”

You may have noticed that there’s a tree planted in the alcove between the two sections of our church building. There’s a little plaque beside it showing that it was given and planted there by a former member, Joyce Rivers, in memory of her husband after he died.

Unfortunately, we don’t make much use of that space between the buildings, even though it does have a nice tree in the middle of it, it also has an abundance of pigeons that like to hang out there, making it less pleasant for people to use it.

I recently learned that it’s a crab apple tree – a kind of tree that doesn’t grow too tall and likely could do well in a small space like that. But it’s also a kind of tree that requires some pruning once in a while. It was growing taller than was helpful and dropping leaves into the eavestroughs and causing them to get backed up. So earlier this week it was pruned.

Of course, the classic reason for pruning is not to avoid overflowing the eavestroughs, but to help a tree to produce more and better fruit. Gardening experts online say things like this … Read more »

April 14, 2024

Luke 24:36b-48

“Joyful, Disbelieving, Wondering Disciples”

During the Season of Easter, the lectionary suggests a lot of Scripture readings about the Risen Christ appearing to his disciples. It makes sense because there were two important things that shaped the Christian faith of the early church going forward. First, there was the fact that Jesus’ tomb was found to be empty, with his body gone. And second, there was the experience and witness of a number of his friends and followers who saw him raised.

If you were at worship last Sunday, but perhaps not carefully checking the Scripture reference, you might have thought that we repeated the same Gospel passage today that Taeyang preached about last week. In both cases, it was a story about Jesus appearing to a group of disciples in Jerusalem, not too long after they’d found the tomb to be empty and heard reports from the women that they’d seen Jesus alive.

Both of these stories, that are probably describing the same event in their own unique ways, have Jesus standing among the disciples with a greeting of “Peace be with you.” They also both include some doubt on the part of the disciples, with John’s account attributing the disbelief … Read more »

March 29, 2024 (Good Friday)

“A Eulogy for Jesus”

In our Lenten Devotional Study groups this week, we pondered the theme of “Grief.” We shared about some of our own experiences of grief at the death of a friend or family member, and about some of the things that were helpful for us as we worked through our mourning.

And then we talked about Jesus and his death. We thought about the people who were present when Jesus died, who were crying out in anguish at the loss of their loved one. Their grief was complicated because it wasn’t just a friend who died, but the Teacher they had come to believe would be their Messiah. It was not only loss and longing that they felt, but also confusion about what to do next. If the Messiah was dead, what now?

It’s not quite the same for us today. On Good Friday, we normally tell the story of Jesus’ passion and death, remembering the horror of his unjust arrest and execution, and sitting in the feelings that evokes for us. But we also know that it’s not the end of the story, and that he will be raised. We won’t hunker down and cry through Saturday like they … Read more »

March 24, 2024

Luke 19:29-40
Luke 22:39-46
Luke 23:44-49

“Your Will Be Done”

For those joining us in worship today from Trinity Presbyterian Church in Grenfell, and for others who may not have been with us for worship through the Season of Lent, I want to begin by mentioning that our worship themes during Lent have been guided by a devotional study written by the Rev. Konnie Vissers called “Practicing Jesus’ Seven Last Words.”

Each service has focused on one of the phrases spoken by Jesus from the cross, according to the various Gospel accounts of the passion story. Along the way, we’ve reflected on forgiveness, heaven, the bonds of family and community, suffering, need, and fulfillment. If you’re interested, you could feel free to watch any of the YouTube videos of our worship to explore those themes yourself.

But today’s theme, inspired by Jesus’ last words according to the Gospel of Luke, is “surrender.” And that’s a difficult word.

I mean, the study suggests that “surrender” is something that Jesus chose to do at the end of his life, and it invites us to consider what we may be called to “surrender” as well.

But when I think about “surrender” I think of an embattled army waving a white flag, … Read more »

March 17, 2024

Micah 4:1-4
Matthew 13:31-33
John 19:30

“What Is Finished?”

According to the Fourth Evangelist, the author of the Gospel of John, the very last thing that Jesus said before he died was a declaration: “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Most of us probably found that verse familiar, having come across it in the readings on Good Friday many times before. But I, for one, have never focused a whole Bible study or a sermon on that verse alone. But as we began to discuss it this week in our Lenten study groups, it quickly became clear that there was a lot to talk about.

After all, Jesus didn’t elaborate on that simple statement. After saying “It is finished,” he immediately dies. If his disciples were wondering what he meant, they didn’t get a chance to ask him as they had done after many other teaching moments that left them confused and wondering.

Likewise, we receive the words of Jesus in Scripture, but not a detailed explanation. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in the community of the Church, we are invited to hear, and question, and think, and ponder together what Jesus’ words meant for those … Read more »

March 10, 2024

John 19:28-29

“We Thirst”

I am finding it very interesting, during this Season of Lent, to delve deeply into the words Jesus spoke from the cross. Between the various accounts in the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, there are seven phrases uttered by our Lord during the final minutes, or perhaps hours, of his life.

Participants in the Lenten study groups continue to raise good questions and share helpful ideas as we ponder together the meaning and significance of each phrase for us today. And, in line with the title of the Lenten study, we have been considering how we might “practice” Jesus’ seven last words. In other words, how might Jesus’ words impact the way we think and change the way we live as his followers in the world today?

As the Fourth Evangelist tells the story, after Jesus had encouraged his beloved disciple John and his mother Mary to look after each other like family after he died, the next thing he said was “I am thirsty.” And folks nearby responded by giving him a drink.

Although that seems simple enough, I found that the biblical scholars have lots of ideas about what it might have meant. For example, you … Read more »

March 3, 2024

Psalm 22
Matthew 27:33-46

“Lament for the World”

There is a tradition in the ecumenical community in Saskatoon. Every year on the morning of Good Friday, hundreds of Christians gather to walk the Way of the Cross. They walk slowly, often singing Taizé chants as they go along like “Jesus remember me, when you come into your kingdom…”

They stop 14 times at various locations in the downtown area to read parts of the passion story. Leaders take turns carrying a huge wooden cross through the streets, enacting Jesus’ own walk of suffering and shame. They recount and remember the ways that our Lord was betrayed, denied, abandoned, arrested, tortured, mocked, and killed.

It is not a triumphant gathering that anticipates Jesus’ resurrection, but a mournful one that invites the worshippers to sit with (or walk with) the shock, horror, and grief of what human beings did to God who had come among us in Jesus the Christ.

When Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ crucifixion he also sits with the grief. Matthew’s account doesn’t include Jesus asking God to forgive those who crucified him. He doesn’t speak comforting words to the criminals dying beside him or encourage his friends and family to take care of … Read more »

February 25, 2024

John 19:25b-27
Matthew 12:46-50

“Water is Thicker than Blood”

On this Second Sunday in the Season of Lent, we are continuing to focus on the final things that Jesus said as he was dying on the cross. Although each of Jesus’ statements is quite brief, our Lenten study so far has already begun to reveal that each one is rich with meaning for our lives as disciples today.

On Ash Wednesday, we heard Jesus pray to God the Father “to forgive [those who were crucifying him] for they do not know what they are doing.” We were assured of God’s unconditional love and Jesus’ capacity to forgive us for the worst things we do. We were also encouraged to live into our identity as people made in the image of God, and to forgive one another from our hearts.

Last Sunday, we heard Jesus in conversation with a repentant thief who was dying beside him. This man also was forgiven, and given the promise of Jesus that “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” We gave thanks for that amazing grace, and the glimpses of “heaven on earth” that we experience today, even as we anticipate the final gift of everlasting life.

In this morning’s … Read more »

February 11, 2024

2 Kings 2:1-12
Mark 9:2-9

“Picking up the Mantle”

Earlier this week, when the Session of First Church had our regular monthly meeting, our agenda included a discussion of a book recommended by the Synod Mission Committee: “21 Things You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act” by Bob Joseph. As we were reflecting on the devastating impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in this country, thinking about how settlers took land, imposed culture, and banned traditional languages and spiritual practices, I thought it would be appropriate to read the Gospel text (the Transfiguration story) from the First Nations Version of the New Testament.

This Indigenous translation of the good story was published in 2021 and dedicated to the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. The publishers pray that it “will bring healing to those who have suffered under the dominance of colonial governments who, with the help of churches and missionary organizations, often took our land, our languages, our cultures, and even our children. As our Tribal Nations work hard to reclaim what has been stolen, it is our hope that the colonial language that was forced upon us can now serve our people in a good way, by presenting Creator Sets Free … Read more »